On August 6 2026 the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued an occupation‑specific Skills Immigration (SI) draw that invited at least 500 candidates for provincial nomination. The draw targeted workers in five priority occupational categories aligned with the province’s “care and build” objectives—health‑care, childcare, education, veterinary care, and construction trades.
Occupational categories and invitations
| Objective | Category | NOC codes targeted | Invitations issued | Minimum score* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care | Childcare | 1183 | 102 | – |
| Care | Healthcare | 311‑321, 322, 331, 413 | 2 884 | – |
| Care | Education | 256 | 68 | – |
| Care | Veterinary care | 267 | 2 | – |
| Build | Construction trades | 721‑724 | 788 | – |
*The minimum score required for each category was not disclosed.
Construction trades
Invitations were limited to workers who held a valid trade certificate from SkilledTradesBC or were registered in a SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship that matched their job offer. Eligible NOCs included welders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, millwrights, heavy‑duty equipment mechanics, and HVAC technicians.
Healthcare
The healthcare list comprised more than 30 NOC codes, ranging from managers and specialists to nurses, allied health professionals, and social workers. Candidates with a job offer under NOC 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates) were eligible only if registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
Childcare
Only early‑childhood educators (ECEs) with a one‑year or five‑year ECE certificate issued by the ECE registry (NOC 42202) received invitations.
Education
French‑language secondary and elementary/Kindergarten teachers (NOC 41220, 41221) were eligible if they declared employment in BC’s K‑12 system and held a minimum NCLC 5 French proficiency.
Veterinary care
Veterinarians (NOC 31103) and animal health technologists/veterinary technicians (NOC 32104) needed a valid professional designation.
Overall draw context
- This was the 11th SI draw of 2026 and the 19th overall SI round for the BCPNP.
- Since the start of 2026, the province has conducted five occupation‑specific draws; other rounds have focused on registration scores, wage levels, or job‑offer criteria.
- To date, the BCPNP has issued 4,236 invitations under the SI category.
Skills Immigration registration pool (as of Aug 6 2026)
| Score range | Registrations |
|---|---|
| 0‑59 | 212 |
| 60‑69 | 373 |
| 70‑79 | 739 |
| 80‑89 | 1 219 |
| 90‑99 | 1 468 |
| 100‑109 | 1 651 |
| 110‑119 | 1 332 |
| 120‑129 | 1 023 |
| 130‑139 | 241 |
| 140‑149 | 38 |
| 150+ | 10 |
The 100‑109 score band contains the largest share of candidates (19.8 % of the pool). Candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile; scores are calculated based on education, work experience, language ability, job offer details, and other factors outlined in Part 8 of the BCPNP Skills Immigration Program Guide.
Potential selection criteria for future draws
BC may adjust invitation factors in upcoming SI rounds, including:
- Level, field, and location of education
- Professional designation in BC
- Length and skill level of work experience
- Language proficiency (English/French)
- Occupation and wage/skill level of the job offer
- Intended residence region within the province
- Alignment with provincial labour demands or pilot projects
Applicants should ensure their EOI reflects these attributes, maintain up‑to‑date certifications or registrations, and monitor BCPNP announcements for changes to priority sectors or scoring thresholds.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
