Health Care Assistant – Certificate

Program Details

Length: 30 weeks (10 weeks theory, 10 weeks theory/lab, 10 weeks practice)

Total Credits: 38

Intake Terms: Fall, Winter

Delivery Method: Blended

Campus: Trail

Credential: Certificate

Cost:

Approximate program cost

Student Loans:

This program is eligible for student loans

Credential Received

Certificate in Health Care Assistant

Overview

Program Summary

Are you interested in becoming a front-line health care worker and assisting clients with their personal care, nutrition and mobility? Our program will support you in developing the confidence, knowledge and skills required to provide safe care and contribute to the physical, emotional and social well-being of clients in a variety of health care settings.

As a graduate, you will be a respected member of the health care team and work under the direction and supervision of a health professional.

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line care providers and be a respected member of the health care team in both community and facility settings. Under the direction and supervision of a health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive and social well-being of clients/residents. Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry.

The HCA Program is 30 weeks in total. During the first 20 weeks, students complete theory and lab courses during face-to-face classes on the Trail Campus and online, followed by the completion of 270 hours of practice in residential and community care settings during the final ten weeks of the program.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Provide person-centred care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client
Use an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that promotes physical, psychological, social, cognitive and spiritual well-being of clients and families
Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges
Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges
Interact with other members of the health care team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals
Communicate clearly, accurately and in sensitive ways with clients and families within a variety of community and facility contexts
Provide personal care and assistance in a safe, competent and organized manner
Recognize and respond to own self-development, learning and health enhancement needs
Perform the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable and professional manner

Program Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, the applicant must meet the following Health Care Assistant Program requirements to be considered fully-qualified:

a. Proof of Grade 10 completion (or equivalent) OR mature student status

b. Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry English Language Competency Requirements

(1) For applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English*: English 10 completion or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60%

(2) For applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English*: Standardized English language proficiency test score as noted below

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. All testing must be completed in person.

a) Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT). Test in the last year, Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 7 and Writing 7.

b) Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General. Test in the last two years. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 7 and Writing 7.

c) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic, IELTS General is not accepted. Test in the last two years. Overall score of 6 with a minimum of 6 in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.

d) Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL). Test in the last two years. Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 60.

e) The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) (TOEFL iBT Home Edition not accepted). Test in the last two years. Overall score of 80 with no score lower than 18 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing.

f) Pearson Test of English (PTE). Test in the last two years. PTE Academic - Overall score of 56 with no score lower than 54 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 54 in Reading and Writing.

*Defined as three (3) years of full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education at a recognized institution on the list of Approved English-Speaking Countries. Secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.

Additional Requirements

Completed HCA program application form.
Completed computer knowledge self-assessment form. To be successful in coursework and support job readiness, students need to possess basic computer skills including navigation of the internet, file management, accessing online information, email, and word processing.
Three completed personal references from counsellors, employers, instructors, or supervisors.
Official transcripts of all secondary and post-secondary education; an interim transcript statement is acceptable for conditional acceptance.
All students must submit a Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance letter by the Criminal Record Check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults.
International students must also submit a clear police certificate from the country of origin before acceptance, given that HCA students provide care to vulnerable clients within the program's practice education portion. To avoid potential hardship for students arriving from another country, the police certificate is an admission requirement. For further information, see information provided at: http://https//www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates.html

PRE-PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS

Evidence of completion of the following must be submitted to the Admissions office or program designate before the first practice education experience. All Evidence must be current and valid.

a. First Aid Certification

b. CPR Level "C" Certification or "Basic Life Support (BLS)" Certification

c. Foodsafe Level 1 Certification (or a certificate course deemed equivalent)

d. Completion of the Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) checklist

e. Completion of the Selkirk College Health & Human Services immunization form

f. Completion of the HCA Practice in BC and Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse Learning Hub modules/courses

Graduation and Promotion

Promotion to Term 2 requires satisfactory completion of all theory and lab courses in Term 1 with 70% or greater and a minimum GPA of 2.00.

Program Courses

Term 1

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
HCA100	Program Foundations	1	30
HCA101	Concepts for Practice	5.00	70
HCA102	Introduction to Practice	2.00	30
HCA103	Interpersonal Communications	3.00	50
HCA104	Lifestyle and Choices	2.00	30
HCA105	Common Health Challenges	8.00	115
HCA106	Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges	4.00	60
HCA107	Personal Care and Assistance	5.00	120

Term 2

Code	Title	Credits	Total Hours
HCA108	Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living, and/or Group Home Setting	2.00	60
HCA109	Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care	6.00	210

Additional Program Policies

Effective Term: Fall, Winter

Effective Year: 20240801

Advanced Standing:

A student may obtain credit for a maximum of 75% of program requirements by Transfer Credit, Advanced Placement, Prior Learning Assessment or combination thereof. See Policy 8614: Advanced Standing – Course Challenge, PLA, and Transfer Credit.

Re-Entry Instructions:

1. Students in good standing who are required to withdraw for personal or compassionate reasons may apply for re-entry the next time the program is offered; admission is subject to seat availability.

2. Students must complete the entire program within 24 calendar months of initial entry. Re-entry applicants who cannot meet this deadline will not be readmitted.

3. As per the BC Care Aid & Community Support Worker Registry, no more than 3 months may elapse between completion of lab skills coursework and the start of practice education. In cases where there is a period of more than 3 months, students would be required to re-take the HCA 107: Personal Care & Assistance course (i.e., in cases of leaves of absence, part-time students, etc.).

Assessment:

Grading
1. Standard Academic and Career Grading Table for HCA 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, and 107; Competency Based Grading Table for HCA 100,108 and 109.
2. In HCA 100, students must complete all required activities to be granted credit.
3. HCA 101-107 requires a minimum grade of 70% to pass each course.
4. In HCA 107, students must show competence in psychomotor skills to pass HCA 107 and progress to practice education courses. If a student is not successful in demonstrating competency upon the first attempt, they may attempt the skills test one additional time after individual remediation. If a student is unsuccessful on the second attempt, they are not eligible to pass HCA 107 and will be required to repeat this course.
5. To receive credit in 108 and HCA 109, students must demonstrate competency in the program outcomes identified on page 1 of this document and complete scheduled practicum shifts according to the requirement of the HCA Program Provincial Curriculum (2023).

Grading Table: Other

Grading Table: Both the Standard Academic and Career and the Competency Based grading tables will be used.

Types of Assessments:

Assessments may include written papers, small group projects and presentations, debate, case study, online and in person discussions/forums, in person and recorded or virtual simulation and/or psychomotor skill testing.
Quizzes are completed online within the learning management system, LEARN, within the time as described in the course outline calendar. Students may have two attempts at each quiz with the highest mark being recorded in the gradebook.
The Practice Appraisal Form (PAF) is an assessment document used in practice courses and is based on the HCA Program Learning Outcomes and their associated indicators. The PAF is used to provide an opportunity for student self-reflection, formal instructor feedback and guides the student and instructor in the collaboration of a student learning plan for success.
Supplemental Assessment(s)
1. A student may request a supplemental assessment if they earn under 70% on an assignment and they follow the guidelines below:
  1. Within 48 hours after the instructor posts marks, the student will provide the instructor with an email request, identifying the assignment they would like to redo.
  2. Applications for supplemental assessments are approved at the instructor's discretion in consultation with the Program Coordinator and/or School Chair.
  3. Students must have maintained an average grade of 70% or better in the course.
  4. The result of the supplemental assessment cannot exceed 70% and is used in calculation of the final grade.
  5. Supplemental assessments must be written within seven calendar days of the final examination schedule.

Attendance:

Student attendance in class supports their progress toward meeting the course learning outcomes and contributes to the learning community. They will gain valuable insights and opportunities that would not be possible without the conversations and activities they will participate in. If a student finds themselves in a situation where they are not able to get to class or will be late, they will need to contact the relevant instructor so that they can collaborate on a plan for continued student success. When students miss class, the chances of successfully meeting the learning outcomes may be reduced and/or prevent the student from passing the class.
Students absent from any class or learning experience, for any reason, are responsible for the course material they have missed. As part of the plan for success, they may be required to make up missed assignments, activities, lab and/or practice education hours to successfully meet the learning outcomes. Absence from learning experiences may impact the student’s ability to meet the learning outcomes for that course and in turn, progression to the next semester.
If 2 or more classes are missed, the relevant instructor will check in with the student to ensure they are set up with appropriate resources and to collaborate on a plan for success. Plans will be documented on record of advisement and/or learning plan forms.
Written and competency/skill-based assessment schedules are shared with students at the beginning of the course in order for students to plan and organize themselves accordingly. If a student is absent from a written or competency/skill-based assessment for reasonable cause (e.g., illness, family emergency, adverse weather conditions, etc.), they may contact their instructor to determine if they are eligible to make-up the assessment at another time (please check the course outline for specific details). A physician's note for illness, or a note substantiating the family emergency, may be required prior to assess eligibility.
A student who must be absent from a practice or simulated learning experience must notify the instructor at least one hour prior to the experience's scheduled time. Missed hours may be rescheduled if learning outcomes are not being met and/or if the student has exceeded the allowable absences as described in course outlines. Absence for reasons that are not deemed professional (i.e., vacation, personal choice) will be noted as "unsatisfactory" or "needs improvement" in the Practice Appraisal Form. Students missing more than 10% of a practice experience may be required to repeat the course or complete extra hours at an additional cost to the student.
The School of Health and Human Services cannot provide substitute or "make up" learning experiences outside of regularly scheduled practice education courses when students have been absent.

Professional Requirements:

Students in the Health Care Assistant program shall:
1. acknowledge that Indigenous specific racism and colonialism exist and that students will integrate trauma-informed practice and work towards reconciliation of Indigenous health and wellness. (See also In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous- specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020).
2. conduct themselves in an informed way to be inclusive, culturally safe, and always striving towards cultural humility. (See also Selkirk College Policy 6040: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity)

Other regulations:

Required Withdrawal (See Selkirk College Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)
1. Breaches in confidentiality are grounds for dismissal from the HCA program.
Students who compromise the safety of clients in practice courses will be required to withdraw from the HCA program.