Licensed practical nurses
Occupation · NOC 2021 32101 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 32101
- TEER
- 2
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 309
- Median wage, Canada
- C$31.32 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 7,113
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About this occupation
Licensed practical nurses provide nursing care usually under the direction of medical practitioners, registered nurses or other health team members. Operating room technicians prepare patients and provide assistance to medical practitioners prior to and during surgery. Licensed practical nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, companies, private homes and community health centres. Operating room technicians are employed in hospitals.
Example job titles
- graduate nursing assistant
- licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.)
- operating room technician
- registered nursing assistant (R.N.A.)
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Licensed practical nurses
- Provide nursing services, within defined scope of practice, to patients based on patient assessment and care planning procedures
- Perform nursing interventions such as taking vital signs, applying aseptic techniques including sterile dressing, ensuring infection control, monitoring nutritional intake and conducting specimen collection
- Administer medication and observe and document therapeutic effects
- Provide pre-operative and post-operative personal and comfort care
- Monitor established respiratory therapy and intravenous therapy
- Monitor patients' progress, evaluate and document effectiveness of nursing interventions and collaborate with appropriate members of health care team
- Provide safety and health education to individuals and their families.
- Operating room technicians
Employment requirements
- Completion of a vocational, college or other approved program for licensed practical nurses is required.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories.
- Completion of a registration examination is required in all provinces and territories.
- Operating room technicians require additional academic training in operating room techniques.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 86 |
| 2025 | 85 |
| 2026 | 8 |
- Schlegel Villages Inc19
- Simpe Q Care Inc.16
- HYTHE PIONEER ASSISTED LIVING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP15
- EXTENDICARE (CANADA) INC.12
- Qualicum Quality Care Services Ltd10
- Marianhill Inc.8
- Hillcrest Village Inc.7
- Centre Intégré universitaire de santé et service sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale7
- SEC LOKIA ST-SACREMENT7
- HCN-Cogir Lessee LP6
- RESIDENCE LA LIBERTE INC5
- Société en commandite Lokia Trois-Rivières5
- POINTS WEST LIVING WAINWRIGHT INC5
- Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc.5
- 1011166 BC Ltd5
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 145 |
| 2025 | 10 | 70 |
| 2024 | 20 | 50 |
| 2020 | 0 | 10 |
| 2017 | 0 | 5 |
| 2016 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | 0 | 15 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2024 | 70 |
| 2025 | 80 |
| 2026 | 150 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 245 |
| 2016 | 215 |
| 2017 | 170 |
| 2018 | 165 |
| 2019 | 105 |
| 2020 | 55 |
| 2021 | 420 |
| 2022 | 190 |
| 2023 | 135 |
| 2024 | 375 |
| 2025 | 220 |
| 2026 | 250 |
- Canadian Experience Class1,180
- Provincial Nominee Program505
- Federal Skilled Worker265
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$25.00 | C$31.32 | C$38.00 |
| Alberta | C$25.80 | C$32.00 | C$36.00 |
| British Columbia | C$29.00 | C$34.57 | C$42.00 |
| Manitoba | C$25.00 | C$33.57 | C$38.57 |
| New Brunswick | C$27.00 | C$31.50 | C$35.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$26.44 | C$29.58 | C$32.08 |
| Nova Scotia | C$28.00 | C$30.42 | C$35.11 |
| Ontario | C$25.32 | C$31.00 | C$37.94 |
| Quebec | C$24.21 | C$30.00 | C$33.00 |
| Saskatchewan | C$33.00 | C$38.09 | C$42.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 7,113
- Vacancies advertised
- 9,015
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$36.16
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