Health care assistant certificate
Health Care Assistant Certificate
Part of the route toHealth Care Assistant·Certificate
A college certificate program preparing you to assist seniors and hospital patients with personal care and daily living needs.
How long
6–8 Months (27–28 Weeks)
Cost
$2,237–$11,920
Schools
36 in BC
🏫Where you can take this: 36 schools
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
1Grade 11 Preparation
2Grade 12 Graduation
3Admissions & Prerequisites
4Application Process
5Program Curriculum
6Where to Take It
7Licensing & Certification
8Career Destination
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
1
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 School Year- English 11. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Douglas College, Camosun College, and 23 others). Strictest requirement: C.
- Grade 10 completion or mature student status
2
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 School Year- English Studies 12. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Douglas College, Camosun College, and 15 others). Strictest requirement: C.
- BC High School Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Requirement varies by school (Gateway College, Cambria College, Capilano University, and 5 others). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
- Grade 12. Requirement varies by school (Okanagan College, Edison College, Heritage Community College, and 3 others). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
3
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Standard First Aid with Basic Life Support (CPR-C / BLS)
- Clear criminal record check under the BC Criminal Records Review Act
- Minimum 18 years of age and Grade 12 graduation (or mature student status)
- General college admission criteria
- Minimum 18 years of age, clear criminal record check, and up-to-date immunizations
4
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply online via EducationPlannerBC to public colleges or directly to private career colleges
- Intake terms start monthly at private colleges and in September, January, and May at public colleges
- Submit high school transcripts and complete English assessment meeting Registry standards
- Attend an information session and submit clinical placement clearance documents
5
Step 5 of 8
Health care assistant certificate
⏱ 6–8 Months (27–28 Weeks)- 6 to 8 months of full-time classroom study and laboratory simulation
- Foundations for health care practice, anatomy, and gentle care communication
- Personal care skills, dementia guidance, and mechanical patient transfers
- Supervised clinical practice placements in residential care and community home health
6
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 36 schools in BC- Camosun College — 27 weeks (Not published)
- Capilano University — 28 weeks (Not published)
- Coast Mountain College — 29 weeks ($2,237)
- Collège Éducacentre — 28 weeks (Not published)
- College of New Caledonia — 28 weeks (Not published)
- College of the Rockies — 27 weeks ($2,485)
- Douglas College — 28 weeks (Not published)
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University — 28 weeks (Not published)
- and 28 more, see the list below
7
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- Registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry
8
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Health Care Assistant
- Explore Health Care Assistant wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(36 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
🌊
Duration27 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“Victoria-based care aide education combining frontline personal assistance training with supervised healthcare facility rotations.”
🌲
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“University-credentialed health care assistant certificate delivered at North Vancouver and Sunshine Coast campuses with hands-on labs and acute/complex care placements.”
🔥
Duration29 weeks
Tuition$2,237
DeliveryHybrid
“Northern BC blended care aide training combining online theory with face-to-face labs and local clinical placements across Terrace and Smithers.”
⚜️
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“BC’s French-language Health Care Assistant (Préposé aux soins de santé) certificate delivered in Vancouver and distance format with supervised clinical rotations.”
🚜
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Public college care aide certificate serving northern BC communities with classroom theory, simulation labs, and practicum placements across Prince George, Quesnel, and Vanderhoof.”
🏔️
Duration27 weeks
Tuition$2,485
DeliveryHybrid
“East Kootenay health care assistant program delivered in Cranbrook with blended theory, practical laboratory skills, and long-term care clinical experience.”
📚
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“Comprehensive care aide training with extensive skills lab practice and complex residential care clinical preceptorship.”
🌱
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“Polytechnic health care assistant training at KPU Langley campus featuring state-of-the-art simulation labs and structured community health clinical placements.”
🪶
Duration32 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Culturally supportive Indigenous-centered health care assistant certificate combining traditional healing perspectives with provincially standardized care aide clinical competencies.”
🦅
Duration30 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“BC Aboriginal public institute delivering standardized health care assistant education in Merritt with indigenous community health focus and regional care practicum.”
