Get the Skills to Become a Health Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant learners gain real-world experience training on-site in care facilities

Professional Health Care Assistant Career Training in as Little as 40 Weeks

Health Care Assistants (HCAs), sometimes called Health Care Aides, provide important personal assistance and support services for a wide variety of medical clients including elderly patrons, injured or disabled persons and chronically ill people who require short term assistance or ongoing support.

Your compassion, patience, and interest in helping others, paired with the hands-on training from Discovery Community College, will prepare you for a rewarding career as a Health Care Assistant in less than 10 months.

 
  • Apr 3rdHealth Care Assistant: Discovery Community College (Surrey) 10040 King George Boulevard Surrey BC Caanda V3T 2W4 Health Care Assistants (HCAs), sometimes called Health Care Aides, provide important personal assistance and support services for a wide variety of medical clients including elderly patrons, injured or disabled persons and chronically ill people who require short term assistance or ongoing support.https://discoverycommunitycollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Health-Care-Assistant.jpgDiscovery Community College
  • Apr 3rdHealth Care Assistant: Discovery Community College (Nanaimo) 495 Dunsmuir St. Nanaimo BC Canada V9R 6B9 Health Care Assistants (HCAs), sometimes called Health Care Aides, provide important personal assistance and support services for a wide variety of medical clients including elderly patrons, injured or disabled persons and chronically ill people who require short term assistance or ongoing support.https://discoverycommunitycollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Health-Care-Assistant.jpgDiscovery Community College
  • Apr 3rdHealth Care Assistant: Discovery Community College (Courtenay Satellite) 4640 Headquarters Road Courtenay BC Canada V9N 7J3 Health Care Assistants (HCAs), sometimes called Health Care Aides, provide important personal assistance and support services for a wide variety of medical clients including elderly patrons, injured or disabled persons and chronically ill people who require short term assistance or ongoing support.https://discoverycommunitycollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Health-Care-Assistant.jpgDiscovery Community College
  • Apr 10thHealth Care Assistant: Discovery Community College (Surrey) 10040 King George Boulevard Surrey BC Caanda V3T 2W4 Health Care Assistants (HCAs), sometimes called Health Care Aides, provide important personal assistance and support services for a wide variety of medical clients including elderly patrons, injured or disabled persons and chronically ill people who require short term assistance or ongoing support.https://discoverycommunitycollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Health-Care-Assistant.jpgDiscovery Community College

Why Upskilling is Essential in Today’s Job Market

Like many Canadians, you may be concerned about the rising cost of living and the need to find ways to increase your income potential. If you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve, training to obtain new qualifications could be a great solution.

Discovery Community College is dedicated to offering convenient, supportive, and affordable career training. With a range of funding options available, there has never been a better time to invest in upskilling. Contact us today to learn how we can help you get ahead in today’s job market.

Health Care Assistant

38-Week Diploma | $45,760 median annual salary*

  • Expected Job Openings in BC (2022-2032): 18,330**
  • Occupations include Health Care Assistant, Nurse Aide, Patient Care Aide
NOC - 3413

*https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/15778/BC visited on September 21, 2021. Salary source for health care assistants in British Columbia with lowest 10% earning $37,440 to the highest 10% of workers earning $52,000.

**https://www.workbc.ca/career-profiles/nurse-aides-orderlies-and-patient-service-associates visited on May 24, 2023.

Becoming a Qualified Health Care Assistant

If you’re looking for a rewarding and fulfilling career, look no further than a career in health care assistance. At Discovery Community College, we’re proud of our history of trainee success, including our 96% job placement rate.

During this program, you will learn:

  • Health and Healing: Concepts for Practice
  • Health Care Assistant: Introduction to Practice
  • Health 1: Interpersonal Communications
  • Caring for Individuals with Common Health Challenges
  • Caring for Individuals with Cognitive and Mental Challenges
  • Personal Care and Assistance
  • And more!

There has never been more funding for career training than there is right now. A variety of funding opportunities may be available to you, including WorkBC, Student Aid BC, and employment grants. An experienced Financial Aid Representative is available to answer any questions you may have, can assist with potential funding applications and help you discover the best options for your specific needs.

