Last Updated On 30 April 2026, 9:17 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
British Columbia has overhauled its provincial nominee program priorities to focus on three strategic objectives that will shape immigration selection for the rest of 2026 and beyond.
On April 23, 2026, the BC Provincial Nominee Program announced that it would now guide all nominations by three core sectors: Care, Build, and Innovate.
Under Care, British Columbia is prioritizing workers who strengthen healthcare delivery, education, childcare, and veterinary services across the province.
Under Build, the province will target certified tradespeople who are essential to delivering major infrastructure projects and supporting construction activity in communities throughout B.C.
Under Innovate, the BC PNP will continue issuing High Economic Impact invitations that attract top professionals and entrepreneurs across all sectors as part of the province’s Look West strategy.
These changes represent a significant shift in how British Columbia selects immigrants, moving away from broad-based draws toward highly targeted nominations that directly address the province’s most urgent workforce needs.
At least 35% of all BC PNP nominations are anticipated to go to candidates working in regional communities outside Metro Vancouver, a commitment that underscores the province’s focus on distributing immigration benefits beyond the Lower Mainland.
Table of Contents
36 In-Demand Occupations in Healthcare, Education, Childcare, and Veterinary Care
The Care priority includes 36 occupations spanning health care, education, childcare, and veterinary care that British Columbia considers essential to maintaining public services and community well-being.
Eligibility for BC PNP streams is based in part on the federal government’s 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, and candidates should verify their NOC code before registering.
The program will also nominate workers in select healthcare occupations employed in the broader health sector, extending opportunities beyond those directly employed by a health authority.
Certified early childhood educators, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists who are working toward Canadian certification will be prioritized under the Care objective.
British Columbia will also leverage additional federal allocations available for francophone recruitment by prioritizing French-speaking teachers working in the province’s public K-12 school system.
Health Care Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
| 30010 | Managers in health care |
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31201 | Chiropractors |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31204 | Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 32112 | Dental technologists and technicians |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists |
| 32200 | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates* |
| 41300 | Social workers |
*For the purposes of the BC PNP, only registered health care assistants and aides are eligible under NOC 33102. To receive a targeted invitation to apply, workers in NOC 33102 must be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
Veterinary Care Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
Education Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
| 41220 | Secondary school teachers (French-speaking only)¹ |
| 41221 | Elementary and kindergarten teachers (French-speaking only)¹ |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants² |
¹ To receive a targeted invitation to apply, French-speaking teachers under NOC 41220 or NOC 41221 must be employed in B.C.’s public K-12 system and must have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or higher in French.
² To receive a targeted invitation to apply, workers in NOC 42202 must hold an Early Childhood Education (ECE) One Year or Five Year Certificate.
Temporary Initiative for Health Authority Cleaning and Security Workers
The BC PNP will deliver a time-limited, one-time initiative to retain up to 250 workers already employed by a health authority in a cleaning or security role in a rural or remote community who meet program criteria.
This initiative will open in June 2026 to registrations using the BC PNP’s expression of interest system.
Additional details will be provided before intake opens, making this a critical development for temporary workers in B.C.’s healthcare infrastructure who support hospital and care facility operations in smaller communities.
9 Certified Skilled Trades for Construction and Infrastructure
To support construction delivery and major infrastructure projects, the BC PNP will prioritize certified workers in nine key in-demand skilled trades.
British Columbia faces acute labour shortages in the construction sector, and this targeted approach ensures that nominations go to workers who can directly contribute to building homes, roads, transit systems, and public infrastructure across the province.
Construction Trades Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators |
| 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians |
| 72300 | Plumbers |
| 72301 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 72310 | Carpenters |
| 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72402 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics |
To receive a targeted invitation to apply, workers in construction trades must hold a valid trade certificate issued by SkilledTradesBC that corresponds with the job they have been offered.
Applicants can verify their trade certification eligibility through the official SkilledTradesBC website.
Innovate: High Economic Impact Invitations Across All Sectors
The Innovate priority will continue to drive High Economic Impact invitations to apply that target top talent across all sectors.
This includes highly qualified professionals and experienced entrepreneurs who can be nominated to support economic growth as part of B.C.’s Look West strategy.
Unlike the Care and Build objectives, Innovate does not operate from a fixed occupation list.
Instead, the BC PNP will assess candidates based on their overall economic contribution, wage levels, and the strategic value they bring to the province’s long-term competitiveness.
Major Program Changes Effective in 2026
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream Officially Closed
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream is officially closed. The last invitations under this stream were issued on December 10, 2024.
ELSS will soon be removed from the registration system and the BC PNP Program Guide.
Individuals who were planning to apply under the ELSS stream may wish to explore alternative pathways to immigrate to British Columbia through existing BC PNP Skills Immigration streams.
No New Student Streams
The BC PNP will not be launching new student streams in 2026.
International student graduates may wish to explore existing BC PNP streams as alternative pathways to permanent residence in British Columbia.
Completion of studies in B.C. or Canada will continue to receive additional registration points under the BC PNP, which means graduates still benefit from their Canadian education credentials when registering in the Skills Immigration system.
Technology-Occupation Draws Replaced by High-Economic-Impact Invitations
The final BC PNP priority technology occupation draw occurred on December 3, 2024.
