Health Care Assistant Certificate

Health Care Assistant Certificate is a Diploma program taught at Northern Lights College, Canada. Intake: Fall, Spring. The program is offered in campus-based modes with full-time (2 years) options.

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) program at Northern Lights College is designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to function effectively as front-line caregivers and respected members of the healthcare team. Under the direction and supervision of a regulated 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.

Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of practice settings, including home support, assisted living, group homes, complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care. Students average 28 hours of classes, laboratories, and other learning activities per week, with a comparable number of individual study hours required. In clinical learning situations, students are in close contact with individuals who have a variety of health issues.

The program length is 745 hours, approximately 31 – 34 weeks long for full time studies, and part time study will take longer. Students can begin their health career education by completing the HCA program in 31-34 weeks, then complete a minimum of 600 hours of work experience as a Heath Care Assistant to bridge into the Access to Practical Nursing Diploma program.

Modules

• HCAT 124 – Healing 3: Personal Care and Assistance

The minimum requirements for admission in Health Care Assistant Certificate at Northern Lights College for all applicants (Domestic or International) are:

• program specific academic requirment set by Northern Lights College.
• English Language OR any other language requirments as set by Northern Lights College as pre-requiste for admission in Health Care Assistant Certificate.

Note: Please check the university website in the link below.

Evidence of the following must be provided prior to acceptance:

• Proof of Grade 10 completion (or equivalent) OR mature student status.
• Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry – English Language Competency Requirements:

Note: If the program is accepting international students, a clear police certificate from the country of origin must also be included as a program entry requirement.

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*: Canadian Language Benchmarks test (in person or remote) Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6. / Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General). Test in the last two years.

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.

Overall score of 6 with 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.

Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 50. / Pearson Test of English (PTE). Test in the last two years. PTE Academic – Overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 45 in Reading and Writing.

PTE Core – No score lower than 68 in Speaking, 60 in Listening, 51 in Reading and 60 in Writing.

Please check detail of study units at https://www.nlc.bc.ca/programs/health-care-assistant-certificate/

• Health care assistants in a variety of practice settings including home support, assisted living, group homes, complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care.

51 fully funded scholarships are listed for Canada. See Canada scholarships.