Below is the list of educational institutions that offer recognized Health Care Assistant (HCA) programs in British Columbia. The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry reviews and recognizes Health Care Assistant (HCA) programs in BC to ensure that they are: following the provincial curriculum, implementing a common set of training standards and graduating competent front-line health care providers.
Due to COVID-19, most recognized programs have been provided with temporary approval to deliver the HCA program in a combined delivery format (with theory courses online.
Recognition Status:
New Program; Site Visit Pending – This status is awarded to new programs for a period of up to 2 years during which time the institution is expected to deliver the program. As with the other statuses, program graduates are eligible for registration upon completion of the program. A compliance assessment site visit is scheduled after the first graduating class completes the program.
Interim Recognition – This status is awarded after a compliance assessment site visit and can be held for a period of up to 2 years. Interim recognition status indicates condition(s) need to be met in order for the program to remain in good standing. Programs with interim recognition status are limited from applying for new program variations, including delivery at new sites and one-time funded delivery, until they have achieved full recognition status.
Full Recognition – This status is awarded after a compliance assessment site visit and can be held for a period of up to 5 years. Full recognition indicates that the institution does not have any conditions in place.
*Recognition Status is subject to change and this list should be consulted for updates.
HCA program students: It is important to complete a recognized HCA program so that you can be registered to work as an HCA in BC. You need to check that you take a program on this list.
Important Note: The Stratford Career Institute Health Care Aide Program is not recognized by the BC Care Aide Registry.
Educator |
Program |
Locations |
Recognition Status |
|
|
Health Care Assistant | Burnaby | Full Recognition |
| Cambria College |
Health Care Assistant |
Victoria, Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Camosun College |
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant – ESL Health Care Assistant – Indigenous |
Victoria | Full Recognition |
| Capilano University |
Health Care Assistant | North Vancouver, Sechelt | Full Recognition |
| CDI College of Business, Technology & Health Care |
Health Care Assistant |
Richmond, Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Coast Mountain College (formerly Northwest Community College) |
Health Care Assistant | Terrace, Smithers *Regional program delivery may be available. |
Full Recognition |
| College Educacentre College |
Health Care Assistant in French- Préposé aux soins de santé |
Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| College of New Caledonia | Health Care Assistant | Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof *Regional program delivery may be available. |
Full Recognition |
| College of the Rockies | Health Care Assistant | Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden, Invermere |
Full Recognition |
| Create Career College | Health Care Assistant | Burnaby |
New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| Columbia Bible College | Health Care Assistant | Abbotsford |
New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| Discovery Community College |
Health Care Assistant | Campbell River, Courtenay, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Parksville, Surrey |
Full Recognition |
| Douglas College | Health Care Assistant Program |
Coquitlam | Full Recognition |
| Drake Medox College |
ESL – Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery)
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) ESL – Health Care Assistant Health Care Assistant |
Surrey, Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Excel Career College |
Health Care Assistant | Courtenay | Interim Recognition |
|
First College |
Health Care Assistant Program |
Kelowna | Full Recognition |
| Gateway College |
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant – Accelerated Health Care Assistant – Access Health Care Assistant & Communication Year 2 (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant – Accelerated (Combined Delivery) Health Care Assistant – Access (Combined Delivery) |
Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Heritage Community College |
Health Care Assistant |
Surrey | New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University
|
Health Care Assistant | Langley, Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Langara College | Health Care Assistant | Vancouver | New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| NEC Native Education College |
Health Care Assistant | Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
|
Health Care Assistant | Merritt | Full Recognition |
| North Island College
|
Health Care Assistant | Comox Valley, Port Alberni | Full Recognition |
| Northern Lights College |
Health Care Assistant | Dawson Creek, Fort St. John | Full Recognition |
| Okanagan College |
Health Care Assistant | Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon |
Full Recognition |
| Oscar International College |
Health Care Assistant | Abbotsford |
Interim Recognition |
| Pacific Coast Community College |
Health Care Assistant | New Westminister | Full Recognition |
| Selkirk College |
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant Access (within Post-Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing) |
Trail | Full Recognition |
| Sprott Shaw College | Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Blended Learning) Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Program) Health Care Assistant Internationally Educated (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) |
Abbotsford, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, East Vancouver, Vancouver, Victoria, Osoyoos *Blended learning at other locations. |
Full Recognition |
|
Stenberg College
|
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant – International (recognized as an HCA ESL Program) Health Care Assistant Access (within Post Graduate Diploma in Canadian Nursing) Health Care Assistant Access International (within International Post Graduate Diploma in Canadian Nursing) |
Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Thompson Rivers University |
Health Care Assistant |
Kamloops Williams Lake |
Full Recognition |
| Thompson Rivers University – Open Learning Division |
Health Care Assistant (Combined Delivery) |
Multiple Locations in British Columbia | Full Recognition |
| Universal Learning Institute |
Health Care Assistant |
Richmond | New Program; Site Visit Pending |
| University of Fraser Valley |
Health Care Assistant |
Chilliwack | Full Recognition |
| Vancouver Career College |
Health Care Assistant | Abbotsford, Burnaby |
Full Recognition |
| Vancouver Community College |
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant – ESL |
Vancouver | Full Recognition |
| Vancouver Island University |
Health Care Assistant |
Duncan, Nanaimo, Powell River | Full Recognition |
| Western Community College |
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistant + ESL Health Care Assistant – Access |
Abbotsford, Surrey | Full Recognition |
| Westminster College |
Health Care Assistant Program; | Surrey | Interim Recognition |
