Frequently Asked Questions

The terms of the bursary do not specify the means of transportation and the types of accommodation covered. You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements and booking your own accommodation.

To be eligible, you must provide proof of primary residence by submitting one of the accepted documents. The bursary funds are distributed once you completed all requirements outlined in your Bursary Application Form.

If your primary residence is located less than 300km from the NCAS SLA site or the post-secondary institution offering the remedial course and you require taking a BC ferry to travel to these locations, you are eligible for the Rural Allowance.

To be eligible for the Expedited Pathway, participants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Qualify for the Expedited Pathway to register with the BC Care Aide Registry.
• Submit a completed Expedited Pathway Stipend Application Form with all supporting documents to the Choose2Care team at Health Match BC.
• Provide a BC Care Aide Registry number and has an Active – Good Standing status.
• Provide a transcript from the Learning Hub as proof of completion of the HCA Standardized Orientation program, including the HCA Practice in BC course that became available in October 2020.
• Provide proof of employment as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in BC by having a Nurse Manager or Human Resources Representative submit a satisfactory Confirmation of Employment Letter to the Health Match BC HCA team at info@choose2care.ca
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) as of the date the funds are issued to be eligible to receive the stipend from Health Match BC / HEABC.

To be eligible for the stipend, you must be able to provide proof of employment as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in British Columbia.

We cannot accept employment letters from applicants. As outlined on the Expedited Pathway Stipend page, your employer must submit the Confirmation of Employment directly to us at info@choose2care.ca
Please note that this document can be completed by a Human Resources (HR) Department Representative or a Nurse Manager.

Yes, you can work full-time, part-time or casual as an HCA to be eligible for the stipend.

The Choose2Care team will acknowledge receipt of your application within five (5) business days from the submission date. Please note the processing time may vary if the application is incomplete.

The receipt of the stipend in full can be expected within 4-6 weeks, with all the required documentation being submitted.

We can guarantee that all personal information related to your online application for the Expedited Pathway Stipend is collected pursuant to sections 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

This information will be used for administrative, funding verification, and evaluation/research purposes and that no personally identifiable information will be disclosed to outside parties, except as described in the application form. You will be asked to acknowledge this in the Consent section at the end of the application form.

The required qualifications for Health Care Support Workers include:

• Grade 10, including the successful completion of English 10, or equivalency
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with clients, residents, and coworkers
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position
• Ability to operate related equipment

Health Care Support Workers are supervised by Registered Nurses or other regulated health care professionals. They provide a variety of critical non-clinical, non-direct care supports to patients and residents.

Typical duties include:

• Participating as an integral member of a healthcare delivery team
• Establishing a caring relationship with clients, residents, and families
• Providing support and assistance with mealtime activities
• Providing support and assistance in carrying out activities
• Performing housekeeping duties
• Greeting and directing visitors
• Restocking supplies
• Completing and maintaining relevant records

Once accepted into the HCAP program and hired into a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) position, the HCAP Pre-Requisite Stipend of $342.00 is available to support successful applicants with the costs related to the completion of pre-requisite courses.

Applicants who are required to complete an English Language Proficiency Test as part of their enrollment into the HCAP program may be eligible for additional funding.

Effective June 27, 2022, additional funding up to $400 per test is available for up to two (2) attempts of the test, whether they are successful or not. Funding is based on official receipts from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test.
* Please note, offers may be contingent upon confirmation of requirements – for example, passing an English proficiency test. In these cases, conditional offers are accepted for an applicant to receive the stipend.

The stipend is a fixed amount at $342 and not dependent on the type, number, or costs of the pre-requisites required by the applicant.

Applicants who are required to complete an English Language Proficiency Test as part of their enrollment into the HCAP program, may be eligible for funding in addition to the $342 stipend.

This additional funding is based on receipts from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test for up to two (2) attempts of the test, whether they are successful or not. Funding is up to $400 per test.

A one-time payment of $342.00 will be paid to qualified HCAP applicants based on the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must submit proof of acceptance into HCAP – a complete offer of employment or letter from a hiring manager confirming acceptance into the Health Career Access Program (HCAP), working as a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW). Offers may be contingent upon confirmation of requirements – for example, passing an English proficiency test. In these cases, conditional offers are accepted for an applicant to receive the stipend.

* Please note: Acceptance letters from institutions offering the Health Care Assistant Program are not sufficient proof of enrollment into HCAP.

• Applicants must complete and submit an HCAP Pre-Requisite Stipend Application Form with all supporting documents to the Choose2Care team at Health Match BC.
• Applicants must provide a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to Health Match BC as of the application date and to receive a T4A, as this stipend is a taxable income.

