BC PNP Skills Immigration Stream updated

British Columbia announced the implementation of some changes to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration stream on March 10, 2022. This came as a response to the critical need for more healthcare workers and Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) in the province. The province aims to prioritize these occupations and increase support for the care economy.
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration program administered by the Government of British Columbia. The program enables the province to select and nominate foreign workers, international students and entrepreneurs willing to live and work. These immigrants meet the labour market requirements of B.C., support government priorities, and help grow the province’s economy. Applicants nominated through BC PNP can apply to IRCC (along with their families) to become permanent residents of Canada.
The key changes brought by British Columbia in its Skills Immigration Stream effective March 10, 2022, are:

1. Targeted ITA for the Care economy: The province will issue targeted invitations to apply, giving priority access to select occupations in the care economy. These include:
   1. 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 BC PNP, only health care assistants/health care aides are eligible under NOC 3413.
   2. Care economy: Childcare occupations
      • Early Childhood Educators (NOC 4214)
2. Healthcare and dental assistants under ELSS: Healthcare assistants and dental assistants have been added as eligible occupations under the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) subcategory of Skills Immigration Stream. ELSS candidates must complete nine months of continuous full-time employment with the employer supporting their BC PNP application before registering with the BC PNP.
3. Priority Access: The priority access is given to targeted invitations to apply will replace the registration points awarded for high-demand occupations in the Labour Market Outlook. Applicants under one of the above-mentioned occupation lists of in-demand health occupations and ECEs, who have a qualified, permanent job offer in B.C., will be given priority access to the BC PNP.
   Priority access can be achieved through direct-to-apply categories, such as workers employed by a Health Authority, or targeted draws for qualified workers having a job offer as an ECE or healthcare worker. As applicants and employers are always required to meet the relevant program criteria, they must carefully review the BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide to stay updated about the specific details.
4. Periodic General draws: General draws for other skilled and semi-skilled workers who fulfill the program’s eligibility criteria will be conducted periodically.
5. Targeted ITA’s to support government priorities: Invitations to apply may be targeted to support B.C. government priorities, such as supporting specific sectors, encouraging regional immigration, facilitating strategic pilot projects, and safeguarding the program’s integrity.
6. Health Authority category: The former Health Care Professional category has been replaced with the Health Authority category. The new Health Authority category is open to any occupation employed by a health authority.
7. Strategic Priorities & Initiatives: The Strategic Priorities & Initiatives have been adjusted according to the need of the situation. There are no changes to BC PNP Tech, and B.C. is allocated a specified number of nominations every year. Strategic priorities and activities aim to ensure that the BC PNP is operated in the most efficient way possible and following the StrongerBC Economic Plan. Through this, they ensure that the program’s integrity is maintained and assist qualified applicants in achieving their goals.
8. Management occupations: As per the recent changes, management occupations are not eligible under the International Graduates categories. Workers in management occupations under Skill Type 0 in the NOC list are only eligible to apply under the Skilled Worker categories.
9. Experience: The requirement of two years directly related experience under the Skilled Worker category is replaced with two years of skilled experience.
10. Employer requirements: The recent change has also updated the requirements for the skills immigration stream and added more clarified conditions.
    The BC PNP helps employers recruit and retain in-demand workers for positions that they are unable to fill from the local labour pool. Most BC PNP categories need the support of an eligible B.C. employer, and these employers are required to fulfill specific responsibilities and requirements to support their employee’s BC PNP applications. To become an eligible employer they must:
    1. be established in B.C.
    2. meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements
    3. offer full-time, indeterminate (permanent or with no set end date) employment
       • BC PNP Tech applicants in eligible tech occupations may have a one-year, full-time job offer
    4. offer a wage in line with industry standards
    5. provide a signed job offer
    6. complete and sign the Employer Declaration Form
    7. submit supporting documents about your business
    8. follow local laws and regulations.
11. Other changes: Other changes to the Skills Immigration stream include clarifying or adjusting criteria and updating definitions.

A new version of the BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide is now available on the official website of British Columbia for those who want full details about these and other changes.