BC PNP Health Authority Program
Health professionals in British Columbia including physicians, midwives, or nurse practitioners can apply for permanent residency through the BC PNP Health Authority Category. Learn more in this detailed guide.
Overview
SI Healthcare Authority Category is a special immigration pathway launched by British Columbia to meet the demand for healthcare professionals. If you are qualified to work in public health, you can gain permanent residence in BC under this category. This guide offers an overview of the BC PNP Skills Immigration – Healthcare Authority Category and its eligibility requirements.
What is the BC PNP Health Authority Category?
The BC PNP Health Authority stream is a unique immigration stream for workers working under BC’s health authority. This includes physicians, nurses, and midwives. The BC PNP health authority program operates with the Express Entry system. Applicants nominated under this stream are eligible to receive extra points on their application when they apply for permanent resident status through one of the Federal immigration programs.
BC PNP Health Authority Requirements
Prospective skilled worker applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for the BC PNP Health Authority category:
1. General Requirements
These are the common eligibility requirements that apply to all BC PNP Skills Immigration categories, includes:
- Intention to Live in BC
- Economic Benefit to British Columbia
- Minimum Language Requirements (CLB 4)
- Valid Immigration Status in Canada
2. Job Offer
Applicants must possess a signed job offer letter for full-time employment in a healthcare worker position under the BC Health Authority. This requirement is unnecessary for physicians, nurses, and midwives whom the Health Authority does not directly employ. The job offer may be for any NOC TEER occupation with a B.C. public health authority.
The province recognizes the following health authorities for this immigration program:
- Fraser Health
- Island Health
- Interior Health
- First Nations Health Authority
- Provincial Health Services Authority
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Northern Health
- Providence Health Care
3. Work Experience
There are no fixed work experience requirements for this program. The Health Authority that has hired the applicants will state any such requirements.
4. Qualifications
Applicants must possess the training and certification required to work as healthcare workers in BC. They must possess these qualifications at the time they apply.
5. Special Requirements for Physicians and Nurses
Physicians and nurses who intend to work in British Columbia are required to possess a recommendation letter from a BC health authority. This letter must confirm the applicant’s position, show that they will be working in the province, and demonstrate that the health authority will be supporting their PNP application.
6. Special Requirements for Midwives
Midwives who intend to use this immigration program must have been working for an established medical practice group in the province for a minimum of six months before submitting their application. They must also provide a signed letter from the group that confirms the date they were accepted to practice with them.
7. Requirements for Express Entry BC Applicants
Applicants who intend to use the Express Entry BC route for immigration must ensure they have an active Express Entry profile and current Job Seeker Validation code. Both these items confirm that they meet the minimum eligibility requirements for one of the economic immigration programs run by the Federal Government.
Priority Healthcare Occupations
The Priority Healthcare Occupations in the BC PNP program are in high demand in the healthcare sector in British Columbia. These occupations are prioritized to support B.C.’s care economy. Here is a list of some of these priority occupations:
| Occupation | Code | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Managers in health care | 30010 | 0 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 1 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 | 1 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 | 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 1 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | 1 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 | 1 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | 1 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 | 1 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | 1 |
| Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals | 31303 | 1 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | 2 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | 2 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | 2 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | 2 |
| Denturists | 32110 | 2 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Dental technologists and technicians | 32112 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | 2 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | 2 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | 2 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 | 2 |
| Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants | 33100 | 3 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | 3 |
| Nurse aides | 33102 | 3 |
Benefits of Working in B.C.’s Healthcare System
- Competitive Compensation: British Columbia’s publicly funded health authorities offer comprehensive compensation packages for regular-status employees.
- Wages: As of January 18th, 2024, the wages for nursing jobs range from $40.21 – 57.78 per hour.
- Paid Vacation Time: Employees receive 4 weeks of paid vacation per year, after the first year of employment.
- Pension Plan: Employees are provided with a pension plan.
- Healthcare Coverage: Employees are covered under the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP), extended health care, and dental coverage.
- Insurance: Life insurance, short-term, and long-term disability coverage are provided.
- Training and Education: The health workforce strategy includes adding new education and training seats, which can help healthcare professionals advance their skills and qualifications.
- Healthy Workplaces: The strategy aims to foster healthy, safe, and inspired workplaces, supporting workforce health and wellness.
- Diversity and Inclusion: There’s a focus on embedding reconciliation, diversity, inclusion, and cultural safety in the healthcare system.
- Recruitment and Retention: The strategy includes actions to improve retention and to optimize the system to help with workload.
- Health Career Access Program: This program offers rewarding and varied work with the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives every day.
How can ELAAR help you?
Prospective immigrants who wish to apply for British Columbia’s BC PNP Health Authority should contact ELAAR’s immigration experts. Our experienced team of Regulated Immigration Consultants understands the requirements for this program and can guide you through the application process.
Apply for BC PNP Health Authority Category
Immigrate to Canada as a physician, midwife, or nurse practitioner through the BC PNP Health Authority Category.