Applicants who are required to complete an English Language Proficiency Test as part of their enrollment into the HCAP program, may be eligible for funding in addition to the $342 stipend based on the following criteria:

• All criteria as outlined above.
• Applicants must submit an official receipt from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test or Remote Language Proficiency Assessment, showing the applicant name, institution name, total amount paid, and date.

If applicants are required to complete an Accuplacer for enrollment into a post-secondary institution, an additional reimbursement is available to cover this cost.

Further notes on eligibility:
This stipend is only available to Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents.

Currently, the English Language Tests eligible for funding include:

• Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT)
• CELPIP
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT
• Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) Remote
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT Remote

The English Language Test (ELT) stipend is available for up to two (2) attempts of the test, whether an applicant is successful or not. Funding is up to $400 per test and is based on official receipts from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test.

If applicants are required to complete an Accuplacer for enrollment into a post-secondary institution, an additional reimbursement is available to cover this cost.

A second criminal record check may be requested by some Post Secondary Institutes for approval to do practicum training. To qualify for this reimbursement, applicants must provide written confirmation from their employer that an original criminal record check has been completed and they must submit the second criminal record check receipt.

Once your application has been received, the Choose2Care team will respond to you directly with instructions on how your employer can provide written confirmation.

If a participant needs to update their required immunizations for program compliance, they may do so from their doctor or travel clinic. Health Authority employees can receive these immunizations from their employer. Funding is up to $200 and is based on official receipts.

Reimbursement would be dependent on the participant showing place of employment (confirming it is not a Health Authority site), an itemized receipt limited to: form review or assessment fees; Tdap-IPV (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio/Pertussis); Hepatitis B; MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) and confirmed payment. As the Hepatitis B vaccine is administered in three (3) doses, documentation will only be accepted if the receipt clearly indicates that all three doses have been received.

*The required testing for Tuberculosis is to be paid by the employer.

For those needing to do the program through their Post-Secondary Institution/Continuing Education, this will be an interim bridging payment for participants who have already taken the program or will need to in the immediate future.

*Applicants must submit proof from the school showing fee paid and course completion.

The stipend is paid via direct deposit after applicants submit all required documents outlined above. Applicants will receive a confirmation email with the date and amount of funds, once the stipend is processed.

The stipend is a taxable income and HEABC will issue a T4A at the end of the year. This is the reason a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required as of the application date.

The Choose2Care team will acknowledge receipt of the application within five (5) business days from the submission date. Please note that the processing time may vary if the application is incomplete. A payment in full can be expected within 4-6 weeks of all required documentation being submitted.

No, you do not need a SIN to apply for the bursary program, but you will need one to receive the reimbursement.

Funding is in place to support the cost of this bursary and is available to those registered for their first term in the APN program no sooner than Sept 2021 through to and including May 2024 intakes. The bursary will not be available to students beginning the APN program in Fall 2024.

To be eligible for the bursary, applicants must submit tuition receipts within 6 months of graduation.

To be eligible for the bursary, applicants must submit tuition receipts within 6 months of graduation.

Up to 300 APN students enrolled in Sept 2021 to May 2024 intakes are eligible to receive this bursary.

Qualifying institutions include any public post-secondary institution in B.C. offering an APN program that is recognized by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

Currently, these include:

• Coast Mountain College
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• Vancouver Community College
• Northern Lights college.

As part of the February 2022 nursing seat announcement, the Province committed to providing funding for the development of additional APN programs including North Island College, Okanagan College, and Vancouver Island University. These institutions are in the process of obtaining APN program recognition by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives. Upon completion of this process these institutions will be added to the list of the eligible PSIs for this bursary.

There are several good policy reasons for including only public PSIs in this initiative as follows:

• Unlike HCAP, we don’t have direct control over when and where students will access this incentive. To achieve the right geographic mix and generate a steady supply of new LPNs around the province, we can use the tool of program size, timing and distribution that we have established (and target) with the public PSIs.
• This is a generous program but it also needs to last, financially, over the next ~18months to accommodate the first round of HCAP completers. Again, using the public PSI system we know exactly how many seats will be offered when and where.
• Private PSIs are an essential part of delivering HCAP. But we work with selected private PSIs on a contract basis where we request specific program delivery. Opening up a bursary program to private PSIs is essentially allowing them to use government funds to attract students to their revenue-generating programs at whatever pace they are able to open up spaces.
• We have just made a significant investment in new APN programs at public PSIs through B2021. Ensuring those programs get off to a strong start and can then be long-term, established parts of students’ plans with long-lasting employer relationships in their communities is a prudent use of public funds.

