What is the BC PNP SIRS points calculator and how is it scored?

The Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is a dynamic, points-based intake system used by the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). Candidates are scored out of a maximum of 200 points divided into two main categories: Human Capital Factors (up to 120 points for work experience, education, and language proficiency) and Economic Factors (up to 80 points for hourly wage and the regional location of the B.C. job offer). Registrants are ranked, and top-scoring candidates receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) during periodic draws.

What is the difference between Express Entry B.C. (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (Non-EEBC)?

Express Entry B.C. (EEBC) is aligned with the federal Express Entry system. To apply under EEBC, you must have an active federal Express Entry profile. Receiving a provincial nomination under EEBC awards you 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which guarantees an Invitation to Apply for Canadian Permanent Residency with an expedited federal processing time of approximately 6 months. Non-EEBC (Skills Immigration) is a base provincial nomination processed outside Express Entry through IRCC's non-Express Entry permanent residence portal, which takes approximately 12 to 18 months.

How does the BC PNP Tech stream work and what are the target draw cutoffs?

BC PNP Tech is an expedited pathway for foreign tech workers and international graduates with valid job offers in one of 35 prioritized tech occupations (such as Software Engineers, Computer Programmers, Web Developers, and Data Scientists). Because B.C. actively prioritizes tech talent, the province conducts weekly or bi-weekly targeted tech draws. Cutoff scores for tech draws typically range between 115 and 122 points, which is substantially lower than the general all-occupations cutoff (often 130 to 138 points).

How many points do I get for working outside Metro Vancouver?

Under the SIRS Regional Area factor (maximum 25 points), employment in Area 1 (Metro Vancouver) earns 0 points. Employment in Area 2 (Fraser Valley, Capital Regional District/Victoria, Central Okanagan/Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Squamish-Lillooet) earns 5 base points. Employment in Area 3 (all other regional districts such as Northern B.C., Thompson-Nicola, and Kootenays) earns 15 base points. In addition, if you have at least 1 year of regional full-time work experience or graduated from a public post-secondary institution in Area 2 or 3, you receive an extra 10 bonus points, bringing the total regional benefit up to 25 points.

How does the hourly wage affect my BC PNP SIRS score?

Hourly wage is an Economic Factor worth up to 55 points. An offer of $70.00/hr or higher earns the maximum 55 points. For wages between $16.00 and $69.99/hr, you receive 1 point for every full dollar above $15.00/hr (for example, $35.00/hr yields 20 points, and $50.00/hr yields 35 points). Wages below $16.00/hr receive 0 points. Only regular base wages are counted; bonuses, overtime, tips, and commissions are excluded.

Can I claim language points for both English and French?

Yes. Your primary official language (English or French) is scored up to 30 points based on your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level (CLB 9+ gets 30 points; CLB 8 gets 25; CLB 7 gets 20; CLB 6 gets 15; CLB 5 gets 10; CLB 4 gets 5). Furthermore, if you take recognized tests in both English and French and achieve at least CLB 4 across all four abilities in both languages, you receive an additional 10 bilingual bonus points, reaching the maximum 40 points in the language category.

Do I need an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) to apply for BC PNP?

No. Unlike some federal immigration pathways, a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not an explicit requirement for the BC PNP Skills Immigration streams. However, you must have a valid, indeterminate (permanent or long-term), full-time job offer from an eligible B.C. employer who meets the program's registration criteria (such as being registered in B.C., having at least 3 to 5 full-time employees, and demonstrating good business standing).

What are the priority healthcare and childcare (ECE) streams in BC PNP?

In response to critical provincial labour shortages, the BC PNP conducts targeted draws for Healthcare professionals (physicians, registered nurses, allied health practitioners) and Childcare educators (Early Childhood Educators - NOC 42202). Draw cutoffs for these priority streams are significantly lower than general draws, frequently hovering between 85 and 105 points, providing a streamlined and accessible pathway to permanent residency.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program • Official 200-Point SIRS Grid

BC PNP Calculator (SIRS Points)

Calculate your exact score under the British Columbia Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Benchmark your points against recent draw cutoffs for BC PNP Tech, Healthcare, Childcare, Construction, and General Skilled Worker streams.

Quick Profiles:

1. Directly Related Work Experience

36 / 40 Pts

Years of directly related experience (same NOC or equal/higher TEER):

At least 1 year of directly related experience in Canada (+10 points)

Gained within Canada on a valid work permit within the last 10 years.

Currently working full-time in B.C. for supporting employer (+10 points)

Actively employed on a valid work permit with the employer offering the job.

2. Highest Level of Education

23 / 40 Pts

Highest Completed Credential

Where Education Was Completed

Eligible B.C. Professional Designation (+5 points)

Licensed by a B.C. regulatory body (e.g. registered nurse, licensed engineer, teacher, certified trade ticket).

3. Language Proficiency (English / French)

30 / 40 Pts

Primary Language Benchmark (CLB)

Lowest band from IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF.

Bilingual English & French (+10 points)

Requires valid tests showing at least CLB 4 in all four abilities for BOTH official languages.

