The three priorities
| Priority | Who it targets | What you often need |
|---|---|---|
| Care | Priority health care occupations, early childhood educators, French-speaking K-12 teachers, veterinary care workers | The right registration or certificate, such as an ECE certificate |
| Build | Certified construction trades, such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders and heavy-duty mechanics | A trade certificate, such as one from SkilledTradesBC |
| Innovate | High-impact, highly skilled workers in any sector | A high score, or a high wage and income in a TEER 0 to 3 job |
If your job isn't in a Care or Build group, Innovate rounds are usually your main route, and the bar is high.
Recent minimum scores
| Date (2026) | Draw group | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8 | Care: Childcare | 99 | 86 |
| Oct 8 | Care: Health | 76 | 82 |
| Oct 8 | Care: Veterinary Care | 86 | Under 5 |
| Oct 8 | Build: Construction Trades | 94 | 115 |
| Sep 24 | Innovate: High Economic Impact | 131 | 288 |
Another Innovate invitation group on September 24 selected people by wage rather than score, with 426 invitations. See every round on our BC PNP draws page. These figures are history, not a promise of future scores.
How the process works
- Register online. It's free, and your registration stays in the pool for 12 months.
- Get a score based on your answers. Check yours with our BC PNP calculator.
- Get invited, if you're in a targeted group and meet the cut-off.
- Apply within 30 calendar days of your invitation, with your documents and the $1,750 fee.
- If nominated, apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
Health Authority stream applicants skip registration and draws: see the Health Authority stream.
Ways to raise your score
- Wage: a higher hourly wage directly adds points. Make sure it's real and supported by your job offer.
- Language: better results in your approved test can add points. Use our CLB converter.
- Location: jobs outside Metro Vancouver can earn more location points.
- Experience: directly related experience counts, with extra points for experience in Canada.
- Education: credentials can add points, and studying in BC or Canada can add more.
Claim only what you can prove. BC checks your application against your registration. If it can't confirm a claim, your score can drop and you may be refused.
If you're not in a target group
- Check if your occupation has a certification route into Care or Build.
- Look at Express Entry, especially the category draws.
- Check the November 2026 CRS changes: you may have gained points there.
FAQs
What is the minimum score for the BC PNP?
There's no fixed minimum. Each draw sets its own score for each group. Recent examples are in the table above.
Do I need a job offer for the BC PNP?
The Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams need a BC job offer. See the BC PNP guide for each stream's rules.
Are there BC PNP tech draws?
The last tech draw was on December 3, 2024. Tech workers can still be invited through Innovate rounds if they meet the score or wage.
Is the International Graduate stream open?
No. It's no longer offered. See your options as a graduate.