Health Care and social assistance is projected to generate a large number of openings in the next decade. A career as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) offers a direct path into this growing sector — combining meaningful daily work with strong job security.
The Health Care Assistant Program at a Glance
The Health Care Assistant Training Program at Cambria College is a 30-week* certificate that blends classroom theory with hands-on clinical training.
- Students complete a 210-hour clinical placement in a complex care setting and a 60-hour practicum in home support or assisted living — 270 hours of real-world experience before graduation.
- The program covers 785 total hours across subjects including Personal Care and Assistance, Common Health Challenges, Cognitive and Mental Health Challenges, Interpersonal Communications, and career strategies, with First Aid/CPR and Food Safety certifications built in.
Cambria College holds Full Recognition status with the BC Care Aide Registry[4], meaning graduates meet provincial registration requirements for publicly funded healthcare settings. The program is approved by the Private Training Institution Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) and carries B.C. Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation — credentials that matter to employers across the province.
Skills and Core Competencies You Will Build
A capable HCA combines clinical technique with strong interpersonal skills. On the technical side, you will learn to:
- Assist clients with personal care and mobility
- Manage safe client transfers
- Apply infection control procedures
- Support individuals living with conditions like dementia, depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
- Specialized communication techniques to support effective interactions with clients, families, and interdisciplinary care teams
- Cultural safety and humility to provide respectful, inclusive care across diverse communities and lived experiences
- Trauma-informed care approaches that recognize the impact of trauma and support safe, responsive care experiences
- Person-centered caring practices that prioritize dignity, compassion, empathy, and individual choice
HCAs work as members of a health care team with direction and supervision from regulated health care professionals[4], so communication is equally central to the training. The program builds your ability to collaborate clearly with nurses, physicians, clients, and families while developing professional accountability, reflective practice, and compassionate caregiving approaches that support high-quality care.
Choosing the Right Health Care Assistant Program in BC
With multiple training routes available, choosing the right health care assistant program BC means finding one that balances speed with substance.
While some public streams are expected to last approximately one year [2], Cambria College’s accelerated 30-week* path maintains full recognized standing. The program is available on-campus, online, or in a combined format at campuses in Surrey and Victoria.
Admission requires Grade 12 graduation or mature student status, along with English language competency. Before applying, you can also take a Career Readiness Quiz to get a personalized report on how your goals align with the program.
Career Outlook: Where HCA Graduates Work in BC
Graduates of a health care assistant program BC enter a broad and resilient job market. Health care workers who work with patients in hospitals, group homes, assisted living, long-term care, urgent care, and other facilities are commonly known as care aides [1]. WorkBC projects 22,480 expected job openings for this role in BC between 2023 and 2033 [1], while BC overall anticipates 1,052,000 job openings across all sectors over the next decade [5], with healthcare leading the way.
Employment settings range from acute care hospitals and complex care facilities to home support, assisted living, and group homes. Home support is one of the fastest-growing areas as more British Columbians choose to age in place. For an overview of advancement routes into nursing, medical assisting, and residential care coordination, see Cambria’s guide to the HCA role and career pathways.
Why This Career Field Attracts So Many People
The most commonly cited reason HCAs enter the field is impact — the daily, tangible difference made in another person’s life. Job security reinforces that motivation: the Canadian population aged 85 and older is one of the fastest-growing age groups [1], creating structural, long-term demand for caregivers that is driven by demographics rather than economic cycles. Health care assistants in BC earn an average annual salary of $52,140 [2], a strong return for a 30-week* certificate program.
Working as an HCA also means gaining valuable Canadian healthcare experience [3] — an important stepping stone for internationally trained professionals and for anyone building toward a regulated health profession. Those interested in adjacent paths can explore related Cambria programs such as the Mental Health Support Worker and Social Services and Community Support Worker certificates.
Key Requirements and Tips Before You Enroll
To work as an HCA in a publicly funded healthcare setting in BC, applicants must be registered [3] with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. Graduation from a recognized program is the prerequisite — choosing a program without Full Recognition status can mean completing training but being unable to work in the majority of BC’s HCA roles. All students must also complete the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) application before clinical placements begin; international students additionally need a police certificate from their home country.
Prioritize programs with substantial clinical placement hours, since real-world experience is where classroom learning becomes genuine competence. Consider your preferred work setting early — hospital environments differ significantly from home support or group home work.
Take the First Step Toward a Meaningful Career
A career as a Health Care Assistant offers meaningful work, clear entry requirements, strong employment prospects, and a competitive salary — all accessible through a 30-week* program. Cambria College’s Health Care Assistant Training Program delivers that path, with campuses in Surrey and Victoria, to ensure you have the education you need to thrive.
Footnotes
*Program length when completed in normal time.
[1] https://www.workbc.ca/career-profiles/nurse-aides-orderlies-and-patient-service-associates
[3] https://www.choose2care.ca/registration/
[5] https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/bc-labour-market-outlook