How to calculate your points for the BC PNP (with screenshots and tips!)
Creating a BC PNP profile doesn’t guarantee an invitation to apply—that all depends on your points! In this guide, I’ll walk you through how you earn BC PNP points and where you can improve.
Points are awarded based on:
- Directly Related Work Experience
- Highest Level of Education
- Language Proficiency (English or French)
- Hourly Wage of Your BC Job Offer
- Area of Employment in BC
Let’s break these down one by one...
Directly Related Work Experience
Points are awarded for both full-time (30+ hours per week) and part-time work experience (under 30 hours per week). Part-time work counts for half the points. For example, two years of part-time work equals one year of full-time experience. Furthermore:
- Work experience must be paid.
- Work inside or outside Canada counts.
- Experience must be in the same NOC code as your BC job offer, or in a higher TEER category.
Example: You’ve been offered a job as a Chef in BC, and you have 3 years as a Cook and 1 year as a Chef. How much counts?
First, let's find the NOC Code and TEER level for each occupation.
- Cook = NOC 63299 (TEER 3)
- Chef = NOC 62200 (TEER 2)
Your Chef offer is in TEER 2, meaning only your 1 year as a Chef counts. Cook experience (TEER 3) is lower and doesn’t qualify for points.
Key Takeaway: Always check the TEER category of your past work experience against your BC job offer to accurately calculate your points.
- Tip: Extra points are awarded if you have at least one year of directly related work experience in Canada.
- Tip: Extra points are awarded if you’re currently working full-time for your BC employer.
Knowing this, you can strategically choose where you wish to live and work in British Columbia.
BC is beautiful! Get out there and explore!
Highest Level of Education
Points are awarded based on your highest level of education. Multiple degrees or diplomas don’t add up—only the highest one counts.
No Education Credential Assessment (ECA) is required.
Additional points are awarded if:
- Your education was completed in BC or Canada.
- You hold an eligible professional designation in BC.
Language Proficiency
You will receive points for your score on either an English or French proficiency test.
A list of accepted language tests can be found here. You can book the language test online at a testing centre of your choice. The results of the test are valid for 2 years. The language test results must be less than 2 years old to be considered valid.
You will be given an individual score on your language test for Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. The lowest score is awarded points.
Example:
- Reading: 8
- Listening: 7
- Writing: 9
- Speaking: 9
You earn points based on the lowest score (7 in Listening).
- Tip: Focus on your weakest areas when studying.
- Tip: You can take the test multiple times, but keep in mind there’s a fee for each attempt.
- Tip: If you are strong in both English and French, take both tests to earn extra points.
Hourly Wage of Your BC Job Offer
You earn points based on your hourly wage.
Bonuses, tips, commissions, and overtime don't count. For every extra dollar per hour you make, you get one additional point.
Below is a screenshot from a section of the wage list as it spans several pages.
For a full list of hourly wages and the points you would earn, please see section 8 of the BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide.
Area of Employment in BC
You earn points based on where your job is located in BC.
If you work in the Metro Vancouver area, you earn 0 points.
However, working in less populated areas can give you up to 25 points. These extra points could be crucial in helping you get an invitation to apply.
Being strategic to maximize your points is something we do extremely well at Immigration with Barbara!
To Sum it All Up...
Boosting your points in the BC PNP system is critical to securing an invitation for permanent residence.
By knowing how points are calculated, you can avoid wasting time and energy on areas that won’t make a big impact.
For example, earning another diploma or certificate might not be the best way to increase your score. Instead, focus on improving your language test results or negotiating for a higher wage.
Sometimes, the best strategy is applying for a new work permit to gain an extra year of work experience. However, if you’ve already maxed out your directly related work experience, that extra year may not help.
This knowledge will save you time and keep you focused on achieving your immigration goals.
