Program Highlights
- Delivery: Hybrid
- Duration: 32 weeks (24 weeks Theory/Lab + 8 weeks Practicum)
- Semester Intake: June, October
Introduction
We have been preparing students to become Health Care Aides since 2003. We are known in the industry and have an excellent record of successfully employed graduates.
Health care aides (HCA) are an unregulated workforce that provide basic health services and support with daily living activities for clients who have medical conditions or major functional limitations. HCAs work under the direct or indirect supervision of a regulated health professional, such as a nurse, in a variety of settings including:
- home care
- assisted living facilities
- long-term care
The Government of Alberta HCA Provincial Curriculum is owned and managed by the Ministry of Health. Post-secondary institutions are required to enter into a license agreement with the Ministry of Health to use the Curriculum.
Program Information
Columbia College’s Health Care Aide program follows the Government of Alberta Health Provincial 2019 curriculum.
Full Time 2 Terms (32 weeks in total)
- Duration: 32 weeks
- 24 Weeks Theory/Lab: 4-hour classes, Mon – Fri
- 8 Weeks Practicum: 8-hour shifts, scheduled any day of the week
- Supported Tutorials (Friday – 12 pm – 5 pm) and on-line Learning Activities
Clinical Experience
- Students will be required to travel to various locations in order to complete their clinical and practicum placements. Clinical and practicum placements will be provided as available. Every effort is made to accommodate students in clinical placements within the time frame of the program, however in rare instances there may be a delay in program completion until a clinical placement can be arranged.
Facilitator to Student Ratios:
- Classroom / Lab: 24 Students to 1 Facilitator
- Practicum: 8 Students to 1 Facilitator
For the Health Care Aide portion of the program, theory classes will be offered via a distance delivery format through TEAMS sessions with a facilitator. Lab classes will be held on-site at the college, and clinical placements will be at designated sites.
Each course will continue to be scheduled in their regular semesters, and will be expected to be delivered in the same time period as a face-to-face class. Classes may include (but are not limited to):
- Interactive webinars
- Discussion forums
- Group work
- Daily Tests
Students can apply for admission into the Health Care Aide program through either Standard Admission or through Mature Admission. Please review the two types of admission below to see which type fits your circumstances.
All applicants must provide Rubella immunization proof, and provide a Police Information Check, with Vulnerable Sector Search to their advisor during the admission process.
Mature Admission
- Be 19 years of age or older
- Out of high school for 1 year
- Successfully meet entry levels on Columbia College’s Accuplacer assessment test or equivalent (See Academic Proficiency Requirements below)
Or
Standard Admission
The following requirements must be met to be eligible for entry into a licensed HCA program.
Academic English Language Arts (ELA)
- Grade 11, 20-2 level course, with a minimum score of 60% achieved or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent; or
- English 20-1 with a minimum of 60% achieved or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent; or
- English 30-1 or 30-2 with a minimum of 55% or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent; or
- Deemed equivalent by completion of ACCUPLACER (assessment placement test)
Note:Students who have not completed the ELA, 20-2 level requirement and achieved the minimum grade are subject to completing the ACCUPLACER assessment test. This can include students out of province, out of country or mature students that have been out of school for a significant length of time.
English Language Proficiency (ELP)
Candidates where English is a Second Language (ESL) must meet the English Language Proficiency requirement in addition to the Academic English requirement. Equivalencies are as follows:
- Required Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of a minimum of 7 in each of the 4 language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and not an average of 7; OR
- By completing high school in Canada. Studies must have been in English at an approved Canadian high school (grades 9, 10, 11, 12) with at least three consecutive years of full-time academic study; OR
- By completing a recognized post-secondary degree or diploma program in Canada. The program must have involved at least two full years of full-time, consecutive academic study in English.
Test/Transcript Validity
Test/Transcript results are valid for two years from the day of testing or completion of a course. Results that expire prior to the Start Date of the program may not be accepted, but will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar. Official results must be submitted.
Transcripts will be reviewed by the Office of the Registrar and the Health Care Aide program to determine whether the courses completed will be accepted to meet the proficiency requirement.
