These are the occupations that PNPs prioritize for PR invitations through Express Entry
The occupation listed on your Express Entry profile can help you get both a provincial nomination and an Express Entry invitation to apply (ITA).
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) across Canada have special, Express Entry-aligned (or enhanced) streams, wherein provinces can pick and nominate candidates in the pool based on their immigration and labour market needs.
Gaining a provincial nomination while in the Express Entry pool grants an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to candidates, all but guaranteeing them an ITA for permanent residence in the next eligible draw.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
If the occupation declared in your Express Entry profile aligns with an enhanced stream's priority occupations, your chances of being selected through this route are notably strengthened.
This article will cover
- Eligible occupations in streams that have priority occupation designations, which are limited to:
- Alberta;
- British Columbia; and
- Nova Scotia.
- How you can check your eligibility for all these streams at once.
Priority occupations
Note that the below is not an exhaustive account of all enhanced PNP streams. Many streams do not have a priority occupation list and rather focus on priority sectors or general eligibility criteria that candidates are required to meet.
To see how you can easily check your eligibility for all enhanced PNP streams at once, click here.
Alberta
Alberta Express Entry stream: Accelerated Tech Pathway
This pathway is part of the Alberta Express Entry stream and targets candidates whose primary occupation falls under Alberta’s defined “tech pathway” National Occupation Classification (NOC) inclusions and who can demonstrate a strong match to Alberta’s tech labour needs across the eight specified sectors.
Tech leadership and management
Occupation title NOC code Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services 00012 Human resources managers 10011 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers 10022 Telecommunication carriers managers 10030 Engineering managers 20010 Architecture and science managers 20011 Computer and information systems managers 20012 Business, HR, and professional services
Occupation title NOC code Human resources professionals 11200 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations 11202 Business development officers and market researchers and analysts 41402 Data, software, and cybersecurity
Occupation title NOC code Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries 21210 Data scientists 21211 Cybersecurity specialists 21220 Business systems specialists 21221 Information systems specialists 21222 Database analysts and data administrators 21223 Computer systems developers and programmers 21230 Software engineers and designers 21231 Software developers and programmers 21232 Web designers 21233 Web developers and programmers 21234 Networks, user support, and technical IT
Occupation title NOC code Computer network and web technicians 22220 User support technicians 22221 Information systems testing technicians 22222 Engineering, drafting, and applied tech
Occupation title NOC code Civil engineers 21300 Mechanical engineers 21301 Electrical and electronics engineers 21310 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) 21311 Drafting technologists and technicians 22212 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians 22310 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians 22301 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians 22302 Life sciences and lab/health tech
Occupation title NOC code Biological technologists and technicians 22110 Medical laboratory technologists 32120 Other medical technologists and technicians 32129 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations 33101 Media, design, and creative industries
Occupation title NOC code Biological technologists and technicians 22110 Medical laboratory technologists 32120 Other medical technologists and technicians 32129 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations 33101 Sales and trades
Occupation title NOC code Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts 50011 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations 51120 Graphic designers and illustrators 52120
Alberta Express Entry stream: Dedicated Healthcare pathway
This pathway is contained within the Alberta Express Entry stream and targets candidates working in recognized healthcare professions who can meet Alberta’s healthcare-pathway requirements.
In practice, candidates are required to have recent healthcare experience and credentials aligned to Alberta’s needs.
Physicians
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Physicians (specialists; surgeons; general practitioners/family physicians) | 31100 / 31101 / 31102 |
Nursing
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
Therapy and mental health
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
Alberta Express Entry stream: Law Enforcement Pathway
This pathway is contained within the Alberta Express Entry stream and targets candidates in policing and related investigative roles who align with Alberta’s specified law-enforcement NOCs (typically active or recently employed police/investigative professionals).
Law enforcement
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Commissioned (management) police officers and related occupations in public protection services | 40040 |
| Police investigators and other investigative occupations | 41310 |
| Police officers (except commissioned) | 42100 |
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
British Columbia
British Columbia Health Authority stream
This stream has both an Express Entry and non-Express Entry aligned (or base) option, and targets candidates with eligible employment in an occupation tied to BC’s health system, often aligned with Health Authorities.
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Managers in health care | 30010 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Opticians | 32100 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Denturists | 32110 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dental technologists and technicians | 32112 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Other practitioners of healing | 32209 |
| Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants* | 33100 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates** | 33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Social and community service workers*** | 42201 |
*Those who have been offered a job as a dental assistant under NOC 33100 must have the licence to work in that occupation in BC. Unlicensed dental assistants, such as chairside dental assistants, are not eligible for the BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
**Those who have been offered a job classified under NOC 33102 must be on the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker registry.
***Those who have been offered a job as a social and community service worker under NOC 42201 must have a diploma or degree in social services or community health services.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
British Columbia Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream
This stream features an Express Entry and base option. It is meant for candidates in entry-level positions required by businesses and employers in British Columbia—with a focus on accommodation and hospitality occupations.
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Managers in health care | 30010 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Opticians | 32100 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Denturists | 32110 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dental technologists and technicians | 32112 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Other practitioners of healing | 32209 |
| Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants* | 33100 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates** | 33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
| Social and community service workers*** | 42201 |
* Individuals in these occupations must be employed directly by hotels/resorts. For the purposes of the BC PNP, a resort is defined as an accommodation facility that is associated with recreational activities, such as skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, or nature-based or interpretive tours.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Physicians stream
This stream targets Express Entry candidates who are physicians and meet Nova Scotia’s physician-specific requirements — typically those who can show eligibility for the targeted physician NOCs and align with the province’s healthcare hiring context (including certification from a Nova Scotia health authority).
Physicians
| Occupation title | NOC code |
|---|---|
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
How you can easily check your eligibility for all enhanced PNP streams at the same time
You can use the new CanadaVisa+ tool to see your eligibility for all Express Entry-aligned PNP streams, in addition to all Express Entry programs and categories.
Simply start your free assessment on the landing page and provide the information asked for.
At the end of the assessment, if you choose to make a free account, you will be able to
- See your eligibility across all enhanced PNP streams;
- Save and adjust your immigration results; and
- View your future immigration outlook based on the information you have provided.
For more information and a detailed overview of the process, visit our dedicated article.
- Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
- Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
