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Health Care Assistant Certificate
PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19, you may be able to complete this program through alternate delivery. Students will tentatively be able to complete the lab portion of the program in the nursing building.
A high demand career with great rewards.
In Canada, we are facing an aging population and increased need for professional caregivers and health care support. More long-term care beds are becoming available in response but a shortage of nurses and health care providers means people are not getting the care they require.
You can help fill the need.
Take the opportunity to meet the urgent call for Health Care Assistants and enjoy the benefits of this rewarding career. A strong demand by employers means increased salaries, higher rate of employment and more opportunities to work in a variety of places such as acute care settings.
$25/hour
average
wage
Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2019
$26.70/hour
potential wage increase
Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2019
19,000
job openings expected by 2029
Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2019
$43,680
annual median salary in BC
Source: 2018 Job Bank Wage data, courtesy of WorkBC
Be job ready in seven months.
TRU’s 27-week Health Care Assistant (HCA) Certificate teaches you the