Is a Career as a Health Care Assistant Right for You? Take the Discovery Community College “Health Care Assistant Career Training Readiness Quiz”

This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get your Health Care Assistant Career Training Readiness score now >>

Practical “On-the-Job” Training

During the Health Care Assistant Diploma program, you’ll learn in a real-world environment by training on-site at residential care facilities. The philosophy of this program is based on a humanistic, experiential approach and features gradual immersion and hands-on training. Paired with small class sizes, this learn-by-doing process ensures that our learners are competent and confident with their knowledge base and clinical skills.

Healthcare is a hands-on profession, and at Discovery we strongly believe that is how it should be taught. Successful ready-to-work graduates of this program enter the professional world with confidence after gaining so much practical, on-the-job experience during their training.

Health Care Assistant Program

Total:  804 hours, 40 weeks

  • Orientation and Workshop classes (44 hours)
  • Theory and Simulation Centre classes (480 hours)
  • Practicum classes (280 hours)

Courses:

  • Workshops: First Aid (16 hours) and Foodsafe (8 hours)
  • Health and Healing: Concepts for Practice (70 hours)
  • Health Care Assistant: Introduction to Practice (30 hours)
  • Interpersonal Communications (50 hours)
  • Lifestyle and Choices (30 hours)
  • Caring for Individuals Experiencing Common Health Challenges (120 hours)
  • Caring for Individuals Experiencing Cognitive or Mental Challenges (60 hours)
  • Personal Care and Assistance (120 hours, minimum of 78 hours at campus simulation centre)

Practice Experiences:

  • Practice placement in a Multi-level or Complex Care facility (220 hours)
  • Practice placement in Home Support and/or Assisted Living (60 hours)

Health Care Assistant Program

Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:

  • Provide person-centred care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client.
  • Use an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that promotes the physical, psychological, social, cognitive, and spiritual well-being of clients and families.
  • Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges.
  • Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges.

Upon completion of the program, ready-to-work graduates are prepared to work in a variety of settings including home support, assisted living, residential/complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care.

Programs are offered at the following locations with online learning available for a portion of the theory classes:

Program length: 40 weeks, 804 hours.

Discovery Community College gave me the training and skills to get into the work force. The small class size, hands on training and superb teaching gave me confidence and knowledge.
Kiel Yablonski, Health Care Assistant Graduate

Health Care Assistants in High Demand in B.C. & Throughout Canada

The growing and aging population in B.C. and throughout Canada is creating an increased demand for training Healthcare professionals. There is an especially high demand for skilled Health Care Assistants. The Government of Canada reports that employment growth in this field “will be among the strongest of all occupations.” (Working in Canada Report: Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates NOC 3413-C)

In fact, over the next 7 years, it’s projected that there will be more job openings in the field of Health Care Assistants than there will be trained professionals to fill those jobs. That makes now an exciting time for new professionals receiving their training and entering this booming field.

Check out what our learners think about Discovery's Health Care Assistant program

High Placement Rate

Discovery College has a 96% job placement rate.** That is because we assess employment gaps within the community and then tailors the programs around that, giving you the exact skills that employers are looking for to fill their vacant positions.

Convenient Learning Options

At Discovery Community College, you don’t have to put your life on hold to start career training. We offer accessible learning including on-campus, online and blended on-campus and online learning options.

Many of our learners are raising families and some continue to work while training. We will help you choose a schedule that works for you.

International Learners

As an international learner training at Discovery Community College, our co-op based training programs allows you to gain real-world experience in the community with a cooperative work experience placement upon completion of the program.

Almost 35 Years of Success

Discovery Community College has been training learners just like you for successful careers for almost 35 years. Our college is a well-respected institution, who has formed alliances with numerous community partners. We are also registered with and designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch of British Columbia, formally PPSEC, since 1996.

Is a Rewarding Health Care Assistant Career Right For You?

If you’re interested in learning more about Health Care Assisting and exploring whether this might be the career path for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

Our friendly and knowledgeable Admissions Representatives are happy to answer any questions you may have and can help with everything from courses to financial aid.

To speak with an Admissions Rep right away, give us a call at 1-877-315-5241.

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