Appendix J – National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3124: Allied Primary Health Practitioners

This unit group typically comprises nurse practitioners, physician assistants and midwives. People engaging in these professions would typically provide primary health care and treatment along with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants usually provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care for managing the patients’ health. Midwives provide full-course care to women and their babies during the pre and post-natal period. Nurse practitioners usually find employment in community health centres, hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centres. Similarly, physician assistants usually work in private practice. This could include group or team practices, clinics and hospitals. Midwives usually work in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice.

The Example Titles

Some example titles held by these individuals could include:

The Main Duties

Nurse practitioners would usually perform some or all of the following duties:

• Examining patients and taking their medical histories and consulting with other physicians and medical practitioners for evaluating the patients’ physical and mental health

• Ordering laboratory tests, x-rays and other diagnostic procedures

• Inoculating and vaccinating patients

• Advising patients and their families on health care including health promotion, diseases, illnesses and accident prevention and,

• Collaborating with members of an interdisciplinary health team comprising family physicians, therapists and nutritionists for planning, implementing, coordinating and evaluating patient care in consultation with the patients and their families

Similarly, physician assistants would be performing some or all of the following duties:

• Conducting patient interviews, physical assessments and taking medical histories

• Performing or ordering diagnostic tests and interpreting the results

• Formulating and implementing various treatment plans and monitoring the progress of the patients

• Inoculating and vaccinating patients

• Performing and assisting in minor surgeries

• Providing health maintenance education and,

• Participating in various research related activities

Midwives would usually perform some or all of the following duties:

• Providing primary, full course care to women and their babies during pregnancy, labour, birth and the post-natal period (this includes monitoring the health of the baby and its mother)

• Managing labour and spontaneous normal deliveries

• Caring for, assessing and monitoring the health of newborns and referring the infants to the appropriate medical services as required and,

• Providing advice and guidance regarding care for newborns and young infants

The Employment Requirements

The authorities require that nurse practitioners:

• Possess a master’s degree in nursing or complete a nursing program with additional advanced or extended primary health care nursing education (in addition to having several years of practice as registered nurses) and,

• Register with a regulatory body in all provinces and territories (a mandatory requirement)

Similarly, the authorities require physician assistants to:

• Complete a university degree in physician assistant programs and,

• Register with a regulatory body (applicable for physician assistants in Manitoba)

The authorities require midwives to:

• Complete an undergraduate university degree program in midwifery or its equivalent and have a period of supervised practical training and,

• Register themselves with a regulatory body (applicable to midwives in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories)

Additional Information

It is worth highlighting that there is no mobility between these occupations unless the individuals receive further training.

Classified Elsewhere

• General practitioners and family physicians i.e. National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3112

• Managers in health care i.e. National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0311

• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating i.e. National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3125

• Practitioners of natural healing i.e. National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3232

• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses i.e. National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3012

• Specialist physicians i.e. National Occupational Classification (NOC) 3111