NOC 31303: Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
Physician assistants and midwives provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Physician assistants provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Midwives provide full-course care to women and their babies during the pre- and post-natal period. This unit group also includes professionals such as genetic counsellors, orthoptists and pathologists' assistants, who work in collaboration with primary health occupations. Genetic counsellors assess individual or family risk of genetic conditions, and provide information to individuals, families and healthcare providers to promote informed choice. Orthoptists diagnose and treat binocular disorders. Pathologists' assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens, or perform autopsies under a pathologist's supervision. Physician assistants usually work under physicians in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Midwives are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice. Genetic counsellors usually work in private practice, hospitals, clinics and research institutes. Orthoptists work under an ophthalmologist, particularly in private practices or clinics. Pathologists' assistants are usually employed in hospitals and universities.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 31303 (Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals) is a TEER 1 occupation, so it counts as skilled work for Express Entry. It is on IRCC's high-wage list at Level 1: +70 CRS for 12+ months of Canadian work, or 100 for a job offer. It is eligible for Healthcare category draws.
TEER
TEER 1
Skilled for Express Entry
High-wage
Level 1
+70 work · 100 job offer
Category draws
Healthcare
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 31303 |
|---|---|
| Title | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| Broad category | Health occupations |
| TEER | TEER 1 — usually requires a university degree |
Category-based draws
- Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3 — have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous (in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation); in Canada or abroad).
CRS points for this occupation
Under the Labour Market Integration factor, IRCC gives you the higher of: your Canadian work-length points plus 70 for 12+ months of qualifying work in a Level 1 occupation, or 100 points for a valid job offer in it. How job offer points work.
Example job titles
Main duties
- Physician assistants
- Conduct patient interviews, physical assessments and take medical histories
- Perform or order diagnostic tests and interpret results
- In consultation with a supervising physician, formulate and implement treatment plans and monitor patients' progress
- Perform and assist in minor surgery
- Provide health maintenance education
- May participate in research activities
- May prescribe from a limited list of medications.
Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.
Related occupations
- NOC 31300 — Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- NOC 31301 — Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- NOC 31302 — Nurse practitioners
- NOC 31100 — Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- NOC 31101 — Specialists in surgery
- NOC 31102 — General practitioners and family physicians
- NOC 31103 — Veterinarians
- NOC 31110 — Dentists
- NOC 31111 — Optometrists
- NOC 31112 — Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
← NOC 31302 Nurse practitioners · NOC 32100 Opticians →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 1 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).
Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is NOC 31303 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 31303 is a TEER 1 occupation. IRCC counts work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations as skilled work experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, as long as all other program requirements are met.
Is NOC 31303 a high-wage occupation?+
Yes. It's on IRCC's high-wage list at Level 1. From November 3, 2026, 12+ months of qualifying Canadian work in it adds 70 CRS points, or a valid job offer in it is worth 100 points (whichever is higher).
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 31303?+
As published by IRCC: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3. Candidates generally need have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous.