<p>This program leads to a Red Seal certification. Visit our <a href="/go/plan/trades">Trades page</a>.</p>

The Health Care Assistant Certificate will allow you 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. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are prepared to work in any level of continuing care, including: home support, adult day care, assisted living, complex care (including dementia care units) and acute care.

Health Care Assistant Certificate

Okanagan College

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1. One of:

-High school graduation or equivalent
-Be 19 years of age and out of high school for at least one year as of the first day of classes

2. English

Option A: Native English speaker

-Proof of English 10 or equivalent

And One of: 

-College courses determined to be equivalent to completion of English 10 or higher by post-secondary institutions (must provide transcripts) (C)
-Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT): Reading Comprehension 35/50, Spelling 23/32
-Accuplacer*: Grade 10 level or higher recommended cut scores: Reading Comprehension 60, Sentences Skill 55, Writeplacer 4

Note(*): Educational institutions may conduct their own predictive validity studies to confirm appropriate cut scores. 

OR

Option B: Non-native English speaker:
Proof of one of the following:

-TOEFL iBT: overall score of 76; no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening; no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing (taken within the past two years)
-IELTS = overall score of 6; at least 6 in Speaking and Listening; no score less than 5.5 in Reading and Writing (within the past two years)
-Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLB PT) = Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6, and Writing 6 (within the past year)
-Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): Academic or General -- Academic: Aggregate score of 4L or better, with 4L or better in Speaking and Listening and 3H or better in Reading and Writing. General: CELPIP 7 or better in Speaking and Listening and CELPIP 6 in Reading and Writing
-Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 50

NOTE: All applicants are required to demonstrate English Language Proficiency through the Declaration Form. 

3. It is recommended that you have also completed a Grade 11 Science or ABE Science at the 70 or 80 level.

Academic Admission Requirement

1. Red Cross Standard First Aid or St John Ambulance Standard First Aid that includes Basic Life Support, CPR Level C course (no more than 12 months before their admission)

2. Criminal Record Check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office

3. Negative tuberculin test, taken no more than six months before the date of application (or evidence of appropriate follow-up if the test was positive)

4. Completion of the provincially-approved Food Safe Training program

5. Proof of meeting current immunizations as per health care organization policiesIguidelines

5. Completion of all B.C. Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC), including the 8 hour in-person classroom course

6. Attendance at a program orientation day is strongly recommended

Additional Academic Admission Requirement


1. For the criminal record check, Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to provide a clearance letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.

2. Applicants are advised that students in this program engage actively in laboratory practice, acting both as patient/client and as caregiver in simulated situations. Notwithstanding all specific program prerequisites, Okanagan College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant when, in the opinion of OC, there is sufficient and substantiated evidence, medical or otherwise, to conclude that by granting admission OC would jeopardize the safety of clients under student care or would otherwise be negligent in providing for the safety and well-being of clients, agency staff or other students.

3. There may be additional fees associated with other admission and program pre-practice requirements. These requirements are usually completed outside of regular class time. Students are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation by the due dates provided. The admissions office and/or department chair will provide further instructions. Students may proceed into clinical practice education experiences only after successful completion of ALL the program pre-practice requirements.

Admission Advice

Applications for Fall and Winter semesters will be open in October. Early application is strongly recommended. For details, see okanagan.bc.ca/apply.

Okanagan College

Health Care Assistant Certificate

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