Personal Support Worker (PSW) NOC Codes: 33102 vs 44101

A Personal Support Worker (PSW) helps people with daily tasks when illness, disability, or aging make self-care more difficult. They support comfort, safety, and dignity in care settings and in the community.

What is a NOC Code, and why does it matter in immigration applications

NOC stands for National Occupational Classification. A NOC code is Canada’s way of classifying jobs. It groups jobs by what workers actually do, not by the job title. Immigration applications often require a NOC code. The right code shows that your work experience meets the program requirements. Many people search for “Personal Support Worker” and expect one code. However, the same job title can fit more than one NOC code. The duties and the work setting decide the code.

Personal Support Worker under NOC 33102

NOC 33102 covers nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates. A PSW often fits here when they support patients inside a health care facility. This work supports nurses and other clinical staff. The focus stays on patient care and patient flow inside an institution.

Common duties that align with 33102 include:

1. Helping with bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding.
2. Turning, lifting, and positioning patients safely.
3. Taking vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature, and pulse.
4. Recording care details and observing changes in patient status.
5. Collecting specimens as directed.
6. Moving patients by wheelchair or stretcher for tests, surgery, or treatment.
7. Supporting unit tasks, such as stocking supplies and maintaining patient rooms.

In other words, a Personal Support Worker fits 33102 when the work looks and feels like institutional patient care support. Moreover, a PSW under NOC 33102 falls under the following circumstances.

• Their job falls under healthcare. Consequently, they must complete a medical examination if they are work permit holders.
• Since this is a TEER 3 job, it is high-skilled, which qualifies the applicant for the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker programs.

Personal Support Worker under NOC 44101

NOC 44101 covers home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations. A PSW often fits here when they provide care in the client’s residence. This work supports daily living at home. The focus stays on helping the client function safely in their own space.

Common duties that align with 44101 include:

1. Helping with ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing.
2. Planning and preparing meals, including special diets.
3. Feeding or assisting with feeding.
4. Providing companionship during convalescence or family disruption.
5. Doing routine housekeeping such as laundry, dishes, and making beds.
6. Completing routine health-related tasks under direction, when allowed.

In other words, a Personal Support Worker fits 44101 when the work centres on home-based personal care plus household support. Moreover, consider the following:

• NOC 44101is a low-skilled job and does not allow you to apply under the Express Entry system on its own. The work experience you accumulate will not generate a CRS score either.
• As with the other NOC Code, if you are a work permit holder, you must undergo an immigration medical examination for this job.
• Some provincial immigration options, such as Ontario In-Demand Skills, consider NOC 44101 as an acceptable occupation.

Similarities between NOC 33102 and 44101

These NOC codes overlap because both can describe hands-on support work.

1. Both can include Activities of Daily Living (ADL) support, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding.
2. Both involve close contact with vulnerable clients.
3. Both require strong communication, patience, and attention to safety.
4. Both can include basic, routine health-related tasks, depending on the work context.

So, the Personal Support Worker title alone does not settle the coding question.

Differences between NOC 33102 and 44101

The codes are split in clear, practical ways.

Work setting

• NOC 33102 usually involves a health care establishment such as a hospital, nursing home, or assisted care facility. The Personal Support Worker supports facility-based patient care.
• NOC 44101 involves the client’s residence. The Personal Support Worker supports home functioning and independence.

Who directs the work?

• NOC 33102 work often follows directions from nurses, hospital staff, or physicians. The Personal Support Worker also supports unit operations and patient movement.
• NOC 44101 work often follows directions from a home care agency supervisor or nurse. The PSW also manages practical daily needs in the home.

Duty pattern

• NOC 33102 often includes vitals, charting, specimen handling, patient transport, and supply support. The Personal Support Worker plays a role in patient flow.
• NOC 44101 often includes meal planning, special diets, and household routines. The Personal Support Worker helps keep the home safe and functional.

Training and classification

• NOC 33102 sits in TEER 3 (high-skilled). It often connects to longer formal training or supervised practical training.
• NOC 44101 sits in TEER 4 (low-skilled). It often connects to secondary school plus shorter job training, although training programs may still apply.

The most significant Personal Support Worker identifier between the two NOC codes

The most decisive identifier is the primary work setting and purpose.

Choose NOC 33102 when the PSW mainly provides patient care support inside a health care facility and supports clinical workflow.

Choose NOC 44101 when the Personal Support Worker mainly provides personal care in the client’s residence and supports daily living at home.

If you feel stuck, list the top duties by the time spent on each. Then match those duties to the code that best fits the day-to-day reality.

Are you in doubt? Book a consultation session

If you are unsure, seek advice before submitting an application. A consultation can help you:

1. Map your Personal Support Worker duties to the right NOC code.
2. Spot mixed-duty risks early.
3. Prepare employer letters that reflect what you actually do.

Book a consultation session to review your work history and choose the most defensible code.