General HCA Information

A Health Care Assistant provides direct personal care assistance and support to various clients, including older adults, people living with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses, and clients receiving palliative care.

Health Care Assistants provide essential and important daily living support and comfort to patients, clients, and residents. They assist with bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, and other personal hygiene activities.

HCAs provide personal care to both men and women, and they may help patients/clients with nutrition, mobility, and other daily activities as needed.

Health Care Assistants may have many different titles, such as Care Aides, Resident Care Attendants, Community Health Workers, Home Support Workers, and Patient Care Attendants. No matter what titles are used, Health Care Assistants work with a common goal to provide the highest quality of essential care possible to their clients or residents.

To work in this field, you should have good interpersonal skills and a caring, compassionate nature. Health Care Assistants typically have a genuine desire to help others.

HCAs require patience and understanding because their clients may have cognitive, mental, or emotional health challenges, in addition to physical limitations.

The ability to handle stressful situations may be needed, with effective communication and good problem-solving skills. HCAs must be efficient and accurate yet sensitive to the needs of clients.

Health Care Assistants work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, continuing care and assisted-living settings, and in the community providing home care.

HCAs work collaboratively with nursing professionals and other members of the overall healthcare team.

Health Care Assistants working in home support or assisted-living settings support clients who require some assistance to live independently, but may not require 24-hour nursing care. While HCAs working in continuing care homes or hospitals work under the direct supervision of a health care professional, HCAs working in community settings often work more independently. In addition to assisting clients with personal care activities, HCAs working in community settings may perform household management tasks and duties delegated to them by a nurse in accordance with employer policy.

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 registration requirements, course length, format, and tuition costs. All HCA programs will provide clinical placements to help students gain hands-on experience.

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.

Yes, you can access different financial assistance options depending on your eligibility. See the Financial Support sections for each registration category on our home page for more information.

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.

To be eligible to work in a publicly funded healthcare setting in BC, Health Care Assistants must be registered with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry.

By creating a Registry for all care aides and community health workers in BC, the Ministry of Health establishes and improves standards of care.

The Registry was also created to serve and protect vulnerable patients, residents, and clients receiving care from Health Care Assistants in the province.

• Graduates of Health Care Assistant programs in BC
• Graduates of Health Care Assistant programs in Canada (outside of BC)
• Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Registered Psychiatric Nurses who are licensed to practice in Canada. (Nurses educated outside of Canada and not licensed to practice in Canada must apply as internationally educated health care professionals.)
• Students enrolled in nursing programs in Canada
• Internationally educated health care professionals (IEHCPs)

Publicly funded employers wanting to hire registered Health Care Assistants.

Yes, with proof of successful completion of a recognized training program for Health Care Assistants.  If your education credential is more than 3 years old, you will be asked to provide a resume outlining your recent and relevant health care assistant work experience. Depending on your situation, you may be required to take a HCA competency evaluation.

Working as an HCA, you will gain valuable Canadian healthcare experience and keep your skills in practice. You will also have access to a comprehensive salary and benefits package while building seniority with an employer and accumulate work hours to improve your eligibility for transitional education programs.

Yes, anyone classified and working as either a full-time or part-time Health Care Assistant is eligible to apply for registration by providing the requested credentials.

The demand for Health Care Assistants continues to grow as an important and necessary role in delivering health care in BC, making it a great career choice.

As our society ages, more people will require the support of healthcare workers to sustain their personal health needs.

According to information from the Health Employers Association of BC, the starting hourly wage of a Health Care Assistant working in a publicly funded setting can range from $27.92 to $29.83 (wage as of April 1, 2024), depending on the employment sector. As a full-time or part-time employee, you would have access to a comprehensive benefits package and a benefit pension plan through the Municipal Pension Plan. Most graduates usually start with casual or part-time employment and work up to full-time status gradually.

There is a strong demand for Health Care Assistants across the province, in both urban centres and rural communities.
Visit our Employment page for more information about job opportunities.

Health Care Assistants may work full-time or part-time hours, or on a call-in (casual) basis. They can apply for positions that are permanent, temporary, or casual. Shift schedules may include a combination of days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, as well as on-call duty.

Health Care Assistants are on their feet for much of their workday. Many HCAs work in environments that require varying levels of physical exertion. They may assist clients with mobility, positioning, lifts, and transfers, use and move equipment, and provide personal care.

Health Care Assistants must read, write, speak, and understand the English language to follow directions and communicate effectively with clients, family members, and the healthcare team. Please review the English Language Competency Requirements.

Per an Order of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) of BC, all staff providing health care or services in a hospital or community setting, including those who work in acute care hospitals, all home support workers who interact with clients, and other health sector staff who interact with patients/ clients/ residents in facility and community care settings are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a full series of a World Health Organization approved vaccine against infection by SARS-CoV-2. For full details of the Order please visit the BC Government Website. For further information regarding how this order affects you, please contact your health employer directly.