NOC 41321: Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)

Is this your code?

Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) provide assistance and information to job seeker clients on all aspects of employment search and career planning. They also provide advice and information to employer clients regarding employment issues and human resources. They are employed by public or private employment agencies, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, human resource departments of establishments, consulting firms, correctional facilities and by federal and provincial governments. Supervisors of career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education) are included in this unit group.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Interview clients to obtain employment history, educational background and career goals
• Identify barriers to employment and assist clients with such matters as job readiness skills, job search strategies, writing résumés and preparing for job interviews
• Assess need for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid or further training and refer clients to the appropriate services
• Provide established workers with information and strategies for maintaining a job or moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction, making mid-career changes and adjusting to workplace transitions
• Collect labour market information for clients regarding job openings, entry and skill requirements and other occupational information
• Advise employers on human resource and other employment-related issues
• Provide consulting services to community groups and agencies, businesses, industry and other organizations involved in providing community-based career planning support or resources
• May administer and interpret tests designed to determine the interests, aptitudes and abilities of clients.

May provide advocacy and adjudication services related to employment legislation or contractual agreements.

May arrange for, or conduct physical, mental, academic, vocational, and other evaluations to obtain information for assessing clients' needs and to develop employment and rehabilitation plans.

Vocational counsellors provide specialized career development services to individuals with physical illnesses or injuries, mental health illnesses and individuals with disabilities. They require additional knowledge and experience to assess employment capabilities and develop associated employment plans.

What this code means for Express Entry

CRS points from November 3, 2026

NOC 41321 is not on IRCC's high-wage occupations list. From November 3, 2026, Canadian work in it earns only the work-length points, and a job offer in it adds no CRS points (it can still count for program eligibility).

IRCC high-wage list (list from 2023 to 2025 wage data, read 2026-10-16) · CRS calculator with the new rules

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 degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or in a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services is required.
• A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work may be required.
• Vocational rehabilitation professional certification may be required by employers.
• In Quebec, membership in l'Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec is mandatory to use the titles ''vocational counsellor'' and "vocational guidance counsellor".
• In New Brunswick, membership in the College of Counselling Therapists of New Brunswick is mandatory to use the title "Licensed career counsellor".
• In Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, Certified Career Development Professional/Practitioner (CCDP) certification may be required by employers.

Good to know

• Mobility to positions in personnel or training is possible.
• Progression to supervisory positions is possible through experience.

Codes in the same group

Official sources

• noc.esdc.gc.caNOC 2021 Version 1.0: 41321 Career development practitioners and career counsellors (except education)
• 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