Health Care Assistant Certificate

Admission Requirements

All BC Health Care Assistant program applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency as setby the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. VCC will adhere to the entry requirements set out bythe Registry at:
https://www.cachwr.bc.ca/Documents/Educators/English-Language-Competency_HCA-Program-Entry_2018.aspx 

  • English 10 with a passing grade, or equivalent
  • English Language Proficiency, as required by the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry

  • Completion of the VCC HCA English Competency Declaration form
  • Standard First Aid (Red Cross or St. John Ambulance) including current CPR level C or Health Care Provider CPR
  • CPR certificates expire one year from the date of issue. Current status is required for all clinical and practicum experiences.    
  • BC FOODSAFE Certificate Level 1

Upon Acceptance

  • Criminal Record Check (CRC)
    • Students in this program are required to complete a CRC. The CRC must be completed according to VCC's Criminal Record Check instructions. Students whose CRC results indicate they pose a risk to vulnerable populations will not be able to complete the requirements of the program (e.g. practicums) or graduate.
  • TB Screening
    • Within six months of the start of the program, students must submit a negative TB skin test. If the TB skin test is positive, a negative TB chest x-ray is required.
  • Immunizations
    • An Immunization Record must be completed
    • Immunizations in the following are strongly recommended and in some case may be required for practicum placements:
      • Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
      • Polio
      • Measles, Mumps & Rubella
      • Varicella (Chicken pox)
      • Hepatitis B
      • Influenza (annually)
  • N95 Respiratory Mask
    • An N95 respirator mask that is individually fitted by a trained provider, following CSA guidelines.
    • The individual mask fitting should be done just prior to beginning the program. Mask fitting must be done annually. Students are responsible for the cost of the mask fitting.
    • The original certificate must be presented to the department on the first day of class.

Program Requirements

HRCA 1197Foundations1
HRCA 1190Lifestyle and Choices1.5
HRCA 1191Interpersonal Communications3
HRCA 1192Introduction to Practice1.5
HRCA 1181Personal Care & Assistance 14
HRCA 1182Common Health Challenges 13
HRCA 1183Concepts for Practice3.5
HRCA 1184Clinical 13
HRCA 1291Cognitive & Mental Challenges3
HRCA 1292Common Health Challenges 23
HRCA 1293Personal Care & Assistance 24
HRCA 1294Clinical 26
HRCA 1391Community Practicum2
Total Credits38.5

Evaluation of Student Learning

Theory courses are evaluated by written exams, assignments, and/or completion of a journal. Laboratory and clinical performance is assessed by instructor observations of students in work experience situations. All courses are evaluated consistent with the College Grading System.

Students must achieve at least a C+ in every course in order to proceed to the next level, or to graduate from the program. Students must achieve a “Satisfactory” grade in HRCA 1184, HRCA 1294 and HRCA 1391.

Attendance of all classes and laboratory experiences is required in order to truly understand and master the theoretical and practical components behind the Health Care Assistant role. Students may not miss more than 15% of scheduled classroom, laboratory and/or clinical experiences.  Where students exceed this maximum, the College may withdraw the student from the program. The program requires 100% attendance for the community practicum experience.

If a student withdraws from the Health Care Assistant program for any reason, the student may apply to take the needed courses to complete the program in future cohorts providing:

  • There is space available
  • Departmental Leader approval is granted
  • The potential completion date of the program will not be exceeded

Space Availability:

Space in a cohort program is determined by:

  • Capacity number of student in the cohort
  • Capacity of clinical placement sites secured

Department Leader Approval:

The Department Leader will base approval on the following considerations:

  • Number of full time students already enrolled in cohort
  • Number of insertion students already enrolled in cohort
  • Student's performance, attendance and punctuality before withdrawal.

Program Completion Deadline:

The program must be completed within 2 years from the date that a student initially started the program. Program completion deadlines are necessary to ensure the currency of student skills and in alignment with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Workers Registry recognition requirements.

Re-insertion Requirements

In alignment with the BC Care Aide and Community Heath Workers Registry recognition requirements, the amount of time a student is absent from the program will determine pre-requisites when re-entered into the program.

More than 3 months:

If the time between the completion of lab skills coursework and the start of practice education is greater than 3 months, the student will be required to register and successfully complete the appropriate preceding Personal Care and Assistance course prior to entering a practice education course, regardless if the Personal Care and Assistance course has been successfully completed previously.

More than 12 months:

If the time is greater than 12 months, the student will be required to register and successfully complete both Personal Care and Assistance course (level 1 and 2) before entering a practice education course.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Prior learning assessment and recognition is not available for this program.

Transcript of Achievement

The evaluation of learning outcomes for each student is prepared by the instructor and reported to the Student Records Department at the completion of semesters.

The transcript typically shows a letter grade for each course. The grade point equivalent for a course is obtained from letter grades as follows:

Grading Standard

Grade Percentage Description Grade Point Equivalency
A+ 90-100 4.33
A 85-89 4.00
A- 80-84 3.67
B+ 76-79 3.33
B 72-75 3.00
B- 68-71 2.67
C+ 64-67 Minimum Pass 2.33
C 60-63 Failing Grade 2.00
C- 55-59 1.67
D 50-54 1.00
F 0-49 0.00
S Satisfactory – student has met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards N/A
U Unsatisfactory – student has not met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards N/A
I Incomplete N/A
IP Course in Progress N/A
W Withdrawal N/A
Course Standings
R Audit. No Credits N/A
EX Exempt. Credit Granted N/A
TC Transfer Credit N/A

Grade Point Average (GPA)

  1. The course grade points shall be calculated as the product of the course credit value and the grade value.

  2. The GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total number of achieved course grade points by the total number of assigned course credit values. This cumulative GPA shall be determined and stated on the Transcript at the end of each Program level or semester.

  3. Grades shall be assigned to repeated courses in the same manner as courses taken only once. For the purpose of GPA calculation of grades for repeated courses, they will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.