Program Length
- 24 Weeks
Credential
- Certificate
Location Offered
- Cowichan
- Nanaimo
- tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)
Start a career in health care
With VIU's Health Care Assistant certificate, you can start your career in health career after 24 weeks of full-time training. Health care assistants work with Canada's aging population, and certified health care assistants (HCAs) are in huge demand in BC.
With a focus on Indigenous ways of knowing, the VIU HCA program ensures you can provide culturally safe care, making you a top candidate for many HCA positions.
Helping people live safe, healthy and comfortable lives as an HCA is a fulfilling career with the chance to develop rewarding relationships. Health care assistant certification can also lead to other roles in health care. After 600 hours of work as an HCA, you can ladder into the Practical Nursing program.
Get help paying for the health care assistant program
Because health care assistants are in demand in BC, the provincial government provides additional financial assistance. Through the Heath Career Access Program, the province will cover tuition and living expenses for BC residents to earn the HCA Certificate.
Practical hands-on experience
In this program you take part in two clinical courses where you work directly with older adults. Practicing care skills in a real-world environment ensures your success after graduation.
Sign up to learn more
What can I do with a Health Care Assistant Certificate?
With a Health Care Assistant Certificate program can pursue careers such as:
- health care assistant
- home support worker
- residential care aide
You can work in many different types of workplaces including hospitals, care homes and complex care settings.
About the Health Care Assistant program
In this program you learn to assist people of all ages in a safe, comfortable and kind manner. This includes help with daily tasks like dressing and bathing, and complex care supporting those with dementia or physical disabilities.
You will learn advanced communications skills that help you build meaningful and lasting relationships with all others including persons with dementia, and physical or mental health challenges.
In the HCA program you cover topics that include:
- anatomy and physiology
- medical terminology and abbreviations
- teamwork
- the role of the health care assistant
- working with persons with dementia, physical and mental health challenges
The program provides a balanced mix of in-person and online classroom learning, and hands-on clinical experience.
Courses and Concentrations
| Phase I* | Credits |
|---|---|
| HCAS 110 - (Interpersonal Communications) | 3 |
| HCAS 120 - (Lifestyle and Choices) | 2 |
| HCAS 130 - (Introduction to Practice) | 2 |
| HCAS 140 - (Concepts for Practice) | 3 |
| HCAS 150 - (Common Health Challenges) | 4 |
| HCAS 160 - (Cognitive and/or Mental Challenges) | 3 |
| HCAS 170 - (Personal Care and Assistance) | 5 |
| Phase II** | Credits |
|---|---|
| HCAS 180 - (Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care) | 7 |
| Phase III | Credits |
|---|---|
| HCAS 190 - (Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living, and/or Group Home Setting) | 2 |
| Total Credits | 31 |
* Phase I courses must be successfully completed prior to starting Phase II.
** Phase II course must be successfully completed prior to starting Phase III.
Admission Information
- General Trades admission requirements apply.
- Successful completion of English 12 or equivalent.
- Meet the Minimum HCA Program Entry Requirements.
- Completion of the VIU Health Care Assistant Program's English Competency Self-Declaration form.
- Completion of a Personal Profile form.
- Interview with program faculty.
Notes on Admission
- Indigenous students can apply for reserved seats by submitting the Access Initiative for Indigenous students form.
- Fieldwork, practicums, or clinical practice will require a satisfactory criminal record check prior to placement. The Registration Centre at VIU will contact prospective students regarding the Criminal Record Check. Criminal Record Checks are processed through the Ministry according to the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.
- Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program.
- Preference may be given to those with 30 hours or more volunteer service in a long-term care setting.
- The following documents are required by the first day of classes:
- A completed Immunization Requirements Form.
- Proof of W.H.M.I.S. training.
- Foodsafe Level I certificate.
- Standard First Aid certificate is required (that includes CPR Level "C").
- Additional prerequisites required prior to practice experience:
- Completion of the Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules (LearningHub).
- Completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course (LearningHub).
- Completion of Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) (LearningHub).
- Not currently open to international students.
Recommended Personal Characteristics
Before applying for this program, students should learn as much as possible about this career. We encourage students to volunteer in a health care facility to familiarize themselves with the role of the Health Care Assistant. The following traits are critical for student success:
- sensitivity to the needs of others
- trustworthiness, integrity, flexibility
- ability to perform physically demanding tasks within a variety of workspaces
- ability to speak confidently with people of all ages
- ability to pay close attention to detail
- ability to work quickly with accuracy and efficiency
- ability to manage time effectively and handle responsibility
- ability to problem-solve effectively in a limited time span
- excellent oral and personal hygiene
- willingness to show commitment to program by regular attendance
- ability to be punctual on a consistent basis
- ability to participate in own learning by displaying preparedness for class and clinical settings
- ability to perform basic home management and cooking skills
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees - 24 week program* | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (6 months x $509.18 per month) | 3,055.08 |
| Lab fee | 42.67 |
| Student Activity fee (6 months x $20.37 per month) | 122.22 |
| Student Services fee (6 months x $22.49 per month) | 134.94 |
| VIU Students' Union fee (6 months x $38.87 per month) | 233.22 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Books and supplies (approximate cost) | 900.00 |
| Total | 4,773.13 |
* The above fee table is for Nanaimo campus only. Students taking the program through the Cowichan or tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River) campuses will pay reduced Students’ Union fees.
Students are responsible for travel expenses to clinical agencies.
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | Ongoing | Cowichan | March 2, 2026, June 8, 2026, Sept 14, 2026 |
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Application Fee:
$46.06
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Krista Convey Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Krista.Convey@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Kim Fraser Email: Kim.Fraser@viu.ca
Area Contact:
Name: Susan James Email: HCA@viu.ca
Comments:
Once you have met all pre-admission document requirements, you will be contacted for a pre-admission interview. You may be required to work with computers; it is strongly recommended that you are able to send and receive email, use the internet, and have word processing knowledge. |
|||
| Ongoing | Ongoing | Nanaimo | March 2, 2026, June 8, 2026, Sept 14, 2026 |
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Application Fee:
$46.06
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Krista Convey Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Krista.Convey@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Kim Fraser Email: Kim.Fraser@viu.ca
Area Contact:
Name: Susan James Email: HCA@viu.ca
Comments:
Once you have met all pre-admission document requirements, you will be contacted for a pre-admission interview. You will be required to work with computers; it is strongly recommended that you are able to send and receive email, use the internet, and have word processing knowledge. |
|||
| Ongoing | Ongoing | tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River) | March 2, 2026, Sept 14, 2026 |
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Application Fee:
$46.06
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Krista Convey Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: Krista.convey@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Kim Fraser Email: Kim.Fraser@viu.ca
Area Contact:
Name: Susan James Email: HCA@viu.ca
Document Deadline:
Applicants will be added to the wait list once their application is complete.
Comments:
Once you have met all pre-admission document requirements, you will be contacted for a pre-admission interview. You may be required to work with computers; it is strongly recommended that you are able to send and receive email, use the internet, and have word processing knowledge. |
|||
Beyond the Health Care Assistant Program
After you've completed the HCA program and you've worked as an HCA for 600 hours, you will qualify for the 16-month Practical Nursing Access program.
Visit the department site
For more information about the Health Care Assistant program, see the department site.