All occupations on the previous technology occupations list remain eligible for the BC PNP, but targeted tech-only draws are being replaced by broader High Economic Impact invitations that capture top talent across all sectors, including technology.
This means technology workers are no longer competing in a dedicated pool but will instead be assessed alongside professionals from every sector based on their overall economic contribution to the province.
Expanded List of Ineligible Occupations and Employers
The BC PNP will expand the list of ineligible occupations and employers to focus nominations on its stated priorities, strengthen program integrity, and ensure that British Columbians have opportunities in these roles.
More details about these changes will be included in an updated BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide, which will be posted on the WelcomeBC Documents page.
BC PNP’s Track Record
Since 2022, the BC PNP shifted to a more strategic selection model by prioritizing key occupations aligned with government priorities.
The program has nominated 3,887 healthcare professionals during this period, including 475 doctors and 1,228 nurses and nurse practitioners.
British Columbia also nominated 2,957 licensed childcare workers, addressing one of the province’s most persistent workforce gaps in early childhood education.
The program nominated 826 construction and trades workers after targeting select certified trades, along with 26 veterinarians and 116 veterinary technologists, many of whom are working outside Metro Vancouver.
More than 38% of Skills Immigration nominees are working in regional communities, supporting both population growth and economic development across B.C.
Why This Update Matters for Workers and Employers in British Columbia
British Columbia’s updated BC PNP framework arrives at a time when the province faces severe labour shortages across healthcare, construction, education, and childcare.
Hospitals across B.C. are operating with chronic staffing gaps, particularly in nursing, family medicine, and allied health professions.
The construction industry faces vacancy rates above the national average, and the province’s aging workforce in the trades means that retirements will continue to outpace new entrants without targeted immigration into skilled trades.
Childcare access remains a defining issue for British Columbia families, and the province’s push to expand the $10-a-day childcare system depends on recruiting and retaining certified early childhood educators.
For immigration applicants, the message is clear: candidates whose occupations align with the Care, Build, and Innovate priorities will have the strongest chances of receiving an invitation to apply through the BC PNP in 2026.
Workers in occupations that fall outside these priorities will face significantly higher competition and may need to explore alternative immigration pathways through federal Express Entry or other provincial nominee programs.
Looking Ahead On Federal Allocations and Future Opportunities
B.C. continues to advocate to the federal government for increased provincial nominee allocations in 2026 and future years to support public services, major projects, economic growth, and regional communities across the province.
The full April 23, 2026 update is available on the official BC PNP news page.
The province received a 2026 allocation of 5,254 nominations from Ottawa, significantly lower than the 9,000 it requested under the federal Provincial Nominee Program.
If the federal government responds to B.C.’s advocacy with additional allocations later in the year, as it did in 2025 when the province received a supplemental boost of 960 nominations, candidates in priority occupations could see expanded opportunities.
Until then, every available nomination will be directed toward the occupations and workers that British Columbia has identified as essential under Care, Build, and Innovate.
British Columbia’s updated BC PNP framework makes the province’s immigration priorities unmistakable.
Healthcare workers, certified tradespeople, early childhood educators, and high-impact professionals are the candidates B.C. wants, and the province is structuring its entire nomination system to find them.
For workers already in B.C. or considering a move to the province, aligning your occupation, credentials, and location with the Care, Build, and Innovate objectives is now the most direct path to permanent residence through the BC PNP.
Stay informed with INC – Immigration News Canada for the latest BC PNP draw results, priority occupation updates, and Canadian immigration news as 2026 continues to unfold.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can international graduates still apply through the BC PNP even though no new student streams will launch?
Yes, international graduates can still explore existing BC PNP Skills Immigration streams for permanent residence. Completion of studies in B.C. or Canada will continue to earn additional registration points under the program, giving graduates a scoring advantage when competing for invitations.
What happens to technology workers who previously relied on BC PNP tech-specific draws?
All occupations on the previous BC PNP technology list remain eligible for the program. However, targeted tech-only draws have been replaced by broader High Economic Impact invitations that assess candidates across all sectors based on their economic contribution, wage levels, and strategic value to British Columbia.
How does the temporary initiative for health authority cleaning and security workers differ from the regular BC PNP streams?
This is a one-time, time-limited initiative that will open in June 2026 specifically for up to 250 workers already employed by a health authority in a cleaning or security role in a rural or remote B.C. community. Unlike regular streams, this initiative uses the expression of interest system and targets a specific group of workers who are already contributing to healthcare facility operations.
Do construction trades workers need both a job offer and a trade certificate to receive a BC PNP invitation?
Yes, workers in the nine eligible construction trades must hold a valid trade certificate issued by SkilledTradesBC that corresponds with the specific job they have been offered. A matching job offer alone is not sufficient without the corresponding trade certification from SkilledTradesBC.
Will B.C. receive additional federal nomination allocations beyond the initial 5,254 for 2026?
B.C. is actively advocating for increased allocations from Ottawa. In 2025, the province received a supplemental boost of 960 nominations beyond its initial allocation. Whether a similar increase materializes in 2026 depends on federal decisions, but the province has made clear that it considers its current allocation insufficient to meet workforce needs.
Fact-Checked: All information in this article has been verified against the official BC PNP priorities update published on April 23, 2026 and the WelcomeBC website as of April 30, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. Candidates should consult with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer for guidance specific to their situation.
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