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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. HCA's are part of a growing field with new job opportunities in new settings everyday.  

Program Details

Additional Program Details

The program's 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 and 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.

Health Career Access 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.
  • Click here to apply to the Health Career Access Program with the Province
  • Please email Victoria Sapp: victoria.sapp@fraserhealth.ca and advise you want to be hired into an HCSW role and attend KPU for your studies.
  • Health Care Access Program Info Video

If you are interested in our direct entry into HCAP, please contact the Future Students' Office at study@kpu.ca (604-599-3030).

Online Information Session

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).