Health Care Assistant Certificate

The 745-hour program is approximately a 25-week or six-month program (based on a typical 30-hour instruction week) designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function effectively as direct client care providers and respected members of the health-care team, in community and facility settings. Under the direction and supervision of a health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being of clients/residents. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are prepared to work in any level of continuing care, including: home support, adult day care, assisted living, complex care (including dementia care units) and acute care.

Admission Requirements

• B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, or 

• 19 years of age and out of secondary school for one year as of the first day of classes.

English requirements:

All HCA program applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency (English Competency Self Declaration Form). Domestic and/or international applicants who are non-native English speakers will need to take a standardized proficiency assessment to confirm communicative competency in all four language skills areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing).

Domestic and/or international applicants:

Native English speakers requirement:

English 10 or equivalent;

Evidence of one of the following:

1. Proof of completion of Grade 10 English; or
2. College courses determined to be equivalent to completion of Grade 10 English (or higher) by post-secondary institutions. Applicants must produce transcripts as evidence of completion. A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
3. Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT): Reading Comprehension 35/50, Spelling 23/32
4. Language Placement Index (LPI): The three individual scores (Sentence Structure, English Usage, and Reading Comprehension) must total a minimum of 20, out of a maximum possible score of 40. Essay level of 4, with a minimum essay score of 24/40
5. Accuplacer: Grade 10 level or higher Recommended Cut Scores*: Reading Comprehension 60, Sentences Skill 55, Writeplacer 4

Non-Native English speakers requirement:

Evidence of one of the following test scores:

1. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): test must be within the last two years, IBT only -- Overall score of 76 with no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic or General -- test must be within 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
3. Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLB PT): test must be within the last year : Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6 - Note: a CLB Report Card from a LINC Program may also be accepted.
4. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): Academic or General -- Academic: Aggregate score of 4L or better, with 4L or better in Speaking and Listening and 3H or better in Reading and Writing. General: CELPIP 7 or better in Speaking and Listening and CELPIP 6 in Reading and Writing
5. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 50

*educational institutions may conduct their own predictive validity studies to confirm appropriate cut scores

Other admission and pre-practice requirements:

• It is recommended that students also complete a Grade 11 Science or ABE Science at the 70 or 80 Level.

• Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of a Red Cross Standard First Aid or St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid that includes Basic Life Support, CPR Level C no more than 12 months before admission.

• A criminal record check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office. Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to provide a clearance letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.

• Applicants must provide evidence of a negative tuberculin test, taken no more than six months before the date of application (or evidence of appropriate follow-up if the test was positive.)

• Applicants must have successfully completed the provincially-approved FOODSAFE training program.
  
  
• Successful completion of all the B.C. Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) including the 8-hour in-person classroom course.

• Proof of meeting current immunizations I vaccinations as per health care organization policies I guidelines (or signed vaccination exemption form, except TB).  Applicants are advised that, if they are unable to provide proof of immunization or immunity they may be restricted or even excluded from practice settings based on the Health Facility or Health Authority policies and procedures for non-immunized students on placement. This information will be collected on the first day of class by the instructor.

• Attendance at a program orientation day is strongly recommended. Applicants will be notified of the exact date.

• Applicants are advised that students in this program engage actively in laboratory practice, acting both as patient/client and as caregiver in simulated situations. Notwithstanding all specific program prerequisites, Okanagan College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant when, in the opinion of OC, there is sufficient and substantiated evidence, medical or otherwise, to conclude that by granting admission OC would jeopardize the safety of clients under student care or would otherwise be negligent in providing for the safety and well-being of clients, agency staff or other students.

Program Outline

Other Program Information

Location and Dates:

Kelowna Campus - August, January, May

Vernon - October to April

Penticton - October to April

Salmon Arm - May to October

Program Length: 25 weeks

Program Fees:

Tuition - Students may enrol in a part-time program if space is available after all full-time students are enrolled. Fees are assessed by component. Full-time student fees are based on vocational rates.

Textbooks - $350 approximately

Uniforms - $250 approximately

Other Expenses - Students must provide a suitable uniform, duty shoes, name tags and OC badge. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Practicum, Extern and Clinical Experiences

Practicum, extern and clinical experiences are an integral part of health and social services programs. Locations are throughout the Okanagan Valley. Students must arrange for their own transportation to and from practicum, extern and clinical sites. In most cases, that means a driving license and access to a reliable vehicle is required. Travel expenses are the student's responsibility.

Hours vary from six to nine hours per day during the practicum for a total of 30 hours per week.

* Countries with English language systems / institutions (where English is a primary, official language and the language used for education): 

American Samoa

Anguilla

Antigua

Australia

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bermuda

British Virgin Islands

Canada¹

Cayman Island

Dominica

Falkland Islands

Fiji

Ghana

Grenada

Guam

Guyana

Irish Republic

Jamaica

Kenya

Malta

Mauritius

Montserrat

New Zealand

Seychelles

Singapore

South Africa

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Lucia

St. Vincent

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caico Islands

Uganda

United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

United States of America (USA)

US Virgin Islands

¹Applicants educated in Quebec at an institution where the language of instruction was not English, must meet the current English language proficiency requirements.

Graduation Requirements

A minimum passing grade (P) for HCA 103 and HCA 107; and a minimum grade of 70% in all other courses in the program outline.