Historical/time-bound note: this relates specifically to the transition from the NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 occupational classification system, which affected Express Entry profiles around November 2021.
What group members advised:- If you already submitted your application, you do not need to update your NOC code, even if your profile's Work History section shows as locked or "In Progress" with an empty Primary NOC field.
- Applicants who received their ITA before November 16 (the NOC 2021 cutover date) were specifically exempt from needing to update their occupation classification before submitting the eAPR.
If you're encountering a similar locked-field issue outside of a classification-system transition, this specific reassurance may not apply — check current IRCC guidance for the cause of your particular profile lock.