NOC check for
Express Entry & PNP.
Run a NOC check in 30 seconds: paste your reference-letter duties and we score them against the official NOC 2021 main duties. IRCC officers compare your duties to the NOC you claimed — if they don't match, your application is refused.
- "Designed and built distributed systems" — matched
- "Led code reviews" — matched
- "Managed vendor contracts" — outside NOC scope
The #1 mistake that triggers a PR refusal
Under Canada's NOC 2021 system, your work experience only counts if a "substantial number" of your actual duties match the official lead statement and main duties of the NOC you selected. A single mismatch can disqualify the entire year of experience — and with it, your CRS score.
Refusals are final
An NOC misclassification refusal means losing your $1,365+ application fee and starting over — months later.
Officers read every word
IRCC compares your reference letter line-by-line against the NOC's main duties. Vague duties = procedural fairness letter.
A better NOC may exist
Many applicants pick the obvious NOC and miss a closer match that boosts their duty alignment to 90%+.
How it works
Tell us about your job
Enter your NOC code, job title, and the duties from your reference letter.
We compare against official NOC data
Our engine analyzes your duties against the NOC 2021 lead statement and main duties.
Get your match score
Receive a precise percentage match, plus optional suggestions for stronger-fit NOC codes.
Caught the wrong NOC before it cost them.
"I was about to submit with NOC 21232. Check My NOC scored it at 62% and suggested 21231 instead — that one came back at 89%. Got my ITA two months later with zero questions on work experience."
"My job title was 'Growth Lead' so I had no idea which NOC fit. The alternatives report gave me three ranked options with reasoning. Used the top one, passed completeness check first try."
"Worth way more than $25. I'd already paid $400 for a consultant who picked the wrong NOC. This caught it in 30 seconds."
A real sample report.
Every check returns a duty-by-duty breakdown, a percentage match against the official NOC 2021 main duties, a risk indicator, and — on the Match + alternatives plan — ranked alternative NOCs that fit your duties more closely.
- Percentage match with low/medium/high risk flag
- Each duty tagged match / partial / outside scope
- Up to 4 alternative NOCs ranked by fit
Already know your NOC?
Most applicants forget the details that make a reference letter IRCC-compliant. Create a duty-ready, formatted employment reference letter in minutes — with the right hours, salary, and main duties so your work experience actually counts.
Generate my reference letter- Company letterhead, contact info & signature blocks
- Job title, dates, hours per week & salary
- Main duties aligned with your NOC code
- Multiple currencies & formatted for HR sign-off
Simple, one-time pricing.
No subscription. Pay only for the analysis you need.
- Percentage match for your chosen NOC
- Duty-by-duty breakdown
- Risk indicator (low / medium / high)
- Everything in Single match
- Suggested NOC codes with 70%+ match
- Ranked by closest fit to your duties
- Often reveals a stronger NOC for your case
How to find and check the correct NOC code for Canadian PR
Picking the right National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is the single most consequential decision in an Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) application. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires that your work experience match a specific NOC 2021 code — and that the duties on your employment reference letter for PR align with that code's official lead statement and main duties published by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
1. Find a NOC code that matches your job
Start at the official NOC 2021 matrix: noc.esdc.gc.ca. Search by job title or keyword, then read the lead statement and main duties — not just the title. Two jobs with identical titles can map to different NOC codes depending on the duties you actually perform.
2. Check your NOC code against IRCC's rules
IRCC states you must have performed "the actions described in the lead statement" and "a substantial number of the main duties" listed for the NOC code you claim. A mismatch is among the most common reasons work experience for PR is rejected.
3. How to pick the correct NOC code when several fit
If two or three NOC codes look plausible, score each one against your real duties and pick the highest match. Check My NOC's Match + alternatives plan automates this — it ranks every NOC with 70%+ duty alignment so you can compare side by side before you commit to one on your application.
4. Get a strong proof of work experience for Canadian PR
Your reference letter must follow IRCC's Express Entry completeness check guidelines: company letterhead, job title, start/end dates, hours per week, salary, and a detailed list of main duties written in language that mirrors the NOC's main duties. Vague duties trigger procedural fairness letters and refusals.
Read next
- How to find a NOC code for Canadian PR — step-by-step
- How to check your NOC code before you apply for PR
- Proof of work experience for Canadian PR: IRCC requirements + template
- Work hours & salary on your IRCC reference letter — what to include
- Hybrid job? How to choose your primary NOC code
- How to calculate the 12-month experience rule for category-based draws
- Corporate job title vs IRCC NOC code: why your title doesn't matter
- How to match NOC codes for freelancers and self-employed applicants
- NOC mismatch refusal: why IRCC rejects work experience claims (2026 update)
- IRCC procedural fairness letter about NOC mismatch: how to respond and what to submit
- Check My NOC vs searching the NOC website yourself: what you'll miss
- NOC code for HR manager Canada PR: 10011 vs 11200 explained
- NOC code for data analyst Canada PR: 21211 vs 21223 explained
- NOC 11202: advertising, marketing & PR professionals
- NOC 10022: project manager & senior business managers
- NOC 13100: administrative officers (TEER 3)
- NOC 31102: general practitioners & family physicians
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find the correct NOC code for my job?
- Search the official NOC 2021 matrix on noc.esdc.gc.ca by job title or keyword, then compare the lead statement and main duties against your real work. Check My NOC automates this by scoring your reference-letter duties against the NOC you select and, on the Match + alternatives plan, surfacing closer-fit codes.
- How do I check if my NOC code is correct for Express Entry?
- IRCC requires that you performed a 'substantial number' of the main duties listed for your NOC, including the lead statement. Paste your duties into Check My NOC to get a percentage match before you submit your Express Entry profile or PNP application.
- How do I pick the correct NOC code if two codes look similar?
- Pick the NOC whose lead statement and main duties most closely describe what you actually do day-to-day — not just your job title. Title alone is not enough; IRCC officers read the duties on your reference letter. Our Match + alternatives plan ranks every NOC with 70%+ duty alignment so you can compare side by side.
- What should a reference letter for PR include?
- Per IRCC's work-experience requirements, your employment reference letter must include company letterhead, your job title, start and end dates, hours per week, salary, and a detailed list of main duties written in the same language as your NOC's main duties. Vague duties trigger procedural fairness letters.
- How is skilled work experience counted for Canadian PR?
- Canada counts paid, continuous work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations under NOC 2021. Volunteer work, unpaid internships, and self-employment for CEC do not qualify. The duties on your reference letter must match the NOC you claim.
Sources: ESDC NOC 2021, IRCC Express Entry.