TEER Category Explained: What It Means for Your Ontario OINP Application
If you've started researching Ontario's Workforce Priority stream, you've probably run into the term TEER category and wondered what it actually means for you. It matters more than almost any other factor in your application — it determines your work experience requirement, your language requirement, your education requirement, and even how many points you score.
What Does TEER Stand For?
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility. It's the classification system Statistics Canada and IRCC use to categorize every occupation in the country, and it replaced the older "NOC skill level" system (A, B, C, D) a few years ago.
How to Find Your TEER Category
Your TEER category is the second digit of your occupation's 5-digit NOC code.
For example:
- NOC 13102 (Payroll administrators) → the second digit is 3 → TEER 3
- NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers) → the second digit is 3 → TEER 3
- NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates) → the second digit is 3 → TEER 3
If you don't know your NOC code yet, you can look it up using Canada's official National Occupational Classification tool — search your job title and match it to the closest description.
The Six TEER Categories
| TEER | General Description |
|---|---|
| 0 | Management occupations |
| 1 | Professional occupations, usually requiring a university degree |
| 2 | Occupations requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years), or supervisory roles |
| 3 | Occupations requiring college diploma/apprenticeship (under 2 years) or 6+ months on-the-job training |
| 4 | Occupations usually requiring a high school diploma and some short-term training |
| 5 | Occupations with no formal education requirements, usually with short demonstration |
Why TEER Matters for the Workforce Priority Stream
Work Experience
- TEER 0–3: You typically need 6 months of consecutive work experience in your specific job offer position (within the last 12 months), or 3 months if you're a recent Ontario graduate, or 2 years of cumulative experience in the same occupation within the last 5 years
- TEER 4–5: You need 9 months of cumulative work experience within the last 2 years
Language Requirements
- TEER 0–3 (non-skilled-trade): CLB 6 across all four language areas
- TEER 0–3 (listed skilled trades): CLB 5
- TEER 4–5: CLB 4
Note: if you graduated from an eligible Ontario institution within the last 3 years, you may not need a language test at all.
Education Requirements
- TEER 0–3: A postsecondary credential of at least one year (or a high school diploma if your occupation is a listed skilled trade)
- TEER 4–5: A high school diploma or equivalent
Scoring Points
TEER category also directly affects your points:
- TEER 0 or 1 → 9 points
- TEER 2 or 3 → 6 points
- TEER 4 or 5 → 0 points
Not sure your job qualifies?
This is one of the most common points of confusion — and one of the easiest things to get wrong, since your entire application strategy depends on it. Run a free check and we'll help you confirm your TEER category and what it means for your specific eligibility.
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