Health Care Assistant, Certificate

Develop your caregiving potential. Camosun can prepare you for a rewarding career and set you up for entry into an in-demand, health care field.

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Check our current program availability.

Health Care Assistant students practice using a medical lifting device

Program at a glance

Credential

Certificate

Work experience

Clinical/fieldwork placement

Study options

Full-time

Open to International

Yes

Length

28 Weeks*

September 2025

Indigenous Health Care program
Express interest

Front-line caregivers

As a Health Care Assistant, you'll be given the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function effectively as a front-line caregiver and respected member of the health care team in both community and facility settings.

In demand

Health Care Assistant (HCA) graduates are in high demand.

Do you have a genuine desire to work with older adults and persons with disabilities? Are you intrigued by the possibility of assisting others with personal care in the practical aspects of their day-to-day lives? Are you prepared for a career that will require you to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and 8-12 hour shifts? If you answered yes to all the above, then Health Care Assistant is the perfect career for you.

In addition to the general HCA program, you can specialize in one of the following alternative streams:

  • Health Care Assistant - English Second Language is designed for students who want to take the HCA program while also improving their English language skills. 
  • Health Care Assistant - Indigenous is designed for Indigenous* learners who want to take the HCA program while focusing on Indigenous community and culture. 
    *Camosun College views any student who is a descendant of the Indigenous peoples of North America to be an Indigenous student. This includes status and non-status Indians, Métis, Inuit and Native Americans who reside in Canada.

We'll help you succeed

As you work through the Health Care Assistant program's curriculum and your clinical placements, you'll acquire the skills, knowledge and values you'll need to provide professional care to the elderly and those facing other health or illness challenges.

Focusing on the elderly, you'll learn how to provide care that promotes and maintains the physical, psychological and social well-being of the clients you'll care for in your subsequent role as a Health Care Assistant.

HCA program start dates

New Intakes available every January, May and September.

HCA Info Sessions

The Health Care Assistant Information Sessions are a great way to learn more about the program and to get your questions answered by faculty.

Recognition status by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) program delivered by Camosun College has been granted a full, five-year recognition status by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. Graduates of the HCA program delivered by Camosun are eligible for registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry reviews and recognizes Health Care Assistant (HCA) programs in BC to ensure that they are: following the provincial curriculum, implementing a common set of training standards and graduating competent front-line health care providers. Confirming that HCAs meet registration requirements is integral to the registry's mandate of patient protection and improved standards of care.

Indigenous Priority Seating

Indigenous Limited Priority Admissions 

The School of Health & Human Services (HHS) offers Priority Seating for Indigenous students in all Health related programs.

Visit Eyēʔ Sqȃ’lewen - Centre for Indigenous Education & Community Connections (IECC) for information on how to apply.  

Any questions about the application process, please contact hhsindigenoussupport@camosun.ca

The Indigenous Limited Priority Admissions process, approved by the Board of Governors, supported by the Education Council, and approved by the BC Human Rights Tribunal, welcomes applications from all qualified Indigenous applicants.

What you'll learn

Located at our Interurban campus, the full-time HCA program is 28 academic weeks without break, the equivalent to one academic year (2 academic semesters or greater). Program times: Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 3pm.

Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in myCamosun.

Program outline

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the academic calendar.

Program outline

Person-centred care

Health Care Assistants learn a wide variety of practical and resident/client care skills. Our program is hands-on, with clinical placements throughout your time at Camosun. You’ll learn about interpersonal communications, lifestyles and choices, personal care, and how to treat patients ethically and with compassion.

What to expect

Located at our Interurban campus, the full-time HCA program is 29 weeks long (approximately seven months). Monday-Friday, 8:30am-2:30pm.

Homework commitments may vary per student but are likely about three to four hours per day including weekends. You will be required to participate in full-time clinical placements that include day and evening shifts that may occur outside of regular class time.

Health Care Assistant courses

Your studies will provide you with the skills to advocate on behalf of the rights, needs, interests and fair treatment of residents and their families. As a Health Care Assistant you will develop a person-centred care philosophy aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well being of clients/residents.

A graphic representation of a hand pointing at a book with an "i" for information on the cover.

HCA program handbooks

Find current student information in the School of Health and Human Services and HCA program handbooks.

Tuition and fees

Effective from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025

Estimated tuition

Tuition estimates are for the entire program.

Health Care Assistant, Certificate

$3,055 (domestic)
$13,236 (international)

Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.

For International students visit: International Tuition & Fees.

Student fees

In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to: Student Fees.

