About the Registry

The Registry is a database of credentialed* or “registered” care aides and community health workers working for, or wanting to work for, employers receiving public funds in BC. This includes acute care, assisted living care, long-term care, and home and community care.

How the Registry Works

Employees / Registrants

To work in a health care organization receiving public funds in BC, all care aides and community health workers (also known as Health Care Assistants or HCAs) are required to register. An online application must be submitted for review. Once the application has been evaluated and approved by the Registry, the applicant will be provided with a registration number.

Employers

All health care employers receiving public funds in BC can verify and confirm that their current or prospective HCAs are registered. Employers must be approved by the Registry before they can log in to check if an HCA is registered in BC.

Educators

To improve the educational standards of health care assistants in British Columbia, the Registry reviews and approves HCA education programs. A list of recognized post-secondary institutions (PSIs) that offer the HCA provincial curriculum is available here: https://www.cachwr.bc.ca/about-the-registry/list-of-hca-programs-in-bc/ 

Public and private educational institutions that would like to be on the list must be approved by the Registry before they will be included.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All HCAs on the Registry met registration requirements and were deemed competent at the time of registration.

The Registry has ensured that registrants have completed:

  • a BC HCA program, or,
  • a Canadian HCA or Nursing program recognized in their province or territory, or
  • an assessment and, if required, additional education to meet the HCA core competencies

Employers should verify educational credentials and health care assistant work experience prior to hiring registered health care assistants.

Applicants may be required to complete a competency assessment (and additional education) to demonstrate they meet HCA core competencies. While assessed applicants may not have a BC HCA Program Certificate, they meet application requirements for registration.    

It is incumbent on employers to screen candidates before hiring to ensure that they are registered and that they meet employer requirements.  

What is a Care Aide?

Care aides and community health workers are also known as health care assistants or HCAs. They are frontline care providers in a variety of institutional and community settings including home support agencies and residential care facilities. HCAs are an integral part of our health care system.