Is NOC 50012 (Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?

Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 50012 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 50012 give?

With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 50012, 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 50012 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 50012 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 50012?

As a TEER 0 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Which category draws include NOC 50012?

It is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists, so it does not qualify you for an occupation-based category draw.

1.3× median wageTEER 0NOC 2021 Version 1.0

NOC 50012: Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors

Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of comprehensive recreational, sports and fitness programs and services, national or provincial sports governing agencies and professional athletic teams. They are employed by municipalities, community and private recreational and fitness organizations, sports governing agencies and professional athletic team organizations.

Express Entry eligibility

Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 0.
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 0: Management occupations. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 50012 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws.

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

CRS points for work in NOC 50012

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 50012
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:

Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of recreation, sports and fitness programs and services
Provide technical and professional advice on recreation, sports and fitness matters
Prepare budget estimates and develop policies and procedures to implement programs
Manage the operations of a sports governing agency
Organize and administer national and provincial training, coaching, officiating and other programs associated with a particular sport
Manage the operations of a professional athletic team
Recruit professional coaches and athletes
Direct fundraising drives and arrange for sponsorships from public and private organizations
Develop long range plans and negotiate business contracts.

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

Example job titles

director of recreation
professional football team manager
professional hockey team manager
professional track and field team manager
sports administration director - government
sports association director
sports federation director
sports program director
YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) programs director

Employment requirements

A university degree in recreology, physical education, sports administration or a related field or A college diploma in recreation management or sports administration is usually required.
Several years of experience in an occupation related to recreation and sports administration, consulting or programming are usually required.
Some directors of recreation may be required to have a Municipal Recreation Director's Certificate.
Executive directors of sports governing agencies may be required to have coaching certification in a particular sport.

Similar jobs with a different code

Common questions

Is NOC 50012 (Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?: Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 50012 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 50012 give?: With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 50012, 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 50012 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 50012 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 50012?: As a TEER 0 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Which category draws include NOC 50012?: It is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists, so it does not qualify you for an occupation-based category draw.

Other 1.3× high-wage occupations

More in specialized middle management occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

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

See your CRS score with NOC 50012

Quick CRS adds up every factor and shows your score under today’s rules and the rules from November 3, 2026, side by side. Free, about 3 minutes.

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