Program at a glance
Credential
Certificate
Work experience
Clinical/fieldwork placement
Study options
Full-time
Open to International
No
Length
TBD
September 2025
Front-line caregivers
For people of Indigenous ancestry, the Health Care Assistant - Indigenous (HCA-I) program is designed to provide you with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and values necessary to provide care to families and individuals in First Nations and Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous Health Care Assistant program will provide opportunities for you to reflect, and develop self-awareness and pride as you develop your care giving potential.
*91AV views any student who is a descendant of the Indigenous peoples of North America to be an Indigenous student. This includes status and non-status Indians, Métis, Inuit and Native Americans who reside in Canada.
In demand
Health Care Assistant grads are in high demand.
Do you have a genuine desire to work with older adults and persons with disabilities? Are you intrigued by the possibility of assisting others with personal care in the practical aspects of their day-to-day lives? Are you prepared for a career that will require you to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and 8-12 hour shifts? If you answered yes to all the above, then Health Care Assistant is the perfect career for you.
We'll help you succeed
As you work through the Health Care Assistant program's curriculum and your clinical placements, you'll acquire the skills, knowledge and values you'll need to provide professional care to the elderly and those facing other health or illness challenges.
Focusing on the elderly, you'll learn how to provide care that promotes and maintains the physical, psychological and social well-being of the clients you'll care for in your subsequent role as a Health Care Assistant.
Recognition status by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry
The Health Care Assistant (HCA) program delivered by 91AV has been granted a full, five-year recognition status by the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. Graduates of the HCA program delivered by 91AV are eligible for registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
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. Confirming that HCAs meet registration requirements is integral to the Registry's mandate of patient protection and improved standards of care. For further information about the recognition process and standards please see:
What you'll learn
Current students wanting information about your program, go to student planning in.
Program outline
For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.
What to expect
Located at our Interurban campus, the full-time HCA program is 29 weeks long (approximately seven months). Monday-Friday, 8:30am-2:30pm from September through March.There is also a spring start option: April to October.
Homework commitments may vary per student but are likely about three to four hours per day including weekends. You will be required to participate in full-time clinical placements that include day and evening shifts that may occur outside of regular class time.
Health Care Assistant courses
Your studies will provide you with the skills to advocate on behalf of the rights, needs, interests and fair treatment of residents and their families. As a health care assistant, you will develop a person-centred care philosophy aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well being of clients/residents.
Person-centred care
Health Care Assistants learn a wide variety of practical and resident/client care skills. Our program is hands-on, with clinical placements throughout your time at Camosun. You’ll learn about interpersonal communications, lifestyles and choices, personal care, and how to treat patients ethically and with compassion.
HCA program handbooks
Find current student information in theSchool of Health and Human ServicesԻ HCA programԻǴǰ.
Tuition and fees
Effective from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025
Estimated tuition
Tuition estimates are for the entire program.
Health Care Assistant - Indigenous, Certificate
$4,144 (domestic)
Domestic tuition fees vary depending on the individual course fees for the classes you select.
For International students visit: International Tuition & Fees.
Student fees
In addition to tuition estimates, student fees are calculated based on your enrolment. Refer to:Student Fees.
Financial assistance
You may need to find more than one source of funding to help pay for your education and living costs while attending college. Check out sources of money you don't need to pay back as well as those that need to be repaid.
Admission requirements
Evidence ofallof the following must be provided prior to acceptance: 1.HCA Program Entry - English Language Competency Requirements To be accepted into a recognized BC HCA program, applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English**. Students must be able to communicate effectively in English to be successful in their studies and capable of providing safe and competent care to patients/clients/residents in the work environment during practice education components. Domestic and/or international applicants who do not have three years of full-time instruction in English will requirea standardized proficiency assessment to confirm competency in all four language skills areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing). For applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English,oneof: For applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English,oneof: Standardized English language proficiency test score Note: A CLB Report Card from a Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) Program may also be accepted. **Applicants must provide a transcript(s) or a BC personal education record as evidence to confirm completion of a minimum of three years of full-time instruction in English. To meet this threshold, the Registry looks to confirm that applicants have studied over a period of three years and completed a minimum of two semesters of studies within each year. In addition, it is expected that the student will be taking full time studies (30 credits per academic year to a minimum of 18 credits per academic year [60% courseload]). In this way, it is typically a minimum of six semesters with total credits between 54 - 90 credits, completed over the three-year timeframe. 2. Indigenous Ancestry: 3. Attendance at a Health Care Assistant program Information Session This is required to ensure applicants have a strong understanding of the expectations of the Health Care Assistant (HCA) program and the role of the HCA in the work environment. An online Information Session module is available for anyone unable to attend in person. When you apply, you will need to submit proof that you meet the program admission requirements listed above. Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.
When you apply you will need to submit proof that you meet the program admission requirements listed above. Where a letter grade is specified, you must have proof of that grade or higher.
For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar: Loading...
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Missing admission requirements?
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Need help applying?
Find out more on How to Apply or speak to an Admissions Advisor.
Contact us
If you have admissions questions contact us today!
If you have questions about what you can expect to learn in this program please contactindigenous@camosun.ca,250-370-3299
Faculty/staff profile
Ros Giles-Pereira
Chair, Continuing Care Department
pereira@camosun.ca
250-370-4767
Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Faculty/staff profile
Faculty/staff profile
Dasha Herman
Instructor
hermand@camosun.ca
250-370-4753
Aex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Faculty/staff profile
Cathy Josephson
Instructor
josephsonc@camosun.ca
250-370-4677
Aex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness (CHW)
Learn more
For more details, including courses, please see the program outline in the Academic Calendar.
Contact information
School of Health and Human Services
Campus location
Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health & Wellness (CHW) 207
Location link
Admissions questions: