Health Care Assistant

 
The Health Care Assistant (HCA) program is a full time certificate program. The program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to function as caregivers in a variety of healthcare settings.

Program courses and labs are enhanced by practice experiences in community, complex care and home support facilities. During the final practicum component of the program, there is a distinct clinical opportunity to work an gain experience in an acute care setting. Students will be prepared to meet the care needs of adults who may be experiencing diverse and often complex health and illnesses.

As part of B.C.'s response to COVID-19, KPU has partnered with the Province of British Columbia to reserve seats in each intake as part of a combined employment and education pathway for Health Care Assistants. Those interested in this government initiative will need to first apply to the Health Career Access Program with the Province. For those interested in applying directly to KPU's Health Care Assistant program outside of the provincial initiative, the standard KPU application process applies. Please see the below for the differences between the application options: 

Health Career Access PathwayDirect KPU Program Pathway
  • Must first be hired by the health authority (HA) to work as a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW), then the HA refers you to a post-secondary institution to complete the Health Care Assistant (HCA) education component/program. You must specify to your employer that you want to attend KPU.
  • HA requires a mandatory 1-year post-program employment commitment at their chosen sites/locations.
  • Employer pays in full for tuition, textbook and X1 uniform.
  • Pathways admission intakes are dependent on HA needs for HCSW positions. The post-secondary institution has no oversight on this route and application wait times.
  • Student applies directly through KPU.
  • No employment commitment is required upon graduation. Graduates seek employment by their choice of HA/employer/location etc.
  • Student pays in full for tuition, textbook, and uniform. Bursaries are available through the post-secondary institution.
  • Set KPU program admissions intakes for, January & September. Determined start dates with no application wait times.

For more details about the new admission requirements, please visit the below links:

 

Please contact study@kpu.ca for any inquiries or further details on your application process.

 

Upon graduation, students will be eligible to register with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. In addition, three (3) seats will be reserved for graduates of KPU's Certificate in Health Care Assistant program, in both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program (3) and the Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Program (3). 

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