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Diploma Program

Health Care Assistant

Diploma

28 weeks

Qualified Instructors

This program can be offered at the campus(es) below. Please contact the campus of your choosing for program availability and delivery methods.

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In Person (On Campus)

Median Wage

$25 /hour

*Jobbank.gc.ca; 2024;

Become a Health Care Assistant

The Health Care Assistant program will prepare you to work in BC's growing healthcare system. You will learn to be a medical caregiver and support people in various healthcare settings.

During the program, you will become more familiar with the role of the Health Care Assistant within a home support agency, assisted living facility, or group home to gain abilities that will prepare graduates for employment in these settings.

  • Personal Care and Assistance
  • Healthcare
  • Interpersonal Communications
  • Medical Language & Terminology 
  • Health Care Communication
  • Medical Support
  • First Aid Procedures
  • Infection Control
  • Medical Examination Assisting
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Approved & Designated 

This program is approved by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of British Columbia. CDI College is designated by the Education Quality Assurance (EQA).

Program Intro Background

Program Courses

School and Program Orientation

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This session welcomes the students to the college, introduces them to their fellow classmates, faculty, and staff, reviews the policies and procedures related to their studies, and prepares the student for their learning experience. This course also introduces students to the Health Care Assistant program by providing an overview of the courses, work experience (practice education) components and requirements, schedule, and expectations of students.

Academic Success Strategies for Health Care Assistants

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The purpose of this course is to optimize learning through equipping students with effective study techniques. This course provides an introduction to strategies for setting goals, managing time, critical thinking, speaking and writing skills with an emphasis on research skills, and managing stress that results from study or work.

Introduction to the Health Care Assistant Program

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This course provides an overview of the Health Care Assistant Program provincial curriculum values, beliefs, and principles, purpose, learning outcomes along with the foundational concepts of the Health Care Assistant Program. Students will be introduced to the roles and responsibilities of a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in BC. Students will also be introduced to the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry (CACHWR) and competently navigate the Registry website

Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum

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The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) was developed to fill the need for effective, recommended, and provincially recognized violence prevention education for all British Columbia healthcare workers across a range of public healthcare settings.

Concepts for Practice

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This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a theoretical framework for practice. Students will be introduced to the philosophical values and theoretical understandings that provide a foundation for competent practice as an HCA. The course focuses on concepts of caring and person-centred care; basic human needs and human development; family, culture, and diversity as they relate to health and healing. Students will also be introduced to a problem-solving model that will be critical to their practice.

Health 1: Interpersonal Communications

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This course focuses on the development of self-awareness, increased understanding of others, and development of effective interpersonal communication skills that can be used in a variety of caregiving contexts. Students will be encouraged to become more aware of the impact of their own communication choices and patterns. They will have opportunities to develop and use communication techniques that demonstrate personal awareness, respect, and active listening skills.

Health 2: Lifestyle Choices

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This course introduces students to a holistic concept of health and the components of a health-enhancing lifestyle. Students will be invited to reflect on their own experience of health, recognizing challenges and resources that can impact lifestyle choices. Students will be introduced to a model that can be applied in other courses to understand the multi-faceted aspects of health and healing.

ntroduction to Practice

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This course provides an introduction to the role of the HCA within the British Columbia health care system. Students will be introduced to the
health care team and the roles and functions of HCAs within the team. Students will also have opportunities to develop self-reflective skills
required for competent practice and will be introduced to effective jobfinding approaches. Students will have opportunities to utilize these
effective job-finding approaches in CES Career and Employment Strategies.

Healing 1: Caring for Individual Experiencing Common Health Challenges

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This course introduces students to the normal structure and function of the human body and normal bodily changes associated with aging. Students will explore common challenges to health and healing in relation to each body system. Students will also be encouraged to explore person-centred practice as it relates to the common challenges to health. Students will explore person-centred care as it relates to end-of-life care in HCA-PALL20 Caring for Individuals in Palliative Care, as an extension of HCA-CHC Common Health Challenges.

