British Columbia (B.C.) has announced that most of its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) slots will be used for healthcare workers.
On April 14, B.C. shared big changes: the province will only take 1,100 new applications this year, and most will go to healthcare professionals.
Some places are saved for entrepreneurs and special candidates who bring major economic value to the province.
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Who Can Apply as a Healthcare Worker?
B.C. now only allows direct healthcare providers to apply under its Health Authority stream. In the past, even admin and support staff could apply — but that’s no longer allowed.
Here’s a table of some of the eligible healthcare jobs and their NOC codes:
| Occupation | NOC Code |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants | 33100 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dental technologists and technicians | 32112 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Denturists | 32110 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Managers in health care | 30010 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Opticians | 32100 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
To qualify as an employee, you must have a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a B.C. health authority.
Which Employers Qualify?
Applicants must have a full-time, permanent job offer from one of B.C.’s official public health employers:
| Approved Health Employers |
|---|
| Provincial Health Services Authority |
| First Nations Health Authority |
| Fraser Health |
| Interior Health |
| Island Health |
| Northern Health |
| Vancouver Coastal Health |
| Providence Health Care |
Each employer has its own endorsement process for BC PNP applications.
What About Self-Employed Healthcare Workers?
Some healthcare professionals who are not directly employed — like doctors, nurse practitioners, and midwives — may still qualify if they have the support of a B.C. health authority or midwife practice.
Here’s what they need:
| Required Documents for Self-Employed Healthcare Workers |
|---|
| Recommendation letter from health authority or midwife practice group |
| Proof they are qualified to work in B.C. |
| Confirmation they are currently (or will soon be) practicing in B.C. |
| Details of work location and health authority support |
Eligible foreign nationals can apply directly to the BC PNP once they meet these conditions.
Other Candidates Who Can Apply
In 2025, besides healthcare workers, B.C. is setting aside a small number of spaces for:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs | Invitations to Apply (ITAs) will continue to be issued through 2025. |
| High economic impact candidates | Only about 100 slots for applicants with strong work experience, high salaries, or key economic contributions. |
Why Are There Fewer Applications This Year?
B.C.’s total nomination spots were cut by 50% in 2025, going from last year’s numbers down to 4,000 total.
At the same time, B.C. started 2025 with a backlog of 5,200 applications, already over its limit.
To manage this, the province is only opening 1,100 new application spaces and focusing on clearing the backlog.
BooK Your Canadian immigration Consultation with The Immigration Professional to see if you qualify for the BC PNP or other Canadian PR streams!
