Is NOC 41300 (Social workers) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?

Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 41300 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 41300 give?

With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 41300, 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 41300 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 41300 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 41300?

As a TEER 1 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Which category draws include NOC 41300?

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 1NOC 2021 Version 1.0

NOC 41300: Social workers

Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.

Express Entry eligibility

Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 1.
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 1: Occupations that usually need a university degree. 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 41300

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 41300
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:

Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required
Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems
Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary
Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups
Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs
Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development
Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments
Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs
May provide public education and consultation to professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
May supervise other social workers.
Social workers may specialize in fields of practice such as child welfare, family services, corrections, gerontology or addictions.

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

Example job titles

coordinator of social work
medical social worker
psychiatric social worker
social work supervisor
social worker

Employment requirements

A bachelor's degree in social work is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
In Alberta, a bachelor's degree or diploma in social work is required.
Supervised practical experience is usually required.
Successful completion of provincial written and oral examinations may be required.
Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
Use of the titles "Social Worker" and "Registered Social Worker" is regulated in all provinces.
Membership in a provincial association of social workers is usually required.

Similar jobs with a different code

Common questions

Is NOC 41300 (Social workers) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?: Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 41300 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 41300 give?: With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 41300, 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 41300 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 41300 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 41300?: As a TEER 1 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Which category draws include NOC 41300?: 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

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