British Columbia needs health care workers and kindergarten teachers

On March 10, 2022, British Columbia announced that among provincial nominees, the healthcare professionals listed in the in-demand occupations list below and early childhood educators will receive increased priority from that date. Points for the profession in demand will no longer be awarded, as instead, separate targeted selections will be carried out among specialists in specific professions.

List of in-demand professions in health care:

• health care managers;
• senior nurses and nurse coordinators;
• registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses;
• specialist doctors;
• therapists and family physicians;
• dentists;
• chiropractors;
• medical professionals in primary care;
• other specialists in health diagnosis and treatment;
• pharmacists;
• nutritionists and nutritionists;
• audiologists and speech therapists;
• physiotherapist;
• professional therapists;
• other professional specialists in therapy;
• medical laboratory technologists;
• medical laboratory technicians and pathology assistants;
• pulmonologists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists;
• radiation medicine technologists;
• medical sonographers;
• cardiology and electrophysiology diagnostic technologists;
• other medical technologists and technicians (excluding dental technicians);
• dental technologists, technicians, and lab technicians;
• traditional medicine specialists;
• licensed nurse practitioners;
• paramedics;
• other technical professions in therapy and diagnostics;
• dental assistants;
• nurse assistants, orderlies, and patient care assistants (only those who provide patient care);
• psychologists;
• social workers;
• family and marriage counselors and other related industry counselors;
• social workers and community service organizers.

Dental assistants and patient care assistants can now also apply under the Skills Immigration — Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, that is, as specialists in working and low-skilled professions.

Previously, British Columbia had a Skills Immigration — Health Care Professional program, now it is being replaced by the Skills Immigration — Health Authority category. It will accept applications from all healthcare professionals.

For all skilled workers (Skilled Worker stream), the work experience requirement has been reduced to two years of work experience in any skilled occupation, not just the occupation associated with the job offer.

Managerial professionals – those classified as skill type 0 in the NOC – can only apply as qualified professionals. The flow for university graduates for specialists in managerial professions is closed.