<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. Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English must also provide proof of one of the following: 
   * Proof of English 10 (60%) or [equivalent]
(https://www.okanagan.bc.ca/calendar#/content/655524dfc25165001c420f5b)
   * ENGL 070 with a minimum of (60%) or[ equivalent college course.](https://www.okanagan.bc.ca/calendar#/content/655524dfc25165001c420f5b)
   * Accuplacer Next Generation Test Result: Reading (230), Writing (230) and Writeplacer (4)

3. 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.
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](https://www.cachwr.bc.ca/resources/pdf/educators/HCA-Minimum-Program-Entry-Requirements.pdf). Secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.

- Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT or CLBPT Remote). Test within the last year. Scores: Listening (7), Speaking (7), Reading (6) and Writing (6).
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General or CELPIP Online). Test within the last two years. Scores: Listening (7), Speaking (7), Reading (6) and Writing (6).
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General or IELTS Academic Online). Test within the last two years. Overall score of (6) with a minimum of (6) in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than (5.5) in Reading and Writing.
- Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL or CAEL Online). Test within the last two years. Overall Score of (60), with no section less than (50). 
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition). Test within the last two years. Overall score of (76) with no score lower than (20) in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than (18) in Reading and Writing.

Academic Admission Requirement

1. Criminal record check clearance to work with vulnerable adults and children from the Criminal Records Review Program. Applicants must follow instructions provided to them by OC admissions to complete this requirement.
2. Standard First Aid Certification.
3. CPR Level “C” Certification or “Basic Life Support (BLS)” Certification.
4. Foodsafe Level 1 Certification (or equivalent).
5. Evidence of a negative tuberculin screening test (TB test), taken no more than six months before the date of application (and evidence of appropriate follow-up tests, if necessary)
6. Proof of meeting current provincial immunization policies and guidelines by completing the Okanagan College Immunization Record Form. Applicants are advised that, if they are unable to provide proof of immunization they may be restricted and/or excluded from clinical practice.
7. Workplace Hazardous Materials (WHMIS) provincial course completion.
8. All the B.C. Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) including the 8-hour in-person classroom course completion.
9. Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules completion.
10. Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course completion.
11. Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) checklist completion.

Additional Academic Admission Requirement

1. It is recommended that students also complete a Grade 11 Science or an ABE Science at the (70 or 80) Level.
2. Applicants are advised that students in this program engage actively in laboratory practice, acting both as patient/client and as caregiver in simulated health care situations.
3. 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.
4. Several of the program pre-practice requirements are available on the provincial online LearningHub and will become available to students once enrolled in the program. Student will be provided with guidance for how to complete those requirements as part of the program orientation on the first day of classes.
5. 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. OC admissions and/or HCA department chair will provide further instructions.
6. Students may proceed into clinical practice only after successful completion of ALL the program pre-practice requirements.

Admission Advice

Applications for the Fall semester will be open early October. Early application is strongly recommended. For more details, see okanagan.bc.ca/apply. 

When you are ready to apply, use our [pre-application checklist](https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/go/resources) to make sure you have everything you need, and visit our [How-to guides page](https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/help) for more information.         

Okanagan College

Health Care Assistant Certificate

Overview

Curious where your education can lead you? Have a dream job and unsure how to get there?