72103

Boilermakers

TEER 2 — College diploma, apprenticeship (2+ yrs) or supervisory

Express Entry skill level: Yes
Regulated in Québec: Yes
In demand in Manitoba: No

Classification

Trades, transport & equipment operators

7 › 72 › 721 › 7210

Definition

Boilermakers fabricate, assemble, erect, test, maintain and repair boilers, vessels, tanks, towers, heat exchangers and other heavy-metal structures. They are employed in boiler fabrication, manufacturing, shipbuilding, construction, electric power generation and similar industrial establishments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Read blueprints or specifications to plan sequence of operation
Lay out plate, sheet steel or other heavy metal and mark bending and cutting lines on work piece using protractors, compasses and drawing instruments or templates
Set up and operate heavy-metal working machines such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters and drill presses to cut, shape and form metal into parts or sections
Fit and weld metal parts or sections together to fabricate boilers, vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, piping and other heavy-metal products
Erect and install boilers and other heavy-metal products according to specifications using hand and power tools
Repair and perform maintenance work on boilers and other heavy-metal products
Direct activities of hoist or crane operators and other workers during fabrication, assembly, installation or repair of structures
Test finished structures using a variety of methods.
Boilermakers may specialize in rigging and hoisting, preparation and layout, or welding aspects of the trade.

Example job titles

•boiler fitter
•boiler installer
•boilermaker
•boilermaker apprentice
•construction boilermaker
•industrial boilermaker
•marine boilermaker
•pressure vessel fabricator

Overview

Under Canada's NOC 2021 system, Boilermakers are classified under NOC code 72103 within TEER 2. Professionals in this trade assemble, erect, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vessels, and other heavy-metal vessels such as heat exchangers and tanks. They find employment across various industrial sectors, including metal fabrication facilities, shipbuilding yards, power generation plants, petroleum refineries, and manufacturing plants.

To work as a boilermaker in Canada, specific employment requirements must be met. Typically, completion of secondary school and a three-to-four-year apprenticeship program, or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade, is required to secure trade certification. Trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Alberta, while it remains voluntary but highly beneficial in all other provinces and territories. Obtaining a Red Seal endorsement upon passing the interprovincial exam facilitates seamless employment mobility across Canada.

For immigration purposes, NOC 72103 falls under the TEER 2 category, making qualified boilermakers eligible for key Canadian immigration pathways, including the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under the Express Entry system. Additionally, many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) target skilled trades to address provincial labor shortages.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. For official and updated guidelines, please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a regulated immigration professional.

Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.

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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.