Education for HCAs
To become a registered Health Care Assistant in BC, you need to complete an education program recognized by the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. Recognized HCA programs follow the BC HCA Provincial Curriculum. This training prepares graduates to provide person-centred care and support to clients experiencing physical, mental, and/or cognitive health challenges or with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings. Students take courses focused on values and principles of healthcare provision, teamwork and collaboration, health conditions, communication, safety, and skills required to provide personal care and assistance within the HCA role. They also have the opportunity to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the practice setting by completing practice education placements in care homes and community settings.
The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry maintains a comprehensive list of every public and private institution in BC that offers a recognized Health Care Assistant program. Classes are subject to availability.
Schools & Programs Listed By Region
| School | City | Program Type |
| Cambria College | Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond | Health Care Assistant |
| CDI College of Business Technology & Health Care | Richmond, Surrey | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Discovery Community College | Maple Ridge, Surrey | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Drake Medox College | Surrey | ESL – Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), ESL – Health Care Assistant, and Health Care Assistant |
| Sprott Shaw College | Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program) (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) (Combined Delivery) |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division | British Columbia | Health Care Assistant |
| University of the Fraser Valley | Chilliwack | Health Care Assistant |
| Vancouver Career College | Abbotsford | Health Care Assistant |
| Western Community College |
Abbotsford, Surrey |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant – Access (Combined Delivery) |
| School | City | Program Type |
| Cambria College | Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond | Health Care Assistant |
| Capilano University | North Vancouver | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| CDI College of Business, Technology & Health Care | Richmond, Surrey | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Collège Éducacentre | Vancouver | Health Care Assistant in French Préposé aux soins de santé (Combined Delivery) |
| Discovery Community College |
Surrey | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Douglas College | Coquitlam | Health Care Assistant |
| Drake Medox College | Surrey, Vancouver | ESL – Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), ESL – Health Care Assistant, and Health Care Assistant |
| Gateway College | Vancouver | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant – Accelerated, Health Care Assistant – Access, Health Care Assistant & Communication Year 2 (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant – Accelerated (Combined Delivery), and Health Care Assistant – Access (Combined Delivery) |
| Heritage Community College | Surrey | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Langley, Surrey | Health Care Assistant |
| NEC Native Education College | Vancouver | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Sprott Shaw College |
East Vancouver, New Westminster, |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program) (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) (Combined Delivery) |
| Stenberg College | Surrey | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant – International (recognized as an HCA ESL Program), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Diploma in Canadian Nursing), Health Care Assistant International (within International Post Graduate Diploma in Canadian Nursing) |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division | British Columbia | Health Care Assistant |
| Universal Learning Institute | Richmond | Health Care Assistant |
| Vancouver Career College | Burnaby | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Vancouver Community College | Vancouver | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant – ESL, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Diploma (International Cohort) |
| Western Community College | Surrey | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant + ESL, Health Care Assistant – Access, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant ESL (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant – Access (Combined Delivery) |
| Westminster College | Surrey | Health Care Assistant Program |
| School | City | Program Type |
| College of the Rockies | Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden, Invermere |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| First College | Kelowna | Health Care Assistant |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology | Merritt | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Okanagan College | Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Selkirk College | Castlegar, Trail | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post-Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing) (Combined Delivery) |
| Sprott Shaw College | Kamloops, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Penticton |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program) (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) (Combined Delivery) |
| Thompson Rivers University | Kamloops, Williams Lake |
Health Care Assistant |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division | Multiple locations in British Columbia |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Excel Career College | Courtenay, Victoria, Kelowna | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| School | City | Program Type |
| Coast Mountain College (formerly Northwest Community College) | Terrace, Smithers *Regional program delivery may be available |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| College of New Caledonia | Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof *Regional program delivery may be available |
Health Care Assistant |
| Northern Lights College | Dawson Creek, Fort St. John |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division | British Columbia | Health Care Assistant |
| School | City | Program Type |
| Capilano University | Sechelt | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division | British Columbia | Health Care Assistant |
| Vancouver Island University | Powell River | Health Care Assistant |
| School | City | Program Type |
| Cambria College | Victoria | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Camosun College | Victoria | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant – ESL, and Health Care Assistant – Indigenous |
| Discovery Community College | Campbell River, Courtenay, Nanaimo, Parksville |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Edison College Canada |
Victoria | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Excel Career College | Courtenay, Victoria | Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| North Island College | Comox Valley, Port Alberni, Campbell River |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Sprott Shaw College | Nanaimo, Victoria |
Health Care Assistant, Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program), Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program) (Combined Delivery), Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) (Combined Delivery) |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division | British Columbia | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
| Vancouver Island University | Duncan, Nanaimo, Powell River |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
Transitional Education for Health Care Assistants
As part of the registration process with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry, you may be required to take transition courses as part of your registration requirements.
Education FAQs
What kind of education do I need to become a Health Care Assistant?
To become a registered Health Care Assistant in BC, you need to complete an education program recognized by the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. Recognized HCA programs follow the BC HCA Provincial Curriculum. This training prepares graduates to provide person-centred care and support to clients experiencing physical, mental, and/or cognitive health challenges or with developmental disabilities in various settings.
They also can apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the practice setting by completing practice education placements in care homes and community settings.
See the list of recognized BC HCA programs here.
Where can I search for available training programs to enroll to become a Health Care Assistant?
To become a registered Health Care Assistant in British Columbia, you must complete a recognized Health Care Assistant program using the provincial curriculum. Click here to view a list of recognized health care assistant education programs in British Columbia.
You can contact colleges to obtain information, including registration requirements, course length, format, and tuition costs. All HCA programs will provide clinical placements to help students gain hands-on experience.
Are there Health Care Assistant training programs that are located close to where I live?
Use our interactive map that will help you find a Health Care Assistant education program that is conveniently located in your area. Click here to check it out.
How long is the Health Care Assistant education program for students?
Health Care Assistant training varies from school to school, but the average duration is seven months. Most HCAs graduate, register, and start working in less than a year.
Is there financial support to assist with completing BC’s Health Care Assistant educational programs?
Yes, you can access different financial assistance options depending on your eligibility. See the Financial Support sections of each landing page for more information.
Are there dual credit options that offer Health Care Assistant training?
Yes, dual credit options are offered in some high schools throughout BC, allowing you to work toward an HCA credential while still in high school. Dual credit experiences enable you to enroll in post-secondary courses and earn credits toward your high school diploma and post-secondary credits at the same time.
For more information on dual credit options, click here.
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