As part of B.C.’s response to COVID-19, KPU has partnered with the Province of British Columbia to reserve seats in each intake as part of a combined employment and education pathway for Health Care Assistants. Those interested in this government initiative will need to first apply to the Health Career Access program with the Province.

For those interested in applying directly to KPU's Health Care Assistant program outside of the provincial initiative, the typical application process applies. Visit KPU’s department webpage to learn more about each of these options at Health Care Assistant Program | KPU.ca

Description

The Health Care Assistant program is a full-time certificate program designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to function as caregivers in a variety of health care settings.

The program's courses and labs are enhanced by practice experiences in community complex care and home support facilities. During the final practicum component of the program, there is a distinct clinical opportunity to work and gain experience in an acute care setting. Students will be prepared to meet the care needs of adults who may be experiencing diverse and often complex health and illnesses.

Upon graduation, students will be eligible to register with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Health Care Assistant program will be prepared to work in a variety of health care settings, including (but not limited to):

• Acute Care
• Complex Care
• Assisted Living
• Adult Day Centres

Faculty's website: kpu.ca/health

Department's website: kpu.ca/health/hcap

Admission Requirements

All applicants, domestic or international, must meet one of the following English standards for admission to the program:

• Successful completion of English 10¹ with a minimum grade of 'C', or equivalent; or
• Accuplacer Test¹: Reading (230), Writing (230), WritePlacer 4, taken within the last year; or
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): IBT 76 or higher, with no sub-score less than 20 in Speaking and Listening and no sub-score less than 18 in Reading and Writing, taken within the last two years; or
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test: Overall band of 6.0 or higher, with a minimum of 6.0 in the Speaking and Listening band, and a minimum 5.5 in Reading and Writing band, taken within the last two years; or
• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Score of 60 or higher with no sub-score less than 50, taken within the last two years; or
• Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT): Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6, or higher, taken within the last year at an assessment centre listed on the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB). 

All newly admitted students to the program will be required to provide:

• Food Safe Level I
• Current Standard First Aid Certificate
• CPR Level C
• An acceptable Criminal Record Check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Program within 6 months prior to the start of the program.
• Applicants who have lived outside of Canada as an adult are required to secure a Criminal Record Search with the Vulnerable Sector from their country of origin. Please contact the Office of Admissions for further direction on obtaining your criminal record check.
• Immunization Record Form reflecting required immunizations as per Practice Education Guidelines for BC. Note: Practice Education Guidelines (PEG) for BC outline immunizations for vaccine preventable communicable diseases required by students for participation in practice experiences. KPU Faculty of Health is required to comply with these requirements. Students that are unvaccinated may not be able to be accepted into the program. Students who are accepted into the program will also be required to maintain immunizations as per the PEG.

Students in the program are required to demonstrate the ability to perform a variety of cognitive, emotional and psychomotor skills safely and knowledgeably.

¹

Note: As per the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry, for applicants educated in an English-speaking environment for 3 consecutive years of full-time secondary or post-secondary education, secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.

Continuance Requirements

Students must obtain a minimum grade of C in all required courses with Standard Grading, and a minimum grade of MAS in all required courses with Mastery Grading. Non-adherence to these requirements may result in removal from the program. Students must complete all program courses each term before they can continue to the next term. Re-entry into the program will be based on seat availability and approval by the program.

Curricular Requirements

The Health Care Assistant Certificate program requires completion of 33 credits with a minimum grade of C in all required courses.

Credential Awarded

Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive a Certificate in Health Care Assistant.