Health Care Assistant Certificate

Health Care Assistant Certificate Courses

CNC's program gives you the skills to care for disabled individuals living in long-termcare facilities or private homes. To help clients meet their needs in all dimensions of health in their home or in a facility, the program prepares you to help with assessments, communication, and activities of daily living (such as nutrition and personal hygiene).

Locations & Dates

CNC programs have varying lengths and start dates to meet your needs, and are offered across multiple campuses where possible. Don’t see the campus you’re looking for? Check back with us soon as this page is updated throughout the school year.

Study while you work

CNC and Northern Health are partnering on delivering the new Health Careers Access Program (HCAP), an initiative of the Government of British Columbia. This is a work-study program, designed to increase the number of health care assistants in BC. This means a change to how you would normally apply to CNC to learn the skills needed for the role.

HCAP is only available to individuals hired as health care support workers by Northern Health or another approved health care employer in the region CNC serves. You complete your training while also working part-time as a health care support worker, providing a variety of critical non-clinical, non-direct care supports to patients and residents.

Upon completion of this fully-sponsored program, you earn a recognized post-secondary credential and are eligible to register as a health care assistant.

Due to the format of this program, location of study may vary.
Students may study online or through hyflex delivery from their local CNC campus. Practicums may require travel.

Entry Requirements

• The following courses, each with a grade of “C” or higher.
  • Two English Language Arts 10 courses, or ENGL 030, or equivalent
  • Workplace Mathematics 10, or MATH 041, or equivalent
• English Language Proficiency requirements.
  • Candidates whose first language proficiency is not English must meet the English requirements and provide proof of English language proficiency.
  • Please refer to the most recent English Language HCA Program Entry Competency Requirements (pdf) criteria outlined by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

Need help meeting these requirements? Check out our Academic Upgrading options.

Selection Process

If there is room in the program, you will be accepted once you have met all the admission requirements. This is called “first qualified, first accepted.” If you qualify after the program is full, you will be put on a wait list.

Self-identified Canadian Aboriginal applicants meeting the admission requirements will be given priority for 20% of seats in the program until the institutionally recognized release date.

Program Requirements

Completed acceptance package must be submitted by the date indicated in the package. Incomplete certifications or documentation will prevent students from entering clinical practice placements. Practicum is required for graduation. All certifications must remain valid throughout the program. Documents and certificates required are:

• Proof of immunization status as outlined by the BC Centre for Disease Control and as outlined in the Practice Education Guidelines BC Immunization. See Practice Education Guidelines
• TB screening: Negative TB skin test or negative chest x-ray
• First Aid that includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Level C, or Basic Life Support (BLS). CPR online courses must include face-to-face practice components. CPR certification must be maintained for duration of program.
• FIT tested for a N95 respirator.
• Food Safe Level 1 certificate.
• Criminal Record Check (RCMP criminal record checks are not accepted)

Students must complete a provincial Schedule B criminal record search because there is a practicum component involving work with vulnerable people. A search which identifies relevant criminal convictions may prevent students from registering for practicum. To graduate from the Health Care Assistant Program, each practicum must be successfully completed.

Note 1: All costs associated with certifications, courses and/or documentation requirements are the student’s responsibility.

Note 2: May be required to travel for practicum placements.

Invest in your future

This is a fully paid program, sponsored by the Ministry of Advanced Education. This means that student fees, tuition, cost of school supplies, etc. will not be charged to students. In addition, students will receive a weekly stipend of approximately $800/week while they attend school and then receive a wage for the weeks they are out working.

These costs are an estimate and do not include books. Costs may change without notice. Student fees vary by campus. Check the fee schedule for more details.

Books for this program can be purchased from the bookstore.

We're here to help. You can apply for scholarships and bursaries through CNC. We can also help you find loans and other funding. Visit Financial aid to find out how.

Looking for a job? Check the student employment opportunities or trades training job board.