British Columbia has announced big changes to its Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) for 2025. The province will now only accept 1,100 new applications, down from previous years. Most of these spots have been reserved for healthcare professionals, with a small portion set aside for entrepreneurs and high economic impact candidates.
New Rules for Healthcare Workers
Starting April 14, 2025, only workers directly involved in providing healthcare are eligible under the Health Authority stream of the BC PNP. This is a major shift from the earlier policy, where even support and administrative staff with job offers from public health authorities could apply.
To qualify now, applicants must be employed in a healthcare job and have a full-time, permanent job offer from a B.C. health authority. These employers include:
- Provincial Health Services Authority
- First Nations Health Authority
- Fraser Health
- Interior Health
- Island Health
- Northern Health
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Providence Health Care
Each of these health authorities will have their own process for endorsing applications.
List of Eligible Healthcare Occupations
Below is a table of healthcare jobs that qualify under the new rules:
| Occupation | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Dental assistants and lab assistants | 33100 |
| Respiratory therapists and related technologists | 32103 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Opticians | 32100 |
| Pharmacy assistants and technicians | 33103 / 32124 |
| Midwives, physician assistants, allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Kinesiologists and related professionals | 31204 |
| Other supporting health service roles | 33109 |
| Specialists in clinical and lab medicine | 31100 |
| Surgeons | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling | 41301 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Veterinarians and animal health technologists | 31103 / 32104 |
What About Self-Employed Healthcare Workers?
Some self-employed professionals such as doctors, nurse practitioners, and midwives can still qualify. However, they need written support from a B.C. public health authority or a midwife practice group. This includes a recommendation letter confirming their qualifications, intended work location, and readiness to begin work in B.C.
Fewer Spots and Stricter Selection in 2025
The BC PNP received only 4,000 nomination spaces for 2025 — a 50% cut from last year. But the province started the year with a backlog of 5,200 applications, already over the yearly limit. As a result, the program will focus on clearing existing files and only allow a limited number of new applications.
Of the 1,100 new applications, the majority are reserved for healthcare workers. A small number will go to entrepreneurs and candidates who have a strong economic impact, though B.C. has not provided exact details about who qualifies under that category. Around 100 high-impact candidates are expected to be nominated this year.
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Credit: CIC News