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LENGTH OF STUDY:
26 Weeks: 16 Weeks Theory
10 Weeks Practice

ACCREDITATION:
Certificate

CAMPUS:
Silver King Campus, Nelson

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 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-centered 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 26 weeks in total. During the
first 16 weeks, students complete theory and lab
courses during face-to-face classes on the Trail
campus and online, followed by completion of 270
hours of practice in residential and community care
settings during the final ten weeks of the program.

BLENDED ONLINE AND FACE-
TO-FACE TRAINING

Travel less and complete theory courses online!
Selkirk College has increased flexible study options
for the HCA program. Study from your home and join
four face-to-face workshops to complete the lab skills
course.

SPECIAL COSTS AND TRAVEL

Students are required to have uniforms, and footwear
that comply to Work Safe BC standards. In addition,
students must be prepared to travel to clinical
practice agencies. Access to a reliable vehicle is
necessary. Students are required to possess a valid
BC driver’s license by the start of HCA 107.

Clinical and practicum placements are arranged on
the basis of student learning needs and available
learning experiences. It is not possible to comply with

no Selkirk College Academic Calendar 2019-20

Health Care Assistant

selkirk.ca/hca

SEMESTER1
Course Name Credit
HCA 101 Health and Healing: Concepts for Practice Online 5
HCA 102 Health Care Assistant: Introduction to Practice Online 2
HCA 103 Health 1: Interpersonal Communications Online / On Campus 3
HCA 104 Health 2: Lifestyle and Choices Online 2
HCA 105 Healing 1: Caring for Individuals Experiencing On Campus 8
Common Health Challenges
HCA 106 Healing 2: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Online / On Campus 4
Cognitive or Mental Challenges
HCA 107 Healing 3: Personal Care and Assistance Online / On Campus 5
Total 29
SEMESTER 2
Course Name Credit
HCA 108 Practice Experience in Home Support and Assisted Living On Campus 2
HCA 109 Practice Experience in Multi-Level/Complex Care On Campus 6
Total 8

the personal and travel requirements of individual
students.

CAREER OPTIONS INCLUDE:

Adult day care, Assisted living, Community health
workers, Complex care, Front-line care providers,
Home support, Residential care attendants, Special
care units

Admission Requirements

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
— Aminimum grade of “C+” is required in
English 10

— Applicants for whom English is a second language
are required to demonstrate proficiency in English
as outlined by the BC Care Aide and Community
Health Worker Registry. Standardized proficiency
assessments and required scores in all four
language skills areas (speaking, listening, reading
and writing) are outlined at: http://www.cachwr.
bc.ca/Educators.aspx

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

— Applicants are required to complete the College
Readiness Tool (CRT) in reading, writing and
mathematics.

— Three personal references and an applicant
information questionnaire serve to provide
evidence of the personal characteristics required
by the program. Such references should be
supplied by counsellors, employers, instructors or

supervisors. References from friends and relatives
are not acceptable for this purpose.

— Applicants must complete a Criminal Record
Check (CRC) through the Ministry of Justice.
The School will not seek practice placements for
students whose CRC is adjudicated and deemed
unacceptable for working with vulnerable clients.

— Individuals entering the HCA program are
advised that they must meet the requirements for
immunization established for health care workers
by the B.C. Ministry of Health prior to entering
clinical practice settings.

— Students require basic computer skills including
knowledge of the internet, accessing online
information, email, and word processing.

— Applicants are required to have current
certification in CPR - Basic Life Support (BLS), and
FoodSafe.

Program Courses

HCA 101 - HEALTH AND HEALING:
CONCEPTS FOR PRACTICE

Provides students with the opportunity to develop

a theoretical framework for practice. Students

will be introduced to the philosophical values and
theoretical understanding that provide a foundation
for competent practice as HCA. The course focuses
on concepts of caring and person-centred care; basic
human needs and human development; family, culture

selkirk.ca/programs