1. APN Education Incentive Bursary application form,
2. APN program registration acceptance letter for intakes beginning Sept 2021, through to and including May 2024 (Fall semester 2021 through to and including Summer semester 2024),
3. A signed return of service with the Ministry of Health committing to 12-months of work as an LPN upon graduation and a commitment to complete up to three surveys,
4. A screenshot or snip confirming completion of your first survey submission,
5. A printout of your APN program tuition account dated no sooner than two weeks following the start of the term (this documentation is required each semester),
6. Proof of registration with the BC Care Aid & Community Health Worker Registry.

NOTE: Graduate applicants must submit tuition receipts within 6 months of graduation to be eligible for this bursary.

Qualifying Employer: The Return of Service can be fulfilled with a publicly funded health sector employer within BC. Public sector employers include regional health boards designated under section 4(1) of the Health Authorities Act or Provincial Health Services Authority (collectively a “Health Authority”) or Providence Health Care; or at long-term care or assisted living facility, private or public, as long as the facility is publicly funded. Qualified employers exclude contract agencies supplying temporary and/or short-term staffing solutions to eligible facilities.

To continue receiving semester-based stipends, applicants must submit the following documents each semester:

• unofficial transcripts from the last completed semester.
• a copy or printout of one’s APN program tuition account dated no sooner than two weeks following the start of the term.

Qualifying APN students must sign a return of service agreement to receive the APN Education Incentive Bursary. This agreement is between the APN bursary recipient and the BC Ministry of Health. The return of service commits the applicant to work within BC’s public health system upon graduation for a minimum of 12 months with a ‘qualifying employer’. It also requires the applicant to participate in a series of up to three short surveys.

Qualifying Employer: The Return of Service can be fulfilled with a publicly funded health sector employer within BC. Public sector employers include regional health boards designated under section 4(1) of the Health Authorities Act or Provincial Health Services Authority (collectively a “Health Authority”) or Providence Health Care; or at long-term care or assisted living facility, private or public, as long as the facility is publicly funded. Qualified employers exclude contract agencies supplying temporary and/or short-term staffing solutions to eligible facilities.

Survey answers will guide future bursary processes and implementation of support for students and new graduates in healthcare professions to improve outcomes.

Survey answers will not affect APN Education Incentive Bursary eligibility.

All personal information shared on the surveys is collected pursuant to sections 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. This information will be used only for evaluation/research purposes and no personally identifiable information will be disclosed to outside parties, except as described on the application form. If you have any questions about the application form or the use of this information, please contact us at Choose2Care.

This bursary is specific to students in the Access to Practical Nursing Program and not Practical Nursing Programs.

Students who registered in the APN program and whose program was subsequently merged with the Practical Nursing program in the last year of their program are eligible to receive this bursary. This currently applies to a few students enrolled at North Island College (NIC). These students will receive a letter from NIC stating that they are APN students, despite their registration status indicating otherwise. This confirmation letter will need to be submitted along with the relevant documentation noted above when applying for the bursary.

HCAP Recipients are eligible for the APN bursary but must complete the HCAP ROS work commitment before being eligible to apply to the APN bursary.

Recipients of the APN bursary are not eligible for the IEN or RTPN bursaries (and vice versa).

Note: the APN and IEN bursaries programs each offer $10,000 to support one-time training therefore, individuals can apply to one or the other but not both.

Each eligible recipient will receive up to $10,000 to help offset APN program tuition and fees costs. 

The bursary will be paid in equal installments on a semester basis to a total of $10,000. 

The first payment will be issued once the applicant has submitted all required documentation and once deemed eligible (See 2.3).

Note:

Bursary recipients must submit additional documentation each semester to continue to receive bursary stipends (See 3.4). This includes a printout of the student’s account each semester, dated no sooner than two weeks from the start of the new term. 

Graduate applicants must submit tuition receipts within 6 months of graduation to be eligible for the bursary.

APN bursary recipients will be reimbursed for tuition and fee costs upon submission of appropriate documentation on a semester basis.

To receive the first bursary stipend for first term tuition fees, applicants must provide proof of registration in a recognized BC APN program and a printout of your student account dated no sooner than two weeks into the start of your program with other required application documentation.

Recipients must submit additional documentation each semester to continue to receive bursary stipends.

NOTE: To be eligible for the bursary, graduate applicants must submit tuition receipts within 6 months of graduation.

Bursary payments are made each semester only upon submission of the appropriate documentation.

To continue to receive bursary payments, you must submit proof of tuition and fees paid for the upcoming semester (printout of student account dated no sooner than two weeks into the new semester) and a copy of transcripts.

Bursary recipients are required by law to return all bursary money under the following circumstances:

• The bursary recipient withdraws or is asked to withdraw from the APN program and therefore unable to fulfill commitments outlined in the return of service (ROS) contract.
• The bursary recipient fails to complete their 12-month ROS commitment (this includes recipient who have either quit or are fired from a LPN job).

Note that if the recipient fails their schooling or cannot obtain licensure, they can repay the monies or work as a HCA.