NOC 53202: Sports officials and referees

Sports officials and referees observe and enforce rules and regulations governing sporting events, athletic games and sports competitions. They are employed by national, provincial and local sporting commissions, organizations and leagues.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 3.
• 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): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 3: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 53202 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 53202

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Officiate at sporting events or athletic competitions to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules and safety regulations are observed
• Record lapsed time and keep scores during events or competitions
• Judge the performance of competitors, award points, impose penalties for infractions and determine results
• Compile scores and other athletic records
• Establish and maintain rapport with coaches, players and organizing committees
• Verify credentials of athletes or animals engaged in sports or related special events, and respond to written protests.

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

Example job titles

• athletics judge
• clerk of the course - racetrack
• figure skating judge
• goal judge
• harness racing starter
• racetrack timer
• referee
• sports linesman/woman
• sports official
• umpire

Employment requirements

• Sports officials require certification by and registration with a sport governing body or commission.
• Sports referees require completion of an officiating program offered by a sport governing body.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 53201Coaches
• 54100Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness