NOC 94104: Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing
Inspectors and testers in mineral and metal processing inspect, grade, sample or test raw materials and products from mineral ore and metal processing operations. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 94104 (Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing) is a TEER 4 occupation — not skilled work for FSW or CEC. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 4
Not skilled for FSW/CEC
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 94104 |
|---|---|
| Title | Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing |
| Broad category | Occupations in manufacturing and utilities |
| TEER | TEER 4 — usually requires a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training |
Example job titles
- asbestos grader
- brick and tile inspector
- castings tester - primary metal and mineral products processing
- clay products grader
- core tester - foundry
- fibreglass tester
- glass quality control inspector
- heat treating inspector - metal processing
Main duties
- Inspect mineral ore, metal, cement, glass, clay or concrete products at various stages of processing to ensure adherence to specifications
- Grade and label raw materials or finished products according to size, thickness, composition or other classification standards
- Take samples of products during or after processing operation for routine analysis or for subsequent laboratory analysis
- Test product for strength, density, durability and conformance to specifications
- Advise supervisor or central control operator and process machine operators of problems and product deficiencies
- Complete inspection and test reports.
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 94100 — Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
- NOC 94101 — Foundry workers
- NOC 94102 — Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters
- NOC 94103 — Concrete, clay and stone forming operators
- NOC 94105 — Metalworking and forging machine operators
- NOC 94106 — Machining tool operators
- NOC 94107 — Machine operators of other metal products
- NOC 94110 — Chemical plant machine operators
- NOC 94111 — Plastics processing machine operators
- NOC 94112 — Rubber processing machine operators and related workers
← NOC 94103 Concrete, clay and stone forming operators · NOC 94105 Metalworking and forging machine operators →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 4 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 94104 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 94104 is a TEER 4 occupation. IRCC only counts TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work as skilled experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, so this occupation alone generally won't meet those requirements. Provincial programs may differ.
Is NOC 94104 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 94104 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 94104?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 94104. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.