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NOC 41301: Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
NOC 41301 is a TEER 1 occupation. It counts as skilled work for Express Entry under FSW and CEC. It is on the 2026 Healthcare and social services category list. The latest round for that category (#441, September 4, 2026) invited 3,500 candidates at a CRS cutoff of 475.
Is this your code?
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies assist individuals and groups of clients to identify, understand and overcome personal problems and achieve personal objectives. They can be specialized to work on specific problems and they may practice psychotherapy. They are employed by counselling centres, social service agencies, group homes, government agencies, family therapy centres, and educational, health care and rehabilitation facilities, or they may work in private practice.
Job titles filed under this code
Official example titles
- addictions counsellor
- art therapist
- bereavement counsellor
- child and youth counsellor
- drama therapist
- family counsellor
- marriage counsellor
- movement therapist
- music therapist
- psychotherapist
- registered clinical counsellor
- registered dance therapist
- registered marriage and family therapist
- sex therapist
Also included: behavioural consultant; disability consultant; play therapist; psychoeducational consultant; psychoeducator
Not this code
Close occupations that have their own code
- Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) → 41321
- Educational counsellors → 41320
- Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment → 31204
- Managers in social, community and correctional services → 40030
- Social and community service workers → 42201
- Social workers → 41300
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients, prepare case histories and assess problems
- Develop and implement counselling and intervention programs to assist clients in determining goals and means of attaining them
- Counsel clients, provide therapy and mediation services, and facilitate group sessions
- Liaise with community agencies or partners, and identify additional or alternative services and provide referrals
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling programs and interventions, and clients' progress in resolving identified problems and movement toward defined objectives
- Follow up on results of counselling programs and clients' adjustments
- Prepare assessment, progress, follow-up and court reports
- May supervise other counsellors, social service staff and assistants
- May provide public education and consultation to other professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
- May provide witness testimony in court proceedings
- May conduct research, publish research papers, educational texts and articles and deliver presentations at conferences
- May collaborate with employee assistance programs or with government organizations in health and safety or with victims of crime
- May participate in fundraising activities.
What this code means for Express Entry
TEER 0–3 work counts toward the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
One year of this work in Canada can qualify for the Canadian Experience Class.
Not in a Federal Skilled Trades group.
Category-based rounds that list this code
| Category | Latest round | CRS | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare and social services occupations | #441 · Sep 4, 2026 | 475 | 3,500 |
To be invited in a category round you need at least 12 months of full-time work in a listed occupation within the last 3 years, on top of qualifying for Express Entry.
Check your eligibility with this code → Find pathways for this occupation
The code is carried into every tool on this site, so you only enter it once.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's or master's degree in the field of counselling, therapy, mental health, psychology or a related social service discipline is required and a period of supervised clinical work with clients may be required.
- A master's degree in the field of therapy is required for art therapist, music therapist, and dance therapists.
- Membership with a provincial or federal association is usually required by employers.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for counselling therapists.
- To practise psychotherapy, a permit is required in Quebec and registration with the appropriate regulatory body is required in Ontario.
Good to know
- Counselling therapists usually become specialized in a particular area through continual training and experience.
- Progression to social service management positions is possible with additional training and experience.
Codes in the same group
Official sources
- noc.esdc.gc.caNOC 2021 Version 1.0: 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
- statcan.gc.caStatistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
- canada.caIRCC: Find your National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- canada.caIRCC: Express Entry, who can apply
- canada.caIRCC: Express Entry category-based selection