A Standalone National Occupational Classification Code for IPAC Professionals

Who counts as an ICP—and who is missing from the picture? Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) includes infection control roles within its registered nursing category. Yet the IPAC workforce includes professionals from public health, microbiology, epidemiology, laboratory science, and other fields. These professionals are doing IPAC work, but their roles may be dispersed across different occupational classifications. That makes it difficult to see the full workforce. In this episode of The Infection Control Exchange Podcast, recorded at the IPAC GTA Education Day, Wayne Tucker and his guest discuss: • What the National Occupational Classification is and why it matters • The limitations of representing IPAC primarily through nursing • The case for a standalone classification for IPAC professionals • Potential implications for recruitment, education, professional recognition, and workforce planning • How to recognize diverse professional backgrounds while maintaining clear expectations for IPAC expertise What professional background did you bring to IPAC? Share your experience in the comments.