The Health Care Assistant (HCA) program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line care-givers and respected members of the healthcare team. Under the direction and supervision of a health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to work in a variety of practice settings including home support, assisted living, complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care.
Students can begin their health career education at NLC by completing HCA program in 31-34 weeks. Upon completion of a minimum of 600 hours of work experience as a Heath Care Assistant, graduates can bridge into the Access to Practical Nursing Diploma program, where after an additional 16 months of study they will graduate with their Diploma in Practical Nursing.
Students in NLC’s HCA program have an average of 28 hours of classes, laboratories, and other learning activities per week. A comparable number of individual study hours is required. Further, in clinical learning situations, students will be in close contact with individuals who have a variety of health issues. For these reasons, students should be at a satisfactory level of physical and emotional health to ensure success in the program.
Career Prospects
Health care assistants work in a variety of practice settings including home support, assisted living, complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care.
Want a more direct path to employment?
Health Care Access Program
NLC is partnering with Northern Health to deliver the Health Care Access Program.
This is a unique delivery of NLC’s Health Care Assistant program for employees of Northern Health. The program includes an online component that requires you to have a computer and internet access. Clinical elements will take place at a Northern Health facility.
Northern Health will cover your course fees and pay you while you study and work.
To apply to a Health Care Support Worker positionnew window with, or express your interest in working for, Northern Health. Once completed, a Northern Health representative will contact you for next steps.
To learn more about the Health Care Access Program, email Northern Healthemail or visit their websitenew window.
Details
Intakes
| Location | Starting | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dawson Creek | September | Cohortnew window |
| Fort St John* | September | Cohortnew window |
| Dawson Creek | February | Cohortnew window |
| Fort St John* | February | Cohortnew window |
* The laboratory component of one course is delivered in Dawson Creek, therefore students must travel to the Dawson Creek campus:
- HCAT 124 – Healing 3: Personal Care and Assistancenew window lab classes are approximately two days per week for 13 weeks.
Length
745 hours; approximately 31 – 34 weeks long for full time studies. Part time study will take longer.
Estimated Program Fees
Program fee type: Vocational/Career Technical
Costs indicated are estimates for a full-time course load.
Book, instruments, supplies, uniforms/clothing and third-party fees are additional.
Domestic Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 2,598.86 | $ 154.03 | $ 345.55 | $ 3,098.44 |
International Fees
| Tuition | Student Fees | Instruction-related Fees (includes GST) | International Medical Insurance | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $ 9,156.05 | $ 151.01 | $ 338.77 | $ 828.00 | $ 10,473.83 |
Still have questions?
Contact:
- info@nlc.bc.caemail if you are in Canada
- info@international.nlc.bc.caemail if you are outside of Canada
- healthscienceoffice@nlc.bc.caemail if you are currently an NLC student
Admission Requirements
The following admission requirements reflect provincial standards mandated by the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry.
Complete all requirements:
- Secondary school requirement
- Grade 10 completion, or equivalent, or mature student status.
- English requirement
- Applicants who have been educated in an English-speaking environment (a country with English language systems/institutions) for a minimum of seven years or applicants who have been educated in an English-speaking environment for three consecutive years at the secondary (starting from grade 8) or post-secondary level (ESL courses will not be considered), one of the following:
- English 10 with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent
- ENGL 030new window with a minimum grade of C, or equivalent
- Alternately, completion of ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Results with a minimum score of Reading 230, Writing 230, and Writeplacer 4
- For all other applicants, one of the following:
- Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) or CLBT Remote. Test in last year with minimum scores of Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6, and Writing 6
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General or CELPIP Online). Test in the last two years with minimum scores of Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6, and Writing 6
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General, or IELTS Academic Online). Test in the last two years with minimum Overall score of 6 and 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 with minimum Overall Score of 60 and no section less than 50
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition). Test in the last two years with minimum 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). Test in the last two years with minimum scores of Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6, Writing 6
- CLB Report Card from a LINC program indicating “Completing” CLB with minimum score of Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 7, Writing 7 AND “Recommended Class Placement” as Listening 8, Speaking 8, Reading 8, and Writing 8
- Applicants who have been educated in an English-speaking environment (a country with English language systems/institutions) for a minimum of seven years or applicants who have been educated in an English-speaking environment for three consecutive years at the secondary (starting from grade 8) or post-secondary level (ESL courses will not be considered), one of the following:
- International students must provide a clear police certificate from their country of origin.
