Health Care Assistant Certificate at Vancouver Island University

Programme overview

With VIU's Health Care Assistant certificate, you can start your career in health career after 24 weeks of full-time training. Health care assistants work with Canada's aging population, and certified health care assistants (HCAs) are in huge demand in BC. With a focus on Indigenous ways of knowing, the VIU HCA program ensures you can provide culturally safe care, making you a top candidate for many HCA positions.

Faculty: Health Sciences | Duration: 24 weeks | Study mode: full-time | Intake: March 1, 2027 - August 13, 2027 | Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

Courses include Interpersonal Communications, Lifestyle and Choices, Introduction to Practice, Concepts for Practice, Common Health Challenges, Cognitive and/or Mental Challenges, Personal Care and Assistance, Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care.

Career pathways

With a Health Care Assistant Certificate program can pursue careers such as: Roles include health care assistant; home support worker; residential care aide.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

General Trades admission requirements apply.; Successful completion of English 12 or equivalent.; Meet the Minimum HCA Program Entry Requirements.; Completion of the VIU Health Care Assistant Program's English Competency Self-Declaration form.; Completion of a Personal Profile form.; Interview with program faculty.; Notes on Admission; Indigenous students can apply for reserved seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous students form.; Fieldwork, practicums, or clinical practice will require a satisfactory criminal record check prior to placement. The Registration Centre at VIU will contact prospective students regarding the Criminal Record Check. Criminal Record Checks are processed through the Ministry according to the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.; Students who meet or exceed the...

Domestic applicants: CAD 3,116 for the whole programme. Tuition (6 months x $519.36 per month); Fees - 24 week program*. Tuition only; excludes student, activity, health plan and other mandatory fees. Source

Most programmes start in September; January intake is offered for some bachelor's degrees and other programmes; many programmes offer alternative start dates throughout the year.

Applications for most academic programs open October 1 in the year before the program start date (applications for programs beginning September 2027 open October 1, 2026); deadlines vary by program.

Application fee: domestic undergraduate $46.98, domestic graduate $121.86, international all programs $156.06 (non-refundable); no application fee for Adult Basic Education.

Apply through the official page: https://www.viu.ca/apply

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