Health Care Assistant

Begin your journey in the healthcare field with our Health Care Assistant (HCA) program! Our program follows the government-developed curriculum and is recognized by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

This comprehensive training program equips you with the essential skills to provide compassionate care and support to individuals in various healthcare settings.

From understanding health and healing concepts to engaging in practical care experiences, you'll be well-prepared to make a positive impact in the lives of those you assist.

Our curriculum covers important areas such as interpersonal communications, caring for individuals with common and cognitive health challenges, and personal care and assistance. With hands-on labs and work experience, you'll gain valuable real-world experience, ensuring you're job-ready upon graduation.

Start your journey toward a rewarding career as a Health Care Assistant with us today!


Program Highlights
Duration 777 hours, 32 weeks (plus 2 for breaks and holidays), 8 months
This includes 78 hours of lab skill practice and 270 hours of work experience.
Curriculum
  • Job Search and Resume Writing
  • Concepts for Practice
  • Introduction to Practice
  • Interpersonal Communications
  • Lifestyle and Choices
  • Common Health Challenges
  • Cognitive or Mental Challenges
  • Personal Care and Assistance
  • Practice Experience in Multi-level/Complex Care with Dementia Care
  • Practice Experience in Home Support/Assisted Living/Group Home
  • Standard First Aid with CPR Level C Training
  • Food Safe Training
  • WHMIS Training
Certification BC Registry #, Certificate
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code 51.2601 - Health aide
Compliance Health Care Assistant is pending approval from The Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) within the System Integrity Branch (SIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Regulatory This program leads to employment in a career occupation regulated by BC Care Aid & Community Health Worker Registry (BCCACHWR). Graduates of this program need to register with BCCACHWR to work in the public health care setting in BC. For more info, please visit www.cachwr.bc.ca
Average Salary $52,140
BC Job Openings, 2023-2033 22,480

Admissions Requirements
  • All candidates must meet with an admissions advisor before enrollment.
  • Proof of Grade 10 completion (or Equivalent)1 OR mature student status 2

    • English Language Competency Requirements

  • Proof of meeting the English Language Competency Requirements as outlined by the BCCACHWR

    • Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English4 must also provide proof of one of the following:
      • Completion of Grade 10 English5 (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
      • Completion of college courses determined to be equivalent to Grade 10 English (or higher) by post-secondary institutions. A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
      • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Results: Reading 230, Writing 230, and Writeplacer 4.
    • Applicants who cannot provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English are required to provide proof of one of the following standardized proficiency tests from an authorized assessment agency:
      • Canadian Language Benchmarks test (in person or remote) 6. Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6, and Writing 6.
      • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General). Test in the last two years. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6, and Writing 6.
      • International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General, 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.
      • 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.
      • 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.
      • Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for nurses (CELBAN) results. Test in the last 2 years. Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 6, Writing 6.
      • Canadian Language Benchmarks7 (CLB) Report Card from a Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Program indicating "Completing" CLB Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, and Writing 7 AND "Recommended Class Placement" as Speaking 8, Listening 8, Reading 8, and Writing 8.

    • Criminal Record Check

  • A clear criminal record by the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) with vulnerable sector check8, AND if the candidate is an international student, a clear police certificate9 from country of origin is also required. A clear record/certificate must be presented and on file before enrolment.

    • Health & Immunization Requirements

  • A formal declaration of health from a licensed physician affirming your capacity, both mentally and physically, to carry out tasks typically expected in your selected profession.
  • Negative TB skin test result. If the TB skin test is positive, a negative chest x-ray is required.
  • Recommended vaccines10: Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Varicella, Hepatitis B, Pertusiss, COVID-19, Influenza, Polio.

1 The institute will consult to ICES Country Specific Information or ICAS International Education Guides to determine equivalency.

2 A mature student is defined as an individual who is at least 19 years of age by the start date of the program.

3 Defined as three (3) years of full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education at a recognized institution (defined as an institution that is in good standing with the Ministry of Education or equivalent in the country of origin) on the list of Approved English Speaking Countries. Secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.

4 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% course load). Documentation should indicate completion of a minimum of six semesters with a minimum of 54 credits in total.

5 Includes any English Language Arts 10 course or General Educational Development (GED) indicating completion of the English requirement.

6 The institute will need to verify the CLBPT is conducted with a licensed CLBPT Assessment Centre by a certified CLBPT language assessor.

7 Only test results conducted at a recognized Language Assessment Centre/Location by a certified CLB language assessor will be accepted. Self-assessment tests, e.g., CLB-Online Self-Assessment (OSA), cannot be accepted.

8 Schedule B Form including clearance to work with both children and vulnerable adults. No other types of criminal record checks are acceptable.

9 Applies to all international students, including those currently residing in Canada.

10 Elevare Career Institute respects that vaccination is a personal choice. However, please be aware that BC Centre for Disease Control has specific vaccination requirements for health care workers in BC. Many practice education sites follow these requirements to ensure the safety of their residents, clients, and staff. Not having the recommended vaccinations may limit your available practice education site options.

Prerequisites for Practice Education

  • Successful completion of all theoretical courses with a minimum of 75% grade in each course
  • Successful demonstration of skills testing in preparation for practice experiences
  • Evidence of one of the following:
    • First Aid Certification
    • CPR Level "C" Certification or "Basic Life Support (BLS)" Certification
    • Foodsafe Level 1 Certification (or a certificate course deemed equivalent)
    • Completion of the Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) (available on the LearningHub), which must include the following:
      • A signed checklist SPECO Checklist (phsa.ca)
      • Provincial Violence Prevention E-Learning Modules
      • WHMIS - Provincial Course
    • Completion of the Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules (LearningHub)
    • Completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course (LearningHub)
  • The following are strongly recommended:
    • Mental Health First Aid (available through the Mental Health Commission of Canada)
    • Dementia Care Training Certificate
    • Provincial Violence Curriculum In Person Workshop - available through SafeCare BC; may be required for placement, confirm with placement site and view information here: Violence Prevention Training for Students.pdf (healthcarebc.ca)
    • In addition to HCA Program Curriculum coverage and the HCA Practice in BC E-Learning module (Module 3), completion of further coursework in Indigenous cultural safety and humility

Tuition and Fees
Tuition $7675
Application Fee $250
Administrative Fees $130
Textbooks $515
Materials $125
Uniform $165
Total Tuition and Fees $8860
Payment Plan Options:
  • 8 interest-free monthly payments of $ 1,108 each
  • Student Loans and alternate funding available for those who qualify.