Licences and certificates

You may be eligible for a special allowance or reimbursement of the fees for licences or credentials required for doing your BC Public Service job.

On this page

• Bonuses for nurses
• Blaster’s certificate
• First aid certificate
• Power Engineers Certificate
• Certified Faller Certificate
• Qualified registered professional fees
• Additional earnings for veterinarians
• Resources

Bonuses for nurses

Nurses receive bonuses based on their academic qualifications related to their professional nursing practice.

Blaster’s certificate

Employees required to hold a valid British Columbia Blaster's Certificate receive biweekly compensation as follows:

First aid certificate

If you have an Occupational First Aid Certificate to perform designated first aid duties, your ministry will cover the cost of obtaining and renewing it. You will also receive paid leave to attend the necessary courses.

Designated first aid attendants in the workplace are paid an allowance on top of their regular pay:

Power Engineers Certificate

Employees required to hold a valid Power Engineers Certificate that is not required in their classification specification receive biweekly compensation as follow:

Certified Faller Certificate

Employees who, as part of the requirements of their job, are required to attain and maintain a certification as per the WorksafeBC Certified Faller Training Standard, shall be paid a premium allowance as follows:

Please note, employees shall be entitled to only one of the above Certified Faller allowances.

Qualified registered professional fees

Some employees are required to maintain a membership or licence with an authority or association as a qualified registered professional.

Once you have completed your probationary period, you will be reimbursed for professional fees up to the maximum amounts set in the approved schedule. See the schedule for information on reimbursement exceptions and criteria specific to your employee group. Submit a Reimbursement of Incidental Expenses (PDF, 87KB) form to your expense authority. 

Additional earnings for veterinarians

Veterinarian Qualification Differential (VQD)

Veterinarians with relevant postgraduate education or training (as determined by the employer) beyond the doctor of veterinary medicine level receive this pensionable earnings differential allowance (EDA). The allowance is not cumulative.

You receive an annual payment for the highest level of relevant training or education you possess:

• Level 1 – $4,000 for postgraduate (DVM) education or training to the diploma or Master’s level
• Level 2 – $10,000 for postgraduate (DVM) education or training to the PhD or board certification level

Veterinarian Qualification Differential Earnings Code

Hiring managers can add the Veterinarian Qualification Differential (VQD) Earnings Code to the EDA from the Public Service Agency. Hiring managers can add a specified amount that is paid bi-weekly. Payroll can then set up the VQD as additional pay for the specified employee.

There are two levels of payment for this code:

• Level 1 – $153.32 biweekly
• Level 2 – $383.30 biweekly

Note:  the VQD earnings code is not part of base pay. It's prorated for regular and part-time employees. It's not payable to auxiliary employees. Eligible employees will receive the VQD allowance during leaves with pay, but not during leaves without pay. The VQD earnings code is subject to EI, CPP, income tax, superannuation (pension) and union dues.