NOC 72203: Electrical power line and cable workers

Electrical power line and cable workers construct, maintain and repair overhead and underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems. They are employed by electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies, electrical contractors and public utility commissions. Apprentices are also 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: an eligible skilled trade (2 years in the last 5 years).
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): yes, 1.5× 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

NOC 72203 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 72203

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

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical distribution and transmission systems including overhead and underground power lines and cables, insulators, conductors, lightning arrestors, switches, transformers and other associated equipment
• Erect and maintain steel, wood or concrete poles, towers and guy wires
• Splice, solder and insulate conductors and related wiring to connect power distribution and transmission networks using splicing tools, related electrical equipment and tools
• Inspect and test overhead and underground power lines and cables and auxiliary equipment using electrical test equipment
• Climb ladders or operate hydraulic buckets when working aloft on poles and towers, or work in confined spaces such as trenches and tunnels to install power lines and cables and associated equipment
• Install and maintain street lighting systems
• Communicate with other workers to coordinate the preparation and completion of work assignments.

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

Example job titles

• apprentice lineman/woman - electric power systems
• cable installer - electrical power
• cable splicer - electrical power
• construction lineman/woman - electrical power line
• power line patroller
• power lineman/woman
• powerline technician

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a provincial three- or four-year lineman/woman apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in electrical technology is usually required for electrical power line and cable workers.
• Trade certification for powerline technicians is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• Trade certification for powerline technicians (construction) is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Trade certification for distribution construction linemen/women is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified powerline technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 72011Line and cable workers supervisor
• 72202Power system electricians
• 72204Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers