BC PNP Opens 500 More Spots for Workers

August 10, 2026
CIC News Update
British Columbia, PNP
0

British Columbia has once again used its provincial immigration program to bring in workers whose skills are closely connected to areas of workforce demand.

In its August 6, 2026 selection round, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) selected 500 candidates through its Skills Immigration category. The latest invitation round was specifically designed around five occupational areas: construction trades, healthcare, childcare, education, and veterinary care.

The selection is another indication that British Columbia is using targeted immigration to strengthen sectors that play an important role in the province’s economy and essential services.

Also Read British Columbia Targets 500 Workers in New PNP Draw

Free Eligibility Assessment

Five Sectors Featured in the Latest Selection

Instead of applying one common occupation requirement to all invited candidates, the BCPNP divided this selection into separate occupational groups. Each group had its own invitation volume and minimum registration score.

Construction trades accounted for the largest share, followed closely by childcare and healthcare.

Sector	Targeted NOCs	Invitations	Lowest Score
Construction Trades	9	187	88
Childcare	1	183	102
Healthcare	31	124	84
Veterinary Care	2	6	72
Education	2	<5	68

The figures show that the province’s requirements differed considerably between occupations. Childcare had the highest minimum score at 102, while education had the lowest threshold at 68.

With 187 invitations, construction was the most heavily represented occupational group in the round.

Construction Workers Remain a Major Priority

British Columbia’s construction sector received significant attention in this draw, with invitations going to workers in nine skilled-trade occupations.

The occupations included:

NOC 72100: Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
NOC 72102: Sheet metal workers
NOC 72103: Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
NOC 72104: Welders and related machine operators
NOC 72105: Ironworkers
NOC 72106: Blacksmiths and die setters
NOC 72200: Electricians, except industrial and power system
NOC 72310: Carpenters
NOC 72320: Bricklayers

The province issued 187 invitations to this group. Candidates needed a registration score of at least 88 to be considered in the August 6 selection.

Childcare Workers Receive 183 Invitations

Childcare was another prominent category in the draw.

The province focused on:

NOC 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants

A total of 183 invitations went to this occupational group. The minimum registration score was 102, making childcare the category with the highest score requirement in this particular selection.

The result highlights the importance of early childhood services within British Columbia’s workforce planning and immigration priorities.

Healthcare Draw Covers 31 Occupations

Healthcare represented the broadest occupational category in the latest round, with 31 NOCs included.

The targeted occupations were:

NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine and medical specialists
NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
NOC 31103 – Veterinarians
NOC 31110 – Dentists
NOC 31111 – Optometrists
NOC 31112 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
NOC 31120 – Pharmacists
NOC 31121 – Dietitians and nutritionists
NOC 31200 – Psychologists
NOC 31201 – Chiropractors
NOC 31202 – Physiotherapists
NOC 31203 – Occupational therapists
NOC 31204 – Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 31209 – Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
NOC 31302 – Nurse practitioners
NOC 31303 – Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
NOC 32100 – Opticians
NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
NOC 32102 – Paramedical occupations
NOC 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
NOC 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
NOC 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
NOC 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
NOC 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
NOC 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
NOC 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants

The healthcare category produced 124 invitations, with the minimum registration score set at 84.

Teachers Also Included in the Selection

The education component was considerably smaller, with fewer than five invitations issued.

British Columbia considered these two occupations:

NOC 41220 – Secondary school teachers
NOC 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers

The minimum score for this group was 68.

Although the number of invitations was small, the inclusion of teaching professionals shows that education remains among the occupational areas that can receive targeted consideration under the BCPNP.

Veterinary Professionals Included Too

Workers in animal healthcare were also selected.

The two occupations included in the veterinary category were:

NOC 31103 – Veterinarians
NOC 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

The province issued 6 invitations to candidates in this group. The minimum registration score was 72.

2026 Has Seen Multiple Types of BCPNP Selections

The August 6 draw was the province’s fifth occupation-focused selection of 2026 and the 11th Skills Immigration draw of the year, according to the information provided for this selection.

The province has not limited its invitations to one selection formula. Depending on the round, BCPNP selections can emphasize different characteristics, including registration scores, wages, employment and occupations.

This means applicants should not assume that the criteria from one draw will automatically carry over to the next.

BCPNP Can Change Its Selection Priorities

British Columbia has considerable flexibility in deciding which candidates it wants to invite through Skills Immigration.

Potential selection considerations can include:

Academic credentials and the subject studied;
The location where education was completed;
Professional credentials recognized in British Columbia;
Amount and level of previous work experience;
Language test results;
Current occupation;
Job-offer wage;
Skill level of the offered position;
Intended destination within British Columbia; and
Provincial strategic priorities, pilot programs and government initiatives.

The province can therefore adapt its invitation strategy when particular industries or regions require additional workers.

More Than 8,300 Candidates Were Waiting in the Pool

The number of people already registered with the BCPNP also demonstrates the level of competition.

On August 6, 2026, the Skills Immigration registration pool contained 8,306 candidates.

Their scores were distributed as follows:

Score Band	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 range had the largest number of registrations, with 1,651 candidates. This represented about 19.8% of everyone in the pool at the time.

There were also more than 1,000 candidates in each of the 80–89, 90–99, 110–119 and 120–129 score brackets.

Having a Strong Score Does Not Guarantee an Invitation

The registration pool figures should not be interpreted as a simple ranking in which the highest-scoring candidates always receive invitations first.

BCPNP can conduct selections based on specific occupational or strategic requirements. As a result, the occupation of a candidate may become just as important as, or more important than, their overall registration score during a targeted round.

This creates opportunities for workers in priority occupations who may not necessarily have the highest scores in the entire pool.

4,236 Skills Immigration Invitations Issued in 2026

The latest selection also contributed to a growing number of provincial nomination invitations issued by British Columbia this year.

By August 6, the province had issued 4,236 invitations through the Skills Immigration category.

Candidates who receive an invitation still need to complete the required provincial application process. An invitation itself is not equivalent to a nomination or permanent residence approval.

What Invited Candidates Need to Know

Those selected by the BCPNP must submit their application within the applicable period and provide documentation supporting the information included in their registration.

The province can assess factors such as employment, qualifications, work history and other eligibility requirements during the application stage. Candidates should therefore make sure that their supporting documents accurately reflect the information used to obtain the invitation.

If the provincial application is approved, the successful applicant receives a nomination that can support a subsequent application for Canadian permanent residence through the relevant federal process.

Conclusion

The latest British Columbia draw offers a useful indication of where the province is directing part of its immigration strategy in 2026.

Workers in skilled construction trades, healthcare, childcare, education and veterinary services should pay close attention to future BCPNP announcements, particularly if their occupation appears on a targeted list.

At the same time, applicants should avoid relying exclusively on the minimum score from one invitation round. British Columbia can change the occupations, scores and other selection factors used in future draws as provincial labour requirements develop.

For prospective immigrants, maintaining an accurate BCPNP registration profile and monitoring new invitation rounds can be important steps toward identifying future nomination opportunities.

Check your Canada PR Eligibility