BC nurse overtime

Overtime under the provincial agreement starts at time and a half and moves to double time quickly. Here is when each rate applies (Article 27.05).

The current agreement ran from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025 and stays in force until a new one is reached (Article 61(A)), so its last published rates are the ones being paid today. When the next agreement sets new rates, this page updates.

Past your normal shift

The first 2 hours beyond your normal daily shift are paid at time and a half. Every hour after that is double time. Overtime is counted from 15 minutes, and once it reaches 15 minutes the whole period is paid.

Past your normal week

On a standard schedule, the first full shift's worth of hours beyond 37.5 in a week is time and a half, and every hour after that is double time. On a 12-hour rotation, hours from 37.5 to 45 in a week are time and a half, and hours above 45 are double time.

On a scheduled day off

A regular full-time nurse called in on a scheduled day off is paid double time for every hour of it. The employer can ask for only one scheduled day off a week, and the nurse can say no (Article 27.03(B)).

Part-time extra shifts

A regular part-time nurse who picks up extra shifts is paid double time for the hours that take them past any of these limits (Article 27.05(B)(3)):

• more than 4 consecutive shifts longer than 8 hours;
• more than 6 consecutive shifts of 7.5 to 8 hours;
• more than 5 consecutive shifts when 3 or more are longer than 8 hours;
• more than 6 consecutive shifts when 4 or more are 7.5 to 8 hours;
• more than 225 straight-time hours over three consecutive two-week pay periods.

Only one of these is paid for the same hours.

On a statutory holiday

Overtime on a statutory holiday is time and a half of the holiday rate (Article 27.05(C)). The holiday rate is double time, or two and a half times on a super statutory holiday, so holiday overtime pays three times, or three and three quarter times, your base rate. It also applies when your employer moves a scheduled holiday with less than 14 days' notice.

What that pays

For a Level 3 nurse at step 7, before premiums:

Evening and night premiums are still paid on overtime hours during an evening or night shift. The regular employee premium is not paid on overtime (Article 28.05).

Banking it instead

You can take overtime as paid time off instead of pay, at a time you and your employer agree. The bank holds up to 150 straight-time hours (Article 27.04).

Flexible schedules

On a flexible schedule, overtime is work beyond 150 hours in a four-week period, paid at time and a half (Article 27.01(B)).

qNurse is independent and is not affiliated with the BC Nurses' Union, the Nurses' Bargaining Association, HEABC or any employer. Your paystub and your employer's records are the authority. Rates current as of October 16, 2026.