Post-Admission Requirements
The following post-admission requirementsnew window must be submitted to Admissions prior to the first day of classes. All certifications must remain valid throughout the program:
- Current CPR (Basic Life Support) certification1
- Immunizations2
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination2
- Negative TB test indicating the absence of active tuberculosis2
- N95 fit testing for proper respiratory mask fitting
- Clearance letter from the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP), for a Schedule “B” Criminal Record Check (CRC), WORKS WITH children and vulnerable adults3
- First Aid certification4
- FoodSafe Level 1 certification, or equivalent
1 as outlined in the Health Sciences Placement Network Practice Education Guidelines – Orientation – StudentsPDFnew window.
2 as outlined in the Health Sciences Placement Network Practice Education Guidelines – Communicable Disease PreventionPDFnew window. Please make an appointment with public health nurse immediately to complete the Immunization Checklist. The immunization process can take anywhere from one to three months, sometimes longer, so verifying immunization status is critical.
3 No student will be permitted to begin a workplace practicum until the CRC has been received by NLC. Failure to do so and may result in program withdrawal. Please see Criminal Records Checksnew window for more information pertaining to Criminal Record Checks.
4 Standard first aid, emergency first aid, or occupational first aid
Important Notes
- The program is eligible for Canada Student Loans. Visit Student Aid BCnew window to apply for financial assistance online. Note that dual credit students are not eligible for Student Aid.
- Students are required to have a computer (laptop or other mobile device) with minimum computer requirementsPDFnew window. A substantial amount of course and program resource materials are provided solely in electronic form.
- Appropriate attire and shoes are required for lab courses and for clinical and preceptorship experiences.; students must purchase standardized program uniforms from the NLC Bookstore.
- Applicants wishing to transfer from another HCA Program must provide evidence that the above admission requirements have been met. Applications for transfer credit will be reviewed on an individual basis. Transfer-based admission will be dependent on available space.
- Students who do not meet program progression criteria and reapply for admission in a subsequent intake must satisfy the following two items:
- Demonstrate that all current admission criteria have been met.
- Provide evidence of completing any upgrading or re-entry requirements.
- The program is affiliated with Northern Healthnew window and the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwivesnew window.
- Clinical learning experiences may occur in a variety of settings and communities. Efforts will be made to place students in convenient clinical locations, but all students should be prepared for in-region travel. Transportation, meals, and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. After a clinical or preceptorship site is assigned by the Program Chair and instructor, no changes are permitted.
Program Requirements
| Residency Requirement | 25% of total program hours must be completed at Northern Lights College |
|---|---|
| Minimum Grade Requirements | A minimum of 70% in all theory courses A minimum of B+ (80%) in the lab component of HCAT 124 is required for a pass PASS grade in practice-education courses (HCAT 126, HCAT 127 and HCAT 128) |
| Attendance Requirements | Consistent attendance is mandatory. |
All of:
- HCAT 110 – Common Health Challenges (115 contact hours)
- HCAT 111 – Lifestyle and Choices (30 contact hours)
- HCAT 112 – Interpersonal Communications (50 contact hours)
- HCAT 113 – Introduction to Practice (30 contact hours)
- HCAT 123 – Concepts for Practice (70 contact hours)
- HCAT 124 – Personal Care and Assistance (120 contact hours)
- HCAT 125 – Cognitive and/or Mental Challenges (60 contact hours)
- HCAT 126 – Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care 1 (150 contact hours)
- HCAT 127 – Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care 2 (60 contact hours)
- HCAT 128 – Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living and/or Group Home Setting (60 contact hours)
Credential
Certificate in Health Care Assistant