21109 Other professional occupations in physical sciences

What this occupation covers

Professionals in other physical sciences occupations conduct theoretical and applied research in fields of physical science. Metallurgists, soil scientists and physical scientists and researchers are included in this unit group. They are employed by governments, educational institutions and a wide range of industrial establishments.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 4 main duties for this code.

• Conduct studies into the properties and production of metals and alloys.
• Conduct research into the composition, distribution and evolution of soils.
• Conduct research into the properties, composition and production of materials such as ceramics and composite materials.
• Command, pilot or serve as crew members of a spacecraft to conduct scientific experiments and research, and participate in space missions as mission specialists to maintain spacecraft, install and repair space station equipment and launch and recapture satellites.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 4 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
• 20011 Architecture and science managers
• 21101 Chemists
• 21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers

Excluded from this code

• Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (See 72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors)
• Architecture and science managers (See 20011 Architecture and science managers)
• Chemists (See 21101 Chemists)
• Metallurgical and materials engineers (See 21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

astronaut · ballistician · ballistics examiner · cosmonaut · extractive metallurgist · firearms examiner · firearms expert · hydrometallurgist · materials engineering scientist · materials scientist · metallographer · metallurgist · pedologist · physical metallurgist · pyrometallurgist · research metallurgist · research scientist - ceramics · research scientist - composite materials · soil scientist

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in metallurgy, physics, chemistry, or a related physical science discipline is required.
• A master's or doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research scientist.
• Advanced degrees in a broad range of applied science areas, such as engineering or medicine or Licences may be required for some occupations in this unit group.