Get the Skills to Become a Health Care Assistant

Program Duration

1. High School Graduation or equivalent OR mature student status (19 years or older prior to starting the program)
2. Meet one of the following English Language Competency requirements:
   1. Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English must also provide proof of one of the following:
      1. Completion of Grade 10 English** (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
         **Includes any English Language Arts 10 course or GED indicating completion of the English requirement.
      2. Completion of college courses determined to be equivalent to completion of Grade 10 English (or higher) by post-secondary institutions. Applicants must produce transcripts as evidence of completion. A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
      3. ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Results: Recommended minimum cut scores are as follows: Reading (235), Writing (235), Writeplacer (4)
   2. Applicants who cannot provide evidence of three years of full-time¹ instruction in English are required to provide proof of one of the following standardized proficiency tests from an authorized assessment agency:
      1. Canadian Language Benchmarks test (in person or remote). Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
      2. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General or CELPIP Online). Test in the last two years. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
      3. International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General or IELTS Academic Online). Test in the last two years. Overall score of 6 with a minimum of 6 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 5.5 in Reading and Writing.
      4. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL or CAEL Online). Test in the last two years. Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 50.
      5. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition). Test in the last two years. Overall score of 76 with no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing.

• • In cases where applicants already hold Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) results (testing within the last 2 years), the following minimum scores will be accepted:  Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 6, Writing 6.

3. Completion of the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) application form for the purpose of working with children or vulnerable adults.

International Students must get a police certificate from their home country, regardless of how long they have been residing in Canada. To meet practice education pre-requisites, they are also required to provide an acceptable criminal record check (CRC) from B.C.’s Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP).

_{^{1 Applicants must provide a transcript and/or a BC personal education record as evidence of completion of a minimum of three years of full-time secondary (inclusive of grade 8) or post-secondary instruction in English. It is expected that the student has taken full time studies with a minimum of 18 credits per academic year (60% courseload). Documentation should indicate completion of a minimum of six semesters with a minimum of 54 credits in total.}}

Upon successful completion of the Health Care Assistant certificate program, you will be able to:

• Provide person-centered care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client.
• Use an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that promotes the physical, psychological, social, cognitive, and spiritual well-being of clients and families.
• Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges.
• Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges.
• Interact with other members of the health care team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
• Communicate clearly, accurately and in sensitive ways with clients and families within a variety of community and facility contexts.
• Provide personal care and assistance in a safe, competent, and organized manner.
• Recognize and respond to your own self-development, learning and health enhancement needs.
• Perform the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable, and professional manner.

A Health Care Assistant program in BC covers a variety of topics designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to provide professional health care and assistance to patients. Areas covered include:

• Basic Health Care
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Patient Care
• Mental Health Care
• Personal Care and Assistance
• Lifestyles and Choices

To apply for the HCA program, qualifications include:

• Prospective students should have a fair understanding of the English language.
• Must be Grade 12 graduates, or equivalent, or have Mature Student status
• Foreign students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents must obtain appropriate student authorization or a Study Permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
• An English proficiency at a minimum of IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) for a diploma-level program is required by foreign students.
• Completion of the Criminal Record Review Program (CRRP) application form for the purpose of working with children or vulnerable adults.

The HCA program takes 30 weeks* to complete when completed on a full-time basis. This program offers on-campus, online and combined delivery options, making it easy for you to fit your education goals into your schedule and lifestyle.

Toward the end of this program, you will complete a 210-hour clinical placement and a 60-hour practicum. This experience is invaluable when it comes to understanding the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges of a Health Care Assistant.

Once you complete the Health Care Assistant program, you will have a variety of career options available in the healthcare industry. Career prospects include:

• Health Care Assistant
• Home Health Aide
• Personal Care Aide
• Nursing Assistant
• Community Health Worker