Recognized BC Health Care Assistant Programs

Below is the list of educational institutions that offer recognized Health Care Assistant (HCA) programs in British Columbia. The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry reviews and recognizes Health Care Assistant (HCA) programs in BC to ensure that they are: following the provincial curriculum, implementing a common set of training standards and graduating competent front-line health care providers.

BC educational institutions may deliver HCA programs in both on-campus formats (classroom based instruction) and combined delivery formats (online and/or video-conference instruction). Regardless of the program delivery format, HCA programs students must complete in-person skills lab coursework and practice education coursework (e.g., clinical experiences). For more information about program delivery options, please contact educators directly.

Recognition Status:

New Program; Site Visit Pending – This status is awarded to new programs for a period of up to 2 years during which time the institution is expected to deliver the program. As with the other statuses, program graduates are eligible for registration upon completion of the program. A compliance assessment site visit is scheduled after the first graduating class completes the program. Programs with new program status are limited from applying for new program variations, delivery at new sites and one-time funded delivery, until they have achieved full recognition status.

Interim Recognition – This status is awarded after a compliance assessment site visit and can be held for a period of up to 2 years. Interim recognition status indicates condition(s) need to be met in order for the program to remain in good standing. Programs with interim recognition status are limited from applying for new program variations, including delivery at new sites and one-time funded delivery, until they have achieved full recognition status.

Full Recognition – This status is awarded after a compliance assessment site visit and can be held for a period of up to 5 years. Full recognition indicates that the institution does not have any conditions in place.

*Recognition Status is subject to change. If a program is under review for compliance related issues with the Registry, the following note will appear with their listing: *program under review. This serves as an indication that a program’s recognition status may be subject to change (e.g. from full to interim recognition). Please consult this list for updates.

Stakeholders are also advised to check the status of private educational institutions offering HCA programs on Private Training Institution Branch Institution Directory to ensure they are in good standing and do not have any enforcement actions.

HCA program students: It is important to complete a recognized HCA program so that you can be registered to work as an HCA in BC. You need to check that you take a program on this list.

Important Note: The Stratford Career Institute Health Care Aide Program is not recognized by the BC Care Aide Registry.

EducatorProgramLocationsRecognition Status
Cambria CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Richmond, Surrey, Victoria, VancouverFull Recognition
Camosun CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant - ESL

Health Care Assistant - Indigenous
VictoriaFull Recognition
Capilano UniversityHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
North Vancouver, SecheltFull Recognition
CDI College of Business, Technology & Health CareHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Richmond, SurreyFull 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 CollegeHealth Care Assistant in French- Préposé aux soins de santé (Combined Delivery)VancouverFull Recognition
College of New CaledoniaHealth Care AssistantPrince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof
*Regional program delivery may be available.
Full Recognition
College of the RockiesHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden, InvermereFull Recognition
Discovery Community CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Campbell River, Courtenay, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Parksville, Prince George, Surrey, Williams LakeFull Recognition
Douglas CollegeHealth Care Assistant ProgramCoquitlamFull Recognition
Drake Medox CollegeESL – Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)

ESL – Health Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant
Surrey, VancouverFull Recognition
Edison CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
VictoriaFull Recognition
First CollegeHealth Care Assistant ProgramKelownaFull 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)
VancouverFull Recognition
Heritage Community CollegeHealth Care Assistant

​Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
SurreyFull Recognition
Kwantlen Polytechnic UniversityHealth Care Assistant
Langley, SurreyFull Recognition
NEC Native Education College​Health Care Assistant

​Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
VancouverFull Recognition
Nicola Valley Institute of TechnologyHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
MerrittFull Recognition
North Island CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Comox Valley, Port Alberni, Campbell RiverFull Recognition
Northern Lights CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Dawson Creek, Fort St. JohnFull Recognition
Okanagan CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, VernonFull Recognition
Selkirk CollegeHealth 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, CastlegarFull Recognition
Sprott Shaw CollegeHealth 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, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, East Vancouver, Vancouver, Victoria, OsoyoosFull Recognition
Stenberg CollegeHealth 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)
SurreyFull Recognition
Thompson Rivers UniversityHealth Care AssistantKamloops, Williams LakeFull Recognition
Thompson Rivers University - Open Learning DivisionHealth Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)Multiple Locations in British ColumbiaFull Recognition
Universal Learning InstituteHealth Care AssistantRichmondFull Recognition
University of Fraser ValleyHealth Care AssistantChilliwackFull Recognition
Vancouver Career CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Abbotsford, BurnabyFull Recognition
Vancouver Community CollegeHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant – ESL

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)


Health Care Assistant Diploma (International Cohort)
VancouverFull Recognition
Vancouver Island UniversityHealth Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) 
Duncan, Nanaimo, Powell RiverFull Recognition
Western Community CollegeHealth 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, SurreyFull Recognition
Westminster CollegeHealth Care Assistant ProgramSurreyFull Recognition