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🔥 February 2026 Intake Starting Soon – Only 12 Seats Left! Get 4 FREE Certificates (Worth $800)
🔥 February 2026 Intake Starting Soon – Only 12 Seats Left! Get 4 FREE Certificates (Worth $800)
Surrey Central & Abbotsford Campus

Become a Certified HCA

Graduate in under 6 months with Fast Track

🎁 FREE BONUS: 4 Certificates Worth $800

Request Info

No waitlists, our programs run year-round.

Type:
Certificate

Duration:
24 Weeks FT/37 Weeks PT

Financial Aid:
BC Student Loan, In-House Financing

💰
$0
Average Wage/Hr
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0+
Graduates
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0
Practicum Hours
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0%
Employment Rate

Our Graduates Work In

Fraser Health
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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

Tuition Fee for Domestic Students
$ 7,000
+ FREE $800 in Certificates
Application and course fees extra
ptiru-mark
Education Quality Assurance (BC)

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:

  1. Proof of Grade 12 completion (or equivalent) OR mature student status (19 years or more)
  2. 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.
  3. 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 SamoaGhanaSaint Lucia
AnguillaGibraltarSaint Kitts and Nevis
Antigua and BarbudaGrenadaSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
AustraliaGuamSeychelles
BahamasGuyanaSierra Leone
BarbadosIrelandSingapore
BelizeJamaicaSouth Africa
BermudaKenyaTanzania
BotswanaLesothoTrinidad and Tobago
British Virgin IslandsLiberiaTurks and Caicos Islands
CanadaMaltaUganda
Cayman IslandsMauritiusUnited Kingdom
DominicaMontserratUnited States
Falkland IslandsNew ZealandUnited States Virgin Islands
FijiNigeriaZambia
GambiaSaint HelenaZimbabwe
 
Title of Course/Work Experience ComponentHours
Concepts of Practice70 hours
Introduction to Practice30 hours
Interpersonal Communications50 hours
Lifestyle and Choices30 hours
Common Health Challenges115 hours
Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges60 hours
Personal Care and Assistance120 hours

Practice Experience in Multi-level and/or Complex Care placement 1.
(including a placement focused on specialized
dementia care)

  • Instructor-led clinical (150 hours)
  • Preceptorship (60 hours)
210 hours

Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living, and/or Group Home Setting

  • Practicum/Preceptorship

 

60 hours

Additional Courses: WHMIS, First Aid, CPR, SPECO Certificates

30 hour
Total Hours775 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

Get a Student Loan @ 0% to fund your education

Student Testimonials

The classroom structure is very clear and the teachers really care about helping their students. All the staff and receptionists are exceedingly nice to me. Thank you so much!
- Helen Alex Murray
Student