Prioritized ‘Healthcare’ and ‘Tech’ BC PNP draw

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held BC PNP Tech draw along with three different draws targeting the care economy on March 14. The four BC PNP draws issued targeted invitations to qualified tech, healthcare and childcare applicants as a part of priority occupations targeted draws. The province invited over 170 applicants to apply for a provincial nomination through these draws.

In the BC PNP draw for Tech occupations and Childcare occupation (NOC 4214), 123 and 27 candidates, respectively, were invited from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories of BC PNP. The minimum cut-off score was 85 for both categories.

In the targeted draw for Healthcare assistants with NOC 3413, less than 5 applicants from Entry Level and Semi-Skilled subcategory were invited with a minimum score of 63.

The targeted BC PNP draw for Healthcare occupations invited 21 candidates from all three subcategories, i.e, Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled were issued invitations. Candidates in this draw were also required to have minimum 85 points in their profiles.

Invited candidates now have 30 calendar days to apply for provincial nomination.

Occupations under Targeted Draws

British Columbia announced some changes to the Skills Immigration Stream of its Provincial Nominee Program on March 10. Those changes include BC PNP draw for prioritized healthcare occupations owing to their critical need. Thus, the first draw after the announcement issued invitations to priority occupations which include BC PNP Tech occupations and Care Economy: Healthcare and Childcare occupations.

The BC PNP Tech draw invites candidates who have a job offer in the following 29 specified in-demand occupations

The 29 in-demand occupations are:

• Telecommunication carriers managers (NOC 0131)
• Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)
• Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts (NOC 0512)
• Civil engineers (NOC 2131)
• Mechanical engineers (NOC 2132)
• Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)
• Chemical engineers (NOC 2134)
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147)
• Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
• Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)
• Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)
• Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)
• Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)
• Biological technologists and technicians (NOC 2221)
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 2241)
• Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) (NOC 2242)
• Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (NOC 2243)
• Computer network technicians (NOC 2281)
• User support technicians (NOC 2282)
• Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283)
• Authors and writers (NOC 5121)
• Editors (NOC 5122)
• Translators, terminologists and interpreters (NOC 5125)
• Broadcast technicians (NOC 5224)
• Audio and video recording technicians (NOC 5225)
• Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts (NOC 5226)
• Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts (NOC 5227)
• Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 5241)
• Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221)

BC PNP draw for care economy invites candidates from 35 Healthcare occupations (including one occupation for healthcare assistants) and one Childcare occupation. These are:

Care economy: Healthcare occupations

• Managers in healthcare (NOC 0311)
• Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (NOC3011)
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
• Specialist physicians (NOC 3111)
• General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 3112)
• Dentists (NOC 3113)
• Chiropractors (NOC3122)
• Allied primary health practitioners (NOC 3124)
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (NOC3125)
• Pharmacists (NOC 3131)
• Dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 3132)
• Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (NOC3141)
• Physiotherapists (NOC 3142)
• Occupational therapists (NOC 3143)
• Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 3144)
• Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211)
• Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants (NOC 3212)
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 3214)
• Medical radiation technologists (NOC 3215)
• Medical sonographers (NOC3216)
• Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c. (NOC 3217)
• Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health) (NOC 3219)
• Denturists (NOC3221)
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 3222)
• Dental technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants (NOC 3223)
• Practitioners of natural healing (NOC 3232)
• Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233)
• Paramedical occupations (NOC 3234)
• Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 3237)
• Dental assistants (NOC 3411)
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates* (NOC3413)
• Psychologists (NOC 4151)
• Social workers (NOC 4152)
• Family, marriage and other related counsellors (NOC 4153)
• Social and community service workers (NOC 4212)

*For the purposes of the BC PNP, only health care assistants / health care aides are eligible under NOC 3413.

Care economy: Childcare occupations

• Early Childhood Educators (NOC 4214)

BC PNP Draw

The high-scoring candidates in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool are invited to apply through BC PNP draw. Candidates who qualify after application processing receive a provincial nomination. This nomination grants additional 600 points to the base CRS score of their Express Entry profiles. The high score with extra 600 points enhances their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next federal draw.
BC PNP applications are prioritized for these 65 occupations. Once approved the candidates receive the provincial nomination confirmation. After that, they can apply for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program of IRCC.

The Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is responsible for managing the BC PNP draw. The province has declared that targeted draws will be regularly held to give priority access to selected occupations. The priority access allows them to get permanent residence through a fast-track method. Furthermore, Periodic general draws will also be held for other skilled and semi-skilled workers. As announced by BC.

To check your eligibility for immigration to British Columbia and the requirements to enter through a priority occupation, get the free assessment form of Canadian Visa News.