Is NOC 32120 (Medical laboratory technologists) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?

Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 32120 is in the 1.3× tier of IRCC’s high-wage list, meaning its national median wage is at least 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times, the median wage of the Canadian workforce (2023 to 2025 data).

How many CRS points does NOC 32120 give?

With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 32120, you add 20 points to your Canadian work-experience points. For example, a single candidate with 3 years of Canadian work goes from 64 to 84 points. A qualifying job offer in NOC 32120 is worth 50 points instead. You get the higher of the two routes, never both, capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse).

Do I need to earn 1.3× the median wage myself?

No. The tier comes from the occupation’s national median wage, not from your own salary. What matters is that your job’s main duties match NOC 32120 and that the work is skilled, paid, Canadian experience.

Can I combine months in different high-wage jobs?

Months here combine with months in any other high-wage occupation (1.3×, 1.5× or 2×) for the 20-point add-on.

Which Express Entry programs accept NOC 32120?

As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Which category draws include NOC 32120?

It is on IRCC’s list for the Healthcare and social services category, so you can also be invited in those category draws.

1.3× median wageTEER 2NOC 2021 Version 1.0

NOC 32120: Medical laboratory technologists

Medical laboratory technologists conduct medical laboratory tests, experiments and analyses to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of disease. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, blood banks, community and private clinics, research facilities and post-secondary educational institutions. Medical laboratory technologists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Express Entry eligibility

Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 2.
Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): yes, 1.3× tier.

TEER 2: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory duties. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

Healthcare and social services
At least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in this occupation within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 32120

With 12+ months of Canadian work here, from November 3, 2026, by years of skilled Canadian work:

Canadian work CRS points with 12 or more months in NOC 32120
Years in Canada	Single, today	Single, Nov 3	With spouse, today	With spouse, Nov 3
1	40	60	35	55
2	53	73	46	66
3	64	84	56	76
4	72	92	63	83
5 or more	80	100	70	90

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Set up, operate and maintain laboratory equipment
Conduct and interpret chemical analyses of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal and other body fluids
Study blood cells and other tissues to determine their relation to various physiological and pathological conditions
Prepare tissue sections for microscopic examinations using techniques to demonstrate special cellular tissue elements or other characteristics
Perform and interpret blood group, type and compatibility tests for transfusion purposes
Validate, document and report test results
Establish procedures for the analysis of specimens and for medical laboratory experiments
Conduct quality control assessment of testing techniques
May supervise and train other medical laboratory technical staff, students and helpers
May assist pathologists during autopsies.
Medical laboratory technologists may specialize in areas such as clinical chemistry, clinical microbiology, hematology, histotechnology, transfusion medicine or immunohematology, cytotechnology, cytogenetics and molecular genetics.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

clinical genetics technologist
cytogenetics technologist - medical laboratory
histology technologist
medical laboratory cytotechnologist
medical laboratory technologist
medical laboratory technologists supervisor

Employment requirements

A two- or three-year college program in medical laboratory technology is required and a period of supervised practical training may be required.
Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is usually required by employers.
Combined laboratory and X-ray technicians require completion of a combined laboratory X-ray technology program.
Some employers may require a university science degree for specialized medical laboratory technologists.

Similar jobs with a different code

Common questions

Is NOC 32120 (Medical laboratory technologists) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?: Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 32120 is in the 1.3× tier of IRCC’s high-wage list, meaning its national median wage is at least 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times, the median wage of the Canadian workforce (2023 to 2025 data).
How many CRS points does NOC 32120 give?: With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 32120, you add 20 points to your Canadian work-experience points. For example, a single candidate with 3 years of Canadian work goes from 64 to 84 points. A qualifying job offer in NOC 32120 is worth 50 points instead. You get the higher of the two routes, never both, capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse).
Do I need to earn 1.3× the median wage myself?: No. The tier comes from the occupation’s national median wage, not from your own salary. What matters is that your job’s main duties match NOC 32120 and that the work is skilled, paid, Canadian experience.
Can I combine months in different high-wage jobs?: Months here combine with months in any other high-wage occupation (1.3×, 1.5× or 2×) for the 20-point add-on.
Which Express Entry programs accept NOC 32120?: As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Which category draws include NOC 32120?: It is on IRCC’s list for the Healthcare and social services category, so you can also be invited in those category draws.

Other 1.3× high-wage occupations

More in technical occupations in health

Find any NOC code · All high-wage occupations · Source: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0

See your CRS score with NOC 32120

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