Program Description

Earn a Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum 2019 Certificate.

The Health Care Aide program focuses on developing the core skills needed for individuals with various health care needs.  Topics include personal care, assisting with mobility & nutrition, communication, assisting with medication delivery, and clinical skills.

The Health Care Aide Certificate Program is available to learners in a variety of delivery options.

• Full-time Program Delivery – On campus study over an eight-month (2-term) period
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) – You may be eligible to challenge the courses in the Health Care Aide (HCA) program if you have work experience as a health care aide or caregiver and wish to meet the provincial health care aide certification requirements.

  The tuition for this pathway is $4,112.00 and is only available through the Calgary downtown campus. 

• Health Care Aide for English Language Learners – This pathway program is for learners with minimal English language proficiency skills.  Please visit the program page to see if this pathway is best for you.

It is recommended that you apply at least eight months prior to the program start date due to the popularity of the program.

During the course of the program, you will learn through a combination for on-campus labs, in-class learning, and clinical instruction.

Applicants considering this program must be able to work shifts and weekends; be on their feet for extended periods of time; use their knees, back, and arms to move clients who have minimal body strengths; and function effectively in stressful situations.

**Learners are very strongly encouraged to attend NSO (New Student Orientation) at the start of their first term.  NSO provides learners with information about supports available to them during their program as well as what they can expect at Bow Valley College.  NSO also provides you the opportunity to ask questions and gather important information.

Regional Learners

If you live in the area surrounding Calgary, you may be able to take the program starting in the Fall (September) or Winter (January) terms through one of the Regional campuses.  Program delivery for the regional programs is blended, which includes a combination of online and in-person learning.  All lab time is in-person at the Calgary downtown campus. 

View our Regional Campus locations or contact Regional for more information.

Facilities

The Health Care Aide program includes hands-on lab time integrated into several courses.  There are seven healthcare labs laid out in a similar manner to healthcare facilities with equipment commonly used as well as manikins for you to practice your skills on. 

Tuition & Financial Aid

To get an estimate of the cost of the completing the program, you can refer to Program Tuition Fee Chart or use the Cost Estimator. Your budget should consider learner fees, textbooks, learning materials, Police Information Checks, required vaccinations as well as the cost of tuition.

Learner Success Services has Financial Aid Advisors that you can meet with for assistance with student loans and grants, including applying for financial aid.  There are also student loan information sessions offered regularly that can be signed up for.

Bow Valley College offers a large list of Scholarships & Bursaries you can apply for.  A Student Award Advisor can meet with you to discuss awards that you may be eligible for as well as provide information on emergency bursaries in times of urgent financial need.  The student awards include scholarships & bursaries open to the whole College in addition to program-specific awards.

Please note that your tuition will not cover items such as:

• Uniforms for lab courses & work integrated learning placements
• Shoes for lab courses & work integrated learning placements
• Lab kits
• Gloves

Work Integrated Learning

You will be required to travel to various locations to complete your work integrated learning placements.  It is each learner’s responsibility to arrange travel to their clinical and/or practicum sites; placements may be outside the City of Calgary as well as in any area of Calgary.  Every effort is made to schedule learners for Work Integrated Learning placements within the time frame of the program. In rare instances there may be a delay in program completion until a Work Integrated Learning placement can be arranged.

Work Integrated Learning placements may include day shifts, evening shifts, night shifts, and/or weekend shifts.  Shifts are determined by the placement sites and not the College.

A current Police Information Check (PIC) with a Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) must be submitted prior to your first work integrated learning placement.  Please watch for information regarding submission deadlines for your PIC.  Your PIC will be valid for the duration of your program, unless there are changes to your PIC, in which case a new PIC will be required.  PICs must be dated no earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the start of your program.

To facilitate your Work Integrated Learning placements with our external partners, Rubella vaccination in mandatory and many sites require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.  Failure to provide evidence of vaccinations will delay program completion.  All other immunizations are highly recommended.  Up-to-date immunizations are valid for the duration of the program.

It is recommended for learners to have current CPR certification and it must be renewed annually.  Bow Valley College offers FACP9101: Basic Life Support CPR (Healthcare Provider Level)  through Extended Education.

There will be an opportunity to get your required N95 mask fitting at the downtown campus before beginning your first placement.  You will be able to register for this course (SAFT9406: N95 Mask Fitting) through MyBVC (or your Regional Administrator) once your program begins.

International applicants will need to obtain a co-op permit prior to any Work Integrated Learning experience.  Please contact International Education for more information.

If learners do not meet the requirements for Work Integrated Learning before their first day of placement, they will not be permitted to participate in Work Integrated Learning experiences for that term.

Graduation Requirements

• In order to obtain your Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum 2019 Certificate, you will need to successfully complete the program, enroll in the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory, and pass the Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Examination.

Admission Requirements

Academic Requirements

• 60% in English Language Arts 20-2 or equivalent, or
• Satisfactory results on the Bow Valley College Admissions Test

English Proficiency Requirements

• See English Language Proficiency Requirements for details.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

If applying for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), you need to provide proof of the following:

• Previous employment, including a job description, totaling a minimum of 600 hours within the past three years as an HCA or a personal care provider.
• English Language Proficiency requirement (see HCA program admission requirements)
• Once you have applied to the HCA program and the application has been reviewed, you will receive notification of your acceptance via email. Directions for your next steps will be included in these emails.