Mental Health Care Assistant Diploma at Vancouver Island University

Programme overview

The Mental Health Care Assistant Diploma Program trains international students to practice in hospital, long term care, community, and mental health settings. Students learn to help clients with daily living activities. They also gain the skills to enhance client quality of life and mental well-being.

Faculty: Health Sciences | Study mode: full-time | 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.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

General Academic admission requirements; Successful completion of English 12 or equivalent; Meet the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry English Requirement; Completion of the VIU Mental Health Care Assistant Program's English Competency Self-Declaration form; A police certificate (Criminal Record Check) from country of origin; Completion of a Personal Profile form; Interview with program faculty; Notes on Admission; Two criminal record checks are required for this program. Prior to program start, successful applicants must submit a police certificate (Criminal Record Check) from country of origin. Once in Canada an additional criminal record check done under the Criminal Records Review Act is required prior to fieldwork, practicums or clinical practice.; Fieldwork, practicums, or clinical practice will require a satisfactory criminal record check prior to placement. The...

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

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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