Click here to learn more about the health care assistant training program.

With funding from the WorkBC Community Workforce Response Grant, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is training three 16-person cohorts of health care assistants in Parksville, Cowichan Valley, and Kamloops, B.C. The training program will be delivered in partnership with Discovery Community College.

BCCPA will cover the entire cost of tuition for participants, as well as provide additional living supports.

Program participants will receive skills training by way of the provincially approved curriculum for HCAs. The program will be delivered over the course of 38 weeks, including 21 weeks for classroom theory and lab skills hours and 12 weeks for practice education. Training will be delivered three days a week for the classroom theory portion of the program, with varying clinical practice schedules. In total, the entire program consists of 780 hours of training.

On-site training will be held in Parksville, Cowichan Valley, and Kamloops for the classroom theory portion of the program on a rotational, small group basis to complement online learning at the following locations:

Kamloops: The Hamlets at Westsyde – 3255 Overlander Drive, Kamloops, BC V2B 0A5
Parksville: Discovery Community College Campus – Unit #201, 160 Corfield St. S. Parksville, BC V9P 2H5
Cowichan Valley: Oyster Harbour Seniors Community – 1127 4th Avenue, Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A6

BCCPA has gained strong support for this initiative from nine employers in the region. All participating employers have part-time or full-time positions available in their organizations. Following the completion of the skills training program, BCCPA will host hiring fairs for participating employers and program graduates.

Eligibility Criteria

Participants must:

• be at least 15 years old at the time of entry into the program;
• be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons entitled to work in Canada;
• meet English Language Competency Requirements;
  – English 10 or equivalent (for applicants whose first language is English)
  – Standardized English language proficiency test score (for applicants whose first language is not English)

The above are the minimum eligibility requirements potential participants must meet before moving forward with the application process. Additional requirements will be provided by Discovery Community College.

How to Apply

If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, please contact your regional Admissions Department at Discovery Community College and mention that you are interested in applying for the HCA Diploma Program via the Community Workforce Response Grant opportunity with BC Care Providers Association.

Discovery Community College Admissions:

Parksville: 250-468-7777
Cowichan Valley: 250-740-0115
Kamloops: 1-877-315-5241

For admissions enquiries, you may also contact the Admissions Advisor at Discovery Community College, Jennyfer Guzman, by email at jennyfer.guzman@jobready.ca.

Key Dates

Pre-screening/interviews: Beginning at the end of June 2020.

Skills training dates:

Parksville: July 22nd, 2020 – April 2nd, 2021
Cowichan Valley: August 10th, 2020 – April 23rd, 2021
Kamloops: August 10th, 2020 – April 23rd, 2021

Hiring fairs: Held post-program completion.

For Info Session Recording and FAQs, please click here.