Become a Certified HCA
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Type:
Certificate
Duration:
24 Weeks FT/37 Weeks PT
Financial Aid:
BC Student Loan, In-House Financing
Our Graduates Work In
BC Care Registry Approved Program
The HCA Program is designed for students who want to be certified to work as a Health Care Assistant (HCA). Health Care Assistants are the frontline care providers in a variety of institutional and community settings. HCAs aid in the basic care of patients, under the direction of nurses, hospital staff, and physicians
Program Details
- Full Time: 775 Hours/25 weeks
- Part Time: 775 Hours/37 weeks
Evidence of both of the following must be provided prior to acceptance:
- Proof of Grade 12 completion (or equivalent) OR mature student status (19 years or more)
- Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry – English Language Competency Requirements. These language competency requirements are provided at www.cachwr.bc.ca website
- For applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English*: English 10 completion or equivalent
- For applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English*: Standardized English language proficiency test score:
* Defined as three (3) years of full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education at a recognized institution 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. - For international students: A clear police certificate from country of origin must also be provided by the student as a program entry requirement.
English Language Competency Requirements:- Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English must also provide proof of one of the following:
a) Completion of Grade 10 English (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
b) 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.
c) 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.
a) Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) or CLBPT Remote. Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
b) 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.
c) 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.
d) 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.
e) 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.
Notes:
In cases where applicants already hold Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for nurses (CELBAN) results. Test in the last 2 years. Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 6, Writing 6.
In addition to the tests and test scores listed above (#2), recognized BC HCA Programs also have the discretion to accept HCA program applicants with a CLB Report Card from a 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.
- Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English must also provide proof of one of the following:
- A health declaration completed by the applicant confirming they understand the role of the HCA and are prepared to learn and practice HCA skills and competencies. The declaration may also be used to identify any learning needs of the applicant (completed by the applicant prior to acceptance).
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
As an International Health Care Assistant (HCA) student at Western Community College, you are required to provide a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) as part of Program entry requirements. A PCC is an official document issued by your country’s police authority, confirming your criminal record status or the absence of a criminal record.
Approved English-Speaking Countries
The following countries are considered as those with English language systems / institutions, where English is a primary and official language, and the language used for education.
| American Samoa | Ghana | Saint Lucia |
| Anguilla | Gibraltar | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Grenada | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Australia | Guam | Seychelles |
| Bahamas | Guyana | Sierra Leone |
| Barbados | Ireland | Singapore |
| Belize | Jamaica | South Africa |
| Bermuda | Kenya | Tanzania |
| Botswana | Lesotho | Trinidad and Tobago |
| British Virgin Islands | Liberia | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Canada | Malta | Uganda |
| Cayman Islands | Mauritius | United Kingdom |
| Dominica | Montserrat | United States |
| Falkland Islands | New Zealand | United States Virgin Islands |
| Fiji | Nigeria | Zambia |
| Gambia | Saint Helena | Zimbabwe |
| Title of Course/Work Experience Component | Hours |
|---|---|
| Concepts of Practice | 70 hours |
| Introduction to Practice | 30 hours |
| Interpersonal Communications | 50 hours |
| Lifestyle and Choices | 30 hours |
| Common Health Challenges | 115 hours |
| Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges | 60 hours |
| Personal Care and Assistance | 120 hours |
Practice Experience in Multi-level and/or Complex Care placement 1.
| 210 hours |
Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living, and/or Group Home Setting
| 60 hours |
Additional Courses: WHMIS, First Aid, CPR, SPECO Certificates | 30 hour |
| Total Hours | 775 hour |
Western Community College offers a variety of financial aid opportunities to ease students’ stress and allow them to focus on their studies. If you need extra support, we have flexible funding to accommodate all our students, no matter their financial situation.
- BC Student Loan
- In-house Financing
- Student Line of Credit
- Scholarships
- Bursaries and Government grants available while studying and after graduation too.
Our dedicated Financial Aid Officers will help you every step of the way.
- Hospital wards
- Residential long-term care facilities
- Extended care facilities
- Assisted living facilities
- Group homes
- Home support agencies
- Earn up to $28.00* per hour as a Health Care Assistant
All wages taken from the Canada Job Bank
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