Caring for Individuals in Palliative Care

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This course is an extension of HCA-CHC Common Health Challenges. In this course, students will explore person-centred practice as it relates to end-of-life care. The course provides students with the necessary resources and tools to respond to the needs of the dying and their families. Students will increase their confidence and competence in providing compassionate care for the dying.

Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges

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This course builds on content from other courses to assist students to explore concepts and caregiving approaches that will allow them to work effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges. The emphasis in this course is on supporting clients with dementia, recognizing responsive behaviours, and identifying person-centred intervention strategies.

Healing 3: Personal Care and Assistance I

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This practical course offers students the opportunity to acquire personal care and assistance skills within the parameters of the HCA role. The course comprises class and supervised laboratory experiences, which assist the student to integrate theory from other courses to develop caregiver skills that maintain and promote the comfort, safety, and independence of clients in community and facility contexts.

Practice Experience in Multi-Level or Complex Care

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This supervised practice experience provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses in the program with individuals in a multi-level or complex care setting. A portion of this clinical experience will be devoted to working with individuals with dementia. Opportunity will be provided for students to gain expertise and confidence with the role of the HCA within a complex care facility. Students must meet all practice experience requirements prior to entering this clinical practice (see HCA Program Student Handbook for details.)

Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living, or Group Home Settings

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This practice course provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses with individuals and families in a community setting. Opportunity will be provided for students to become more familiar with the role of the HCA within a home support agency, assisted living facility, or a group home to gain abilities that will prepare graduates for employment in these settings. It is important that students understand the philosophy of community care settings and the importance of client choice and independence.

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Admission

Benefits of this program

Employment Opportunities

  • Standard Admissions
    • Proof of Grade 10 completion or equivalent

 

  • Mature Admissions
    • 19 years of age upon starting classes

AND

  • Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry – English Competency Requirements
  • Pass the College’s admissions test
  • Health Care Assistant diploma
  • Healthcare workers are in high demand 
  • Real-world, hands-on training
  • Access to CDI College's Career Services team
  • Tight-knit, supportive community
  • Latest medical skills and technologies
  • Home Health Care Worker
  • Residential Care Attendant
  • Health Care Assistant
  • Nursing Aide
  • Standard Admissions
    • Proof of Grade 10 completion or equivalent

 

  • Mature Admissions
    • 19 years of age upon starting classes

AND

  • Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry – English Competency Requirements
  • Pass the College’s admissions test
  • Health Care Assistant diploma
  • Healthcare workers are in high demand 
  • Real-world, hands-on training
  • Access to CDI College's Career Services team
  • Tight-knit, supportive community
  • Latest medical skills and technologies
  • Home Health Care Worker
  • Residential Care Attendant
  • Health Care Assistant
  • Nursing Aide
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English Language Competency Requirements

  • Completion of Grade 10 English7 (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable; Or 
  • Completion of college courses determined to be equivalent to Grade 10 English (or higher) by post-secondary institutions. A minimum of a C grade is acceptable; Or
  • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Results: Reading 230, Writing 230 and Writeplacer 4

 

  • Applicants who cannot provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English are required to provide proof of one of the following standardized proficiency tests from an authorized assessment agency
Test Details Minimum Result
Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) or CLBPT Remote

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

7

7

6

6

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

7

7

6

6

International English Language Testing System

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

6

6

5.5

5.5

Canadian Academic English Language Assessment

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

50

50

50

50

The Test of English as a Foreign Language

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

20

20

18

18

 

Industry Certifications

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Industry Leading Employers

Our extensive network and reputation for excellence ensure that graduates are in high demand in today's competitive job market. Prepare to excel in sought-after roles with renowned companies and unlock limitless career opportunities. Elevate your career trajectory and secure your future with our program tailored to meet the demands of industry leaders.

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Hear From Our Graduates

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I just passed my healthcare exam on the first attempt! The instructors and everyone else at this school helped me a lot! Thank you so much, CDI College!

Racheal B.

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I had a great experience at CDI College. The staff are awesome, and I especially had great Instructors in the healthcare classes.

Shienelle B.

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