Pre-Practicum Requirements
- Heart and Stroke BLS
- Up-to-date Immunization Record
- N95 Mask Fit Test
You will earn and receive the following certificates:
- Columbia College/Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Certificate
- WHMIS Certificate
- Falls Prevention
- Food Safety
- Goals of Care
- Palliative Care
- Dealing with Conflict
- Medication Administration
- Professional Code of Conduct (Provided at College Convocation or upon request)
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are pleased to inform you of an opportunity for a Government of Alberta tuition bursary for students who are starting their HCA program on or after July 1, 2022.
Applications will open on July 1, 2022 with Norquest College being the government appointed administrator for this program. NorQuest will review and approve submitted applications based on a student’s eligibility. Students do not have to attend NorQuest College to be granted the bursary. Columbia College’s students are eligible for this.
More information regarding this program can be obtained from their website: Alberta Health Care Aide bursaries – NorQuest College – Edmonton, Alberta
To be eligible for this program as a Columbia College HCA student:
- You must be enrolled in an AB licensed HCA program that will start on or after July 1, 2022.
- This program is on a first come-first served basis. Preference will be given if attending the HCA program full-time or currently working for a continuing care operator (community or facility) in a non-clinical capacity
- You have submitted an HCA Tuition Bursary form available through Norquest College (please see link on how to apply below) along with the supporting documents
- You are willing and able to sign a return to service agreement (submitted to Norquest College):
- Eligible students must commence employment as a HCA for an identified Continuing Care operator within two months of successfully completing the HCA program.
- Eligible students must work a minimum of 2,000 hours within two years of commencing employment.
The bursary amount is up to $9,000, disbursed at intervals throughout the HCA program:
- $3,000 on successful completion of Courses 1-5;
- $6,000 on successful completion of the program, including passing the provincial final exam.
To apply:
- Click on the link below:
Alberta Health Care Aide bursaries – NorQuest College – Edmonton, Alberta
- You will be asked to provide proof of enrolment in a licensed AB HCA Certificate program
- Submit a return to service agreement.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or need help with the application. We are here to help support you.
Additional Information
- Columbia College’s tuition and general fees come into effect August 1 of each year.
For more information about tuition and the Columbia College Tuition chart, please see the Tuition and Fees page.
Additional Fees
A student may incur additional fees that are not part of the tuition or the book fees for this program. These fees are an approximation.
- Uniforms and duty shoes: $300
- Current Heart & Stroke Foundation Health Care Provider Level (C) CPR: $85
- Exam Fee: $200 (full exam fee schedule)
- Immunizations: $240
- N95 Mask Fit: $45
Refund of Tuition Fees
Please refer to the Student Contract of Tuition form for details of tuition refund policy. This form is available from this program’s Student Admission Advisor.
Tutoring is available for students. If you require tutoring, please contact your Program Chair or Coordinator.
To graduate from this program, students must successfully complete all Health Care Aide courses and achieve an overall program grade point average of 2.7 or higher.
Graduates of our Health Care Aide program can work in a variety of health care environments such as: acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, group homes, assisted living facilities and in the community providing home care.
Health Care Aides may have many different titles such as: Personal Care Attendant, Nursing Assistant, Nurse’s Aide Assistant, Home Health Care Aide. All work with a common goal to providing the highest quality of basic care possible to their clients or residents. Health Care Aides can potentially earn $20-25 per hour to start.
The following is a list of organizations that have hired graduates of this program:
- Alberta Health Services (AHS)
- Bethany
- Intercare: Brentwood, Southwood, and Chinook Care Centres
- The Brenda Stafford Trust
- Meadowlark Care Home
- CBI Home Health Services
- McKenzie Towne Care Centre
- The Edgemont
- Calgary Elder Care
- Global Senior Care
- Sagewood Long Term Care
- The Hamlets at Cedarwood Station
83% Graduation Rate
2021-2022
86% Employment Rate
2021-2022
Course Features
- Lectures 1
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 50 hours
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 1
- Assessments Yes