About the Health Care Assistant Program
Our Health Care Assistant (HCA) program follows the government-developed curriculum, and is recognized by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. Incorporating theory and hands-on training in a high-fidelity simulation lab, this six-month program prepares you to support older adults in independent, assisted, extended and palliative care.
For some, this will be a career for life. Others may decide to further their careers and become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) through our LPN diploma program.
Admission Requirements
Pre-requisites:
- Grade 10 graduation or 19 years of age
- Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry – Entry Language Competency Requirements as follows:
- Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English* must also provide proof of one of the following:
- Completion of Grade 10 English (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
- 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.
- ACCUPLACER of Grade 10 English (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.
- 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.
- Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (in person or remote). Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General). Test in the last two years. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General or IELTS Academic Online). Test in 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 in 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 in 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.
- Acceptable Criminal Record Review with Vulnerable Sector Check by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
*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.
Note: In cases where applicants already hold Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) results. Test in the last 2 years. Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 6, Writing 6.
In addition to the tests and test scores listed above (#2), recognized BC HCA Programs also have the discretion to accept HCA program applicants with a CLB Report Card from a LINC Program indicating “Completing” CLB Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7 and Writing 7 AND “Recommended Class Placement” as Speaking 8, Listening 8, Reading 8 and Writing.
NOTE: HCA students provide care to vulnerable clients in the practice education portion of the program and a clear police certificate from the country of origin is required prior to acceptance into an HCA program (admission requirement). This applies to all international HCA program applicants, including those currently residing in Canada. International students must get a police certificate from their home country, regardless of how long they have been residing in Canada. To meet practice education pre-requisites, they are also required to provide an acceptable criminal record check (CRC) from B.C.’s Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP). For further information regarding international police checks, Click Here
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT
English is the language of instruction at Stenberg College. Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency to ensure success in their chosen program and courses by meeting one of the following two requirements:
1) Evidence that 3 years of full-time Secondary (Grades 8-12), or 2 years of Post-Secondary education have been completed in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages. (Language courses cannot be included in this calculation)
OR
2) Submit the results of one of the accepted English language proficiency tests at the score level specific to the program as listed in the admission requirements below.
A transcript can be used as evidence of meeting requirement option 1. Those educated in BC may be able to access transcripts using their personal education number (PEN). We understand that obtaining a transcript as evidence may prove challenging for some applicants. In such cases, the applicant can complete the English Language Declaration form and outline their education history to validate meeting the requirement.
