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NOC 72604: Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
NOC 72604 is a TEER 2 occupation. It counts as skilled work for Express Entry under FSW and CEC. It is not on any 2026 category list, so candidates compete in general and program rounds.
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Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They are employed by rail transport companies. Marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate coastal and inland marine traffic within assigned waterways. They are employed by port, harbour, canal and lock authorities and by the Canadian Coast Guard.
Job titles filed under this code
Official example titles
- chief rail traffic controller
- marine traffic regulator
- rail traffic controller
- train operator
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Railway traffic controllers
- Operate and monitor centralized traffic control systems to coordinate and follow railway traffic
- Chart train movements, calculate arrival and departure times and record rail traffic information
- Issue instructions to control the movement of passenger and freight train traffic and on-track mobile maintenance equipment
- Receive, record and relay train instructions to train crew by hand or radio telephone
- May supervise and train other railway traffic controllers.
Marine traffic regulators
- Direct and monitor vessel movements using radar or closed circuit monitors, remote radio systems and other telecommunication equipment
- Obtain position, course, speed and estimated arrival time of vessels and monitor vessel progress through traffic zone
- Issue clearance instructions to vessels, advise vessels of traffic volumes and weather conditions, and relay information to next marine traffic control sector
- Report accidents, distress signals, navigational hazards and other emergencies to authorities
- Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent marine control sectors and with vessels within area of jurisdiction
- Maintain log of vessel movements, size and structure.
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.
CRS points from November 3, 2026
NOC 72604 is on IRCC's high-wage occupations list at the 1.5x level. From November 3, 2026, at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of Canadian work in it adds 40 points to your Canadian work experience points in the CRS, and a valid job offer in it is worth 70 points; the higher of the two counts. No LMIA is needed.
IRCC high-wage list (list from 2023 to 2025 wage data, read 2026-10-16) · CRS calculator with the new rules
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Employment requirements
- Railway traffic controllers usually require completion of secondary school and several years of experience in the railway industry.
- Up to 35 weeks of a combination of classroom and on-the-job training is provided for railway traffic controllers.
- Railway traffic controllers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
- Marine traffic regulators require completion of secondary school and several months of formal traffic regulator training.
Good to know
- There is little mobility between traffic controlling occupations in the railway and marine sectors.
- With experience, railway traffic controllers may progress to supervisory positions in rail transport operations.
Codes in the same group
Official sources
- noc.esdc.gc.caNOC 2021 Version 1.0: 72604 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
- 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