BCPNP Skills Immigration: Scoring Factors
When assessing your directly related experience in the job that has been offered to you, the BC PNP will only consider the time you were working (i.e. performing the duties of the position for pay). If you were on a leave of absence or on extended leave, that time away from your position will not be counted towards your directly related work experience, even if you remained employed during that period. Reasonable vacation periods will not be deducted from your work experience.
7.2 (b) highest level of education
Points for education are based on your highest level of education indicated in the registration. For example, if you have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, you will only receive points for your master’s degree.
You must have successfully completed your education in order to be eligible for these points. Partial completion will not be recognized.
The duration of study must exceed six (6) months. This six-month requirement is separate from stream-specific requirements.
Your education is not eligible for points if it is a distance education learning program.
Additional points for completing education in B.C. or Canada
You may be eligible for additional points for one of the following:
- you completed the highest level of education indicated in your registration at a post- secondary institution within B.C.; or
- you completed the highest level of education indicated in the registration at a post- secondary institution within Canada, outside of B.C.
Language training programs (e.g. English as a Second Language (ESL), or English as a foreign language program) or distance education learning programs are not eligible for these additional points.
These additional points will only be awarded to the highest level of education indicated in your registration. For example, if you indicate that your highest level of education is a master’s degree from outside of Canada (22 points), you will not qualify for additional points for any education you obtained in Canada.
Education | Points |
Doctoral Degree | 27 |
Master’s Degree | 22 |
Post-Graduate Certificate or Diploma* | 15 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 15 |
Associate Degree | 5 |
Post-secondary Diploma/Certificate (Trades or Non-Trades) | 5 |
Secondary School (High School) or Less | 0 |
Additional points for education in B.C. or Canada | |
Post-secondary education completed in B.C., or | 8 |
Post-secondary education completed in Canada (outside of B.C.) | 6 |
Additional points for professional designation in B.C.: | |
Eligible professional designation in B.C. | 5 |
Maximum Score Available | 40 |
*Post-graduate, post-degree or post-baccalaureate certificates or diplomas are post- graduate academic qualifications taken after a bachelor’s degree. These credentials are usually granted by a university or a graduate school. It normally takes two or more study terms to complete. Please note for the purposes of the BC PNP, for a program to be considered “post- graduate”, a bachelor’s degree must be the minimum educational requirement for admission into the program.
Additional points for eligible professional designations in B.C.
You may be eligible for additional points if you have been offered a job in an occupation listed on the table below, and you have completed the corresponding B.C. professional designation that is associated with the job offered to you.
Occupation | Eligible Professional Designations in B.C. | |
Any Trade | Any valid trade certificate issued by SkilledTradesBC or Industry
Training Authority British Columbia (ITABC)
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Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians: NOC 32104 | Veterinary Technicians registered with British Columbia Veterinary Technologists Association | |
Dental Assistants: NOC 33100 | Dental Assistants certified with British Columbia College of Oral | |
Dental Hygienists: NOC 32111 | Dental Hygienists registered with British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals* | |
Dental Technicians: NOC 33100 | Dental Technicians registered with British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals* | |
Denturists: NOC 32110 | Denturists certified with British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals* | |
Early Childhood Educators (ECE): NOC 42202 | ECEs with a valid ECE One Year or ECE Five Year Certificate with the Early Childhood Educator Registry | |
Health Care Aide: NOC 33102 | Health Care Aides registered with BC Care Aide & Community | |
Pharmacy Technicians: NOC 33103 |
Pharmacy Technicians registered with The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia | |
Practical Nurses: NOC 32101 | Practical Nurses licensed with The British Columbia College of | |
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists: NOC 32200 | Practitioners licensed through The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC | |
*Includes the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia