Within BC, there is a one standard, provincially mandated Health Care Assistant education curriculum that prepares graduates to work in a variety of practice settings, including home support, assisted living, long-term care and acute care.
The Registry reviews and recognizes Health Care Assistant (HCA) education programs in BC. Graduates of recognized programs are eligible for registration on the Registry and for employment in BC’s public health sector as a care aide, health care assistant, personal support worker, community health worker or an equivalent position.
The list of BC educational institutions offering recognized HCA programs is provided below. Please consult this list for updates.
Information about programs, locations and recognition status is included for each program. Educational institutions approved for combined delivery offer theory courses over videoconference or online. Lab skills coursework and practice education is completed in person.
For more information about a program, please contact the educational institution directly.
Several programs on the list are offered by private educational institutions. Be sure to check the Private Training Institution Branch Institution Directory to ensure they are in good standing and do not have any enforcement actions.
Recognition status definitions are on the bottom of the page.
| Educator | Program | Locations | Recognition Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Surrey, Victoria, Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Camosun College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant - ESL Health Care Assistant - Indigenous | Victoria | Full Recognition |
| Capilano University | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | North Vancouver, Sechelt | Full Recognition |
| Coast Mountain College (formerly Northwest Community College) | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Terrace, Smithers *Regional program delivery may be available. | Full Recognition |
| College Educacentre College | Health Care Assistant in French- Préposé aux soins de santé (Combined Delivery) | Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| College of New Caledonia | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof *Regional program delivery may be available. | Full Recognition |
| College of the Rockies | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden, Invermere | Full Recognition |
| Discovery Community College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant ESL Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant ESL (Combined Delivery) | Campbell River, Courtenay, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Prince George, Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Douglas College | Health Care Assistant Program | Coquitlam | Full Recognition |
| Drake Medox College | ESL – Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) ESL – Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant | Surrey, Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Edison College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Victoria | Interim Recognition |
| Elevare Career Institute | Health Care Assistant Program | Kelowna | New Program; Site Visit Pending *Program under review |
| First College | Health Care Assistant Program | Kelowna | Full Recognition |
| Gateway College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant – Accelerated Health Care Assistant – Access Health Care Assistant & Communication Year 2 (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant – Accelerated (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant – Access (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant & Communication Year 2 (recognized as an HCA ESL Program (Combined Delivery) | Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Heritage Community College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Kootenay Columbia College | Health Care Assistant Program Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Burnaby | New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Health Care Assistant | Langley | Full Recognition |
| NEC Native Education College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Merritt | Full Recognition |
| North Island College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Comox Valley, Port Alberni, Campbell River | Full Recognition |
| Northern Lights College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Dawson Creek, Fort St. John | Full Recognition |
| Okanagan College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon | Full Recognition |
| SELC College | Health Care Assistant | Vancouver | New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| Selkirk College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant Access (within Post-Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing) Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant Access (within Post-Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing) (Combined Delivery) | Trail, Castlegar | Full Recognition |
| Sprott Shaw College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL program) (Combined Delivery) | Abbotsford, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Kamloops, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, East Vancouver, Vancouver, Victoria, Osoyoos, Salmon Arm | Full Recognition |
| Stenberg College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant – International (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant – International (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) | Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Thompson Rivers University | Health Care Assistant | Kamloops, Williams Lake | Full Recognition |
| Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning Division | Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Multiple Locations in British Columbia | Full Recognition |
| Universal Learning Institute | Health Care Assistant | Richmond | Full Recognition |
| University of Fraser Valley | Health Care Assistant | Chilliwack | Full Recognition |
| Vancouver Career College | Health Care Assistant | Burnaby | Full Recognition |
| Vancouver Community College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant Diploma (International Cohort) Health Care Assistant Diploma (International Cohort) (Combined Delivery) | Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Vancouver Island University | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) | Duncan, Nanaimo, Powell River | Full Recognition |
| Western Community College | Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant + ESL Health Care Assistant – Access Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Healh Care Assistant ESL (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant - Access (Combined Delivery) | Abbotsford, Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Westminster College | Health Care Assistant Program | Surrey | Full Recognition |
*Program Under Review: This indicates a program is under review for compliance-related issues. Recognition status may be subject to change (e.g., from full to interim recognition).
Full Recognition – Full recognition indicates that the program is in good standing. This status may be held for up to five years. Graduates are eligible for registration upon completion of the program.
Interim Recognition – Interim recognition indicates a condition(s) needs to be met for the program to remain in good standing. This status may be held for up to two years. Graduates are eligible for registration upon completion of the program. (see *note below)
New Program; Site Visit Pending – New programs are awarded this status for up to two years. Graduates are eligible for registration upon completion of the program. (see *note below)
*Note: Programs with interim recognition and new program; site visit pending status cannot apply for new program variations, delivery at new sites or one-time funded delivery.
Reference: Health Care Assistant Program Recognition: A Guide for Educators