Financial assistance

You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.

Financial Aid & Awards 

Admission requirements

Admissions

Evidence of all of the following must be provided prior to acceptance:

1. HCA Program Entry - English Language Competency Requirements      

To be accepted into a recognized BC HCA program, applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English**. Students must be able to communicate effectively in English to be successful in their studies and capable of providing safe and competent care to patients/clients/residents in the work environment during practice education components. Domestic and/or international applicants who do not have three years of full-time instruction in English will require a standardized proficiency assessment to confirm competency in all four language skills areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing).

For applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English, one of: 

  • C in English 11 
  • C in English 11 Camosun Alternative    
  • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Results: Reading 250, Writing 245 and Writeplacer 5  

For applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English, one of:

Standardized English language proficiency test score​

  • Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLB PT) (test must be within the last year):
    • Listening 7
    • Speaking 7
    • Reading 6
    • Writing 6

Note: A CLB Report Card from a Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) Program may also be accepted.

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic or General (test must be within the last two years):
    • overall score of 6
    • minimum of 6 in Speaking and Listening
    • no score lower than 5.5 in Reading and Writing
  • Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) (test must be within the last two years):
    • overall score of 60
    • no section less than 50
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (test must be within the last two years) IBT only:
    • an overall score of 76
    • no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening
    • no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing

**Applicants must provide a transcript(s) or a BC personal education record as evidence to confirm completion of a minimum of three years of full-time instruction in English. To meet this threshold, the Registry looks to confirm that applicants have studied over a period of three years and completed a minimum of two semesters of studies within each year. In addition, it is expected that the student will be taking full time studies (30 credits per academic year to a minimum of 18 credits per academic year [60% courseload]). In this way, it is typically a minimum of six semesters with total credits between 54 - 90 credits, completed over the three-year timeframe.

2.     Attendance at a Health Care Assistant program Information Session

This is required to ensure applicants have a strong understanding of the expectations of the Health Care Assistant (HCA) program and the role of the HCA in the work environment. An online Information Session module is available for anyone unable to attend in person.

When you apply, you will need to submit proof that you meet the program admission requirements listed above. Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

3. For International students: a clear police certificate from country of origin must also be included as a program entry requirement

 

Approved English-Speaking Countries

The following countries are considered by the Registry as those where English is the primary and official language, and the language used for education. Where approved countries offer education in languages other than English, transcripts must demonstrate that English was the language of instruction.

American SamoaGhanaSaint Lucia
AnguillaGibraltarSaint Kitts and Nevis
Antigua and BarbudaGranadaSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
BahamasGuamSeychelles
BarbadosGuyanaSierra Leone
BelizeIrelandSingapore
BermudaJamaicaSouth Africa
BotswanaKenyaTanzania
British Virgin IslandsLesothoTrinidad and Tobago
CanadaLiberiaTurks and Caicos Island
Cayman IslandsMaltaUganda
DominicaMauritiusUnited Kingdom
Falkland IslandsMonserratUnited States
FijiNew ZealandUnited States Virgin Islands
GambiaNigeriaZambia
AustraliaSaint HelenaZimbabwe

When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the program admission requirements listed above. Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar: Loading...

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Check our current program availability.

Missing admission requirements?

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Need help applying?

Find out more on How to Apply or speak to an Admissions Advisor.

Contact us

If you have admissions questions contact us today!

If you have questions about what you can expect to learn in your HCA classes contact hhsinfo@camosun.ca

Faculty/staff profile

Ros Gies-Pereira

Ros Giles-Pereira

Chair, Continuing Care Department

pereira@camosun.ca
250-370-4767
Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Full bio

Faculty/staff profile

Leanne Robb

Leanne Robb

Program Leader

robbl@camosun.ca
250-370-4751
Aex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Full bio

Faculty/staff profile

Tona Andresen, Continuing Care Instructional Assistant

Tona Andresen

Instructional Assistant

andresent@camosun.ca
250-370-4761
Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness
Full bio

Faculty/staff profile

Sarah Chisholm

Sarah Chisholm

Instructor

chisholms@camosun.ca
250-370-4678
Aex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Full bio

Faculty/staff profile

null

Cathy Josephson

Instructor

josephsonc@camosun.ca
250-370-4677
Aex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Full bio

Healthcare Assistants learning in the classroom

Learn more

For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the academic calendar. 

Contact information

School of Health and Human Services

Campus location

Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health & Wellness building (CHW), room 207

Location link

Interurban campus

250–370–4072

hhsinfo@camosun.ca


 

Admissions questions: