Skilled workers
Purpose
The Skilled Worker Category of the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is intended for skilled occupations for which formal education and/or specialized training is required.
Criteria for skilled worker category occupations (includes but is not limited to):
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) Code defines these occupations as Skill Level 0, A or B.
For more information on occupational classifications, please see the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Matrix link in the related links.
If you are uncertain whether an occupation is eligible under the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program, you can contact us for further information before preparing or submitting an Employer Application.
NOC Skill Levels:
NOC Skill Level 0
Legislators, Senior and Middle Management occupations. Occupations usually require a university degree (bachelor's, master's or doctorate) or a professional designation.
Examples of eligible occupations:
- Architecture and science managers
- Chief executive officers
- Chief financial officer
- Computer and information systems managers
- Controller
- Executive director
- Financial manager
- Marketing manager
- Production manager
- Senior managers health/education
- Software development manager
- Vice-President
NOC Skill Level A
Occupations usually require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate)
Examples of eligible occupations:
- Accountants/auditors
- Architects
- Audiologists and speech pathologists
- Biologists, biochemists and microbiologists
- Chemists
- College instructors
- Computer programmer/software developer
- Computer software and interactive media developers
- Engineers
- Financial and investment analysts
- Geologists and geochemists
- Information systems and database analysts
- Pharmacists
- Physicians and surgeons
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
- Registered nurses
- Surveyors
- University professors
- Veterinarians
Examples of ineligible occupations:
- Clergy
- Elementary and secondary school teachers
NOC Skill Level B
Occupations usually require two to three years of post secondary education at a community college, institute of technology or a CEGEP.
Examples of eligible occupations:
- Aircraft instrument and avionics mechanics
- Architectural technicians and technologists
- Computer and information systems technicians
- Construction estimators
- Engineering and industrial technicians/technologists
- Graphic arts technicians
- Health, medical and veterinary technicians/technologists
- Land survey and mapping technicians/technologists
- Mining technologists
If your occupation is listed below, click on the occupation link for specific requirements.
Examples of ineligible occupations:
- Clergy
- Dental laboratory bench worker
- Professional athletes
NOC Skill Level B: Skilled trade
Occupations usually require 18 to 72 months of apprenticeship training resulting in trade certification.
For examples of eligible occupations in this classification, see the related links for the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training list of Compulsory and Optional Certification Trades.
Trade occupation information
For Compulsory Certification Trades in Alberta Provincial Nominee (PN) Candidates must be certified journeypersons in their trade.
For Optional Certification Trades in Alberta, the Alberta PNP requires that PN Candidates be certified journeypersons in their trade from their home country or have obtained the minimum work experience requirements as set out by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Please note that the Alberta PNP will not nominate individuals in the apprenticeship stage.
Occupation association information
Many occupations in Alberta require an individual to be a registered member with the related association/institute/board. For example, physicians must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. Please ensure that the applicable membership or registration is obtained prior to submitting an application to the Alberta PNP.
Date Updated: May 26, 2008
RDP-617