NOC 94153: Photographic and film processors

Photographic and film processors process and finish still photographic film and motion picture film. They are employed in film processing laboratories and retail photofinishing establishments.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): no, TEER 4 does not count for Express Entry.
• Canadian Experience Class: does not count.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: does not count.
• 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 4: Occupations that usually need a high school diploma or several weeks 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 94153 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws if you qualify through other experience.

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

CRS points for work in NOC 94153

None. Work in TEER 4 and 5 occupations earns no Canadian work points in the CRS.

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Operate equipment to develop negatives and slides, and to print black and white and colour photographs
• Operate photographic enlarging equipment to produce prints and enlargements from negatives
• Operate equipment to develop motion picture film
• Tend automatic equipment in retail establishments to develop colour negatives, prints and slides
• Operate equipment to transfer film to video tape
• Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects
• Splice film and mount film on reels
• Measure and mix chemicals required for processing
• Inspect rolls of photographic prints for conformance to specifications; or motion picture film to detect defects in developing and printing.

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

Example job titles

• darkroom technician
• film developer
• film printing machine operator
• film processor
• photofinisher
• photograph developer
• photograph inspector - photographic processing
• photographic processor

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• For employment in film processing laboratories, completion of a college or other specialized photography program or Extensive related experience is required.
• For employment as a film printing machine operator in retail outlets, on-the-job training is provided.

Similar jobs with a different code

• 94151Film stripper-assembler
• 94151Negative spotter - printing
• 72022Photographic and film processing supervisor