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

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.

Health Care Assistant Certificate

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

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Those interested in becoming a Health Care Assistant will need to first apply to the Health Career Access program with the province. KPU will only be accepting applications for those referred through the Health Career Access program. KPU’s regular application process will resume upon the completion of this government initiative.

1. Meet applicant category (high school, mature student, transfer student, etc.) 
2. English Proficiency

**Option A**: If you are educated in an English-speaking environment for 7 nonconsecutive years of elementary or secondary school or 3 consecutive years of secondary or post- secondary school. You need one of:
        - English 10 (C) or equivalent
        - Accuplacer Test: Reading (230), Writing (230), WritePlacer 4, taken within the last year

**Option B**: If you are not educated in an English-speaking environment for 7 non-consecutive years of elementary or secondary school or 3 consecutive years of secondary or post- secondary school. You need one of:
        - English 10 (C)
        - TOEFL iBT score = at least 76 overall, with no sub score less than 20 in Speaking and Listening,18 in Reading and Writing (taken within the last two years)
        - IELTS Academic score = at least overall band 6.0, with 6.0 in Speaking and Listening, and 5.5 in Reading and Writing (taken within the last two years)
        - Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) score = at least 60 overall, with no sub score less than 50 (taken within the last two years)
        - Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT): Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6 (taken within the last year)

Academic Admission Requirement

1. To receive a conditional offer of admission and before final admission is granted, you need:
    - Food Safe Level I 
    - Standard First-Aid Certificate
    - Canadian 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)

2. 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.

3. 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.
4. Students in the program are required to perform a variety of cognitive, emotional and psychomotor skills safely and knowledgeably. 

Additional Academic Admission Requirement

1. If you have any general questions about this program, please contact KPU's Future Students’ Office.

Admission Advice

This is a limited intake program. Limited intake programs are not offered every semester. Please check the academic calendar to verify when this program is being offered.

Applications open for:

Fall semester in October
Spring semester in February
Summer semester in June

Note: Select programs may extend the application deadline, space permitting.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Health Care Assistant Certificate

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