🌊
Duration27 weeks
Tuition$3,470
DeliveryIn-Person
“Vancouver Island public college health care assistant certificate delivered across Comox Valley, Port Alberni, and Campbell River with hospital and residential care rotations.”
❄️
Duration34 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Northern BC health care assistant certificate delivered at Dawson Creek and Fort St. John campuses with blended delivery and local healthcare facility placements.”
🏔️
Duration24 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Public college 24-week certificate offered across Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm with blended online theory and local hospital/care home clinical rotations.”
🌲
Duration30 weeks
Tuition$3,025
DeliveryHybrid
“West Kootenay regional college health care assistant certificate delivered across Trail and Castlegar with blended theory and frontline clinical training.”
🐾
Duration32 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“University certificate program in Kamloops and Williams Lake providing foundational nursing assistant competencies and local healthcare facility placements.”
💻
Duration32 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryOnline / Distance
“Flexible distance and online health care assistant certificate allowing BC students to complete theory remotely and clinical practicum in their home community.”
🏛️
Duration24 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“Fraser Valley public university care aide certificate delivered in Chilliwack with comprehensive lab training and clinical placements throughout Fraser Health facilities.”
🩺
Duration7 months
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“BC Ministry of Health recognized curriculum providing clinical simulation and practicum placements leading to Care Aide registration.”
🐾
Duration24 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“Public university health care assistant certificate offered across Duncan, Nanaimo, and Powell River with extensive frontline clinical rotations.”
🩺
Duration30 weeks
Tuition$9,203
DeliveryHybrid
“Frontline healthcare assistant training with flexible daytime schedules, simulation labs, and clinical practicum across Surrey, Victoria, and Vancouver.”
🏥
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Comprehensive care aide diploma program in Surrey integrating classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical practicum placements.”
🌊
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Island-focused 26-week care aide certificate combining practical simulation labs with supervised clinical rotations across Campbell River, Courtenay, and Nanaimo.”
🩺
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“BC Care Aide Registry recognized 26-week care aide certificate with combined online theory, skills lab practice, and full-time clinical rotations in Vancouver and Surrey.”
💡
Duration26 weeks
Tuition$11,920
DeliveryHybrid
“Victoria-based care aide certificate combining interactive healthcare theory, practical clinical lab training, and supervised care home practicum.”
🏥
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Kelowna private career institute providing accelerated health care assistant vocational training with practical simulation labs and Okanagan clinical placements.”
🏥
Duration32 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Provincially recognized 32-week care aide program featuring combined online theory and hands-on lab training with complex care practicum in Vancouver.”
🏛️
Duration25 weeks
Tuition$9,500
DeliveryHybrid
“Frontline health care assistant training delivered across Surrey and Victoria with combined online learning, campus practical labs, and multi-week clinical practicum.”
🎓
Duration24 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Burnaby-based health care assistant certificate preparing graduates for frontline caregiving with classroom theory and supervised clinical practicum.”
🌍
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Accredited health care assistant program in downtown Vancouver providing comprehensive patient care skills, lab practice, and supervised practicum.”
📚
Duration24 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Vancouver career college care aide credential combining classroom and online instruction with clinical simulation and long-term care practicum placements.”
🏥
Private College
Sprott Shaw College
Abbotsford, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, Vancouver & Victoria
Duration29 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Established BC career college providing monthly intakes and recognized care aide training across 16 community campuses provincially.”
🔬
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Surrey-based healthcare college delivering comprehensive health care assistant diplomas with advanced patient simulation and hospital/residential care clinical practicum.”
🌐
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Richmond career college delivering recognized health care assistant training with practical skills development and supervised residential care rotations.”
🎓
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Burnaby career college diploma preparing graduates for the BC Care Aide Registry through hands-on laboratory simulation and complex care practicum.”
🎓
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Comprehensive 26-week frontline care training with practical skills labs and supervised residential care practicum placements across Fraser Valley facilities.”
🏥
Duration30 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“Surrey vocational college delivering 745-hour recognized health care assistant diploma training with classroom theory, lab practice, and clinical practicum.”