Acute Care Certificate

Advance your Health Care Assistant (HCA) career with specialized training in acute care. This 20-hour certificate program equips HCAs with essential skills needed in high-demand acute settings, such as hospitals and emergency departments.

This certification offers a foundation for success in fast-paced healthcare environments, providing HCAs with valuable skills to support patient care in acute settings.


Who should enroll?

This program is designed for Heath Care Assistants (HCAs) in British Columbia who wish to expand their competencies in acute care and increase their earning potential.

Why pursue this certification?

Many HCAs find that their initial training does not cover specialized skills essential for acute care settings, including blood pressure measurement, glucose testing, and oxygen adjustment. This course fills those gaps, equipping graduates for more challenging roles with greater responsibilities.

Program Highlights
Duration 5 days - 4 hours per day - 20 hours total.
Curriculum One comprehensive course covering critical skills, including:
  • Blood pressure measurement, reporting, and recording.
  • Assistance with blood glucose testing.
  • Oxygen concentration adjustment.
  • Emergency procedures for acute care.
Certification Certificate
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code 12.12345
Compliance This program does not require approval by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. As such, PTIRU did not review this program.
Average Salary With enhanced skills and experience, certified HCAs can expect improved job prospects and higher earning potential in these dynamic healthcare environments.
Career Opportunities Upon completion, HCAs with this certificate can pursue roles in various acute care settings, such as:
  • Hospitals
  • Emergency departments
  • Long-term care facilities

Admissions Requirements
  • All candidates must meet with an admissions advisor before enrollment.
  • Candidates must provide ALL of the following supporting evidence prior to acceptance:

    Age Requirements

    • Be a mature student (minimum 19 years of age) OR a Grade 12 graduate (parent/guardian consent required if under 19 years of age)

    Language Proficiency Requirements

    • Candidates must provide ONE of the following:
      • Evidence of three years of full-time secondary instruction (Grade 8–12 or BC Adult Graduation Program) in English OR two years of full-time post-secondary education at a recognized institution listed under Approved English Speaking Countries.
        (see here)

        Approved English Speaking Countries 1

        American Samoa
        Anguilla
        Antigua & Barbuda
        Australia
        Bahamas
        Barbados
        Bermuda
        Belize
        Botswana
        British Virgin Islands
        Canada (including Quebec)
        Cayman Islands
        Dominica
        Falkland Islands
        Fiji
        Gambia
        Ghana
        Gibraltar
        Grenada
        Guam
        Guyana
        Ireland
        Jamaica
        Kenya
        Lesotho
        Liberia
        Malta
        Mauritius
        Montserrat
        New Zealand
        Nigeria
        Seychelles
        Sierra Leone
        Singapore
        South Africa
        St. Helena
        St. Kitts & Nevis
        St. Lucia
        St. Vincent & the Grenadines
        Trinidad & Tobago
        Tanzania
        Turks & Caicos Islands
        Uganda
        United Kingdom
        USA
        US Virgin Islands
        Zambia
        Zimbabwe
        1This list follows the Countries that satisfy the English language admission standard for the University of British Columbia (UBC). In cases where there is a disparity between the linked page and our site/the printed text, precedence shall be given to the information on the UBC website.
        Language courses, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), cannot be considered in this calculation.
      • Evidence of achievement in a recognized standardized language test or assessment at an overall level equivalent to IELTS 5.5 (Academic) or higher, such as:
        • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT: Overall score of 46
        • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, Writing 5
        • Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Overall score of 40
        • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE-A): Overall score of 43
        • Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum overall score of 95
        • Cambridge Linguaskill, LANGUAGECERT Academic, The Michigan English Test (MET): Minimum overall B2 level
        • iTEP Academic: Minimum overall score of 3.5
        • EIKEN: Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1

    Background and Health Requirements

    • Clear criminal record check
    • Immunizations in the following are strongly recommended and may be required for clinical placement in the program:
      • 2 doses of COVID vaccine
      • Influenza (required annually)

Tuition and Fees
Tuition $275
Application Fee $250
Administrative Fees $10
Materials $30
Total Tuition and Fees $398