4. Economic Factors: Hourly Wage & Regional Area

30 / 80 Pts

Hourly Wage of B.C. Job Offer (CAD $/hr)30 / 55 Points

$70.00/hr+ gets maximum 55 points. Wages $16-$69.99 earn 1 point per full dollar over $15.00/hr. (Annualized at 40 hrs/wk: $93,600 / yr).

Work Location (Regional District of Employment)0 / 25 Points

Regional Experience or Alumni Status (Area 2 & 3 only)

*Regional bonus points are only available for job offers located in Area 2 or Area 3.

Calculated SIRS Score

Total BC PNP Points

119/ 200 Max

Overall Score Progress60%

Human Capital

89 / 120

Economic Factors

30 / 80

Directly Related Work Experience:36 / 40

Highest Level of Education:23 / 40

Language Proficiency (CLB):30 / 40

Hourly Wage ($ 45.00/hr):30 / 55

Area Within B.C.:0 / 25

Benchmark Stream:

Recent Estimated Cutoff:

118 points

Candidate Standing:

+1 pts (Competitive)

Express Entry B.C. (EEBC) = +600 CRS Points

If you have an active federal Express Entry profile and register through an EEBC category, obtaining a BC PNP provincial nomination awards 600 additional CRS points on your federal profile—virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the very next federal Express Entry draw.

Official Reference: British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills • WelcomeBC Skills Immigration Program Guide • National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021) TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Disclaimer: This calculator is an independent planning and educational tool. Registering with the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is an expression of interest and does not guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or provincial nomination. Always verify program guides at WelcomeBC.ca.

Understanding the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)

British Columbia is one of Canada's most sought-after immigration destinations, anchored by world-class tech hubs in Vancouver, thriving healthcare systems on Vancouver Island, and growing industrial economies in the Okanagan, Interior, and Northern B.C. To manage high applicant volumes and select workers who best meet regional labour market priorities, the provincial government operates the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

SIRS is a points-based expression of interest (EOI) ranking system. Candidates register a profile, receive a numerical score out of 200 total points, and are entered into a provincial selection pool. Periodically, the province conducts draws and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to registrants whose scores meet or exceed the draw cutoff for their immigration stream.

The 200-Point SIRS Scoring Grid Breakdown

1. Human Capital Factors

Max 120 Points

Evaluates your personal qualifications, work history, education, and language proficiency:

Directly Related Work Experience (40 pts): Up to 20 base points for 5+ years of experience in the same or related NOC, plus +10 points for Canadian experience and +10 points for current employment with your B.C. employer.
Highest Level of Education (40 pts): Up to 27 base points for a Ph.D. or 22 for a Master's degree, plus +8 points for education completed in B.C. (+6 for Canada) and +5 points for recognized B.C. professional designations.
Language Proficiency (40 pts): Up to 30 base points for CLB 9+ in English or French, plus +10 bilingual bonus points for achieving CLB 4+ in both official languages.

2. Economic Factors

Max 80 Points

Reflects the economic contribution of your employment and location in British Columbia:

Hourly Wage of Job Offer (55 pts): Sliding scale starting at $16.00/hr (1 point) up to $70.00/hr+ (maximum 55 points). Every $1.00 increase above $15/hr provides an extra point.
Area Within B.C. (25 pts): Metro Vancouver (Area 1) earns 0 points. Major regional centers like Victoria, Kelowna, Abbotsford, and Nanaimo (Area 2) earn 5 base points. Northern and Interior regional districts (Area 3) earn 15 base points.
Regional Bonus (+10 pts): Having 1 year of regional work experience or graduating from an institution in Area 2 or 3 awards 10 additional points (capped at 25 total for Area).

Targeted Draws: Tech, Healthcare, Childcare & Trades

The BC PNP does not rely solely on general draws. To address critical shortages, the province issues separate, targeted invitations for specific high-priority occupations:

BC PNP Tech (35 NOCs)

Dedicated weekly draws for software engineers, developers, web designers, and data analysts. Typical draw cutoff: ~115–122 points.

Healthcare Priority

Physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and allied health staff. Typical draw cutoff: ~95–105 points.

Childcare (ECE)

Licensed Early Childhood Educators and assistants (NOC 42202). Extremely accessible cutoffs: ~85–95 points.

Construction Trades

Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, welders, and equipment mechanics. Typical draw cutoff: ~90–100 points.

Express Entry B.C. (EEBC) vs. Skills Immigration (Base)

When applying for the BC PNP, candidates choose between two processing pathways:

Express Entry B.C. (EEBC)

Requires an active federal Express Entry profile (under FSW, CEC, or FST). A provincial nomination through EEBC provides +600 CRS points, guaranteeing an ITA in the next federal draw with an accelerated 6-month permanent residence processing time.

Skills Immigration (Base Non-EEBC)

Does not require an Express Entry profile. Ideal for candidates who do not meet federal Express Entry language or education thresholds. Once nominated by B.C., you apply for PR through the non-Express Entry portal (processing timeline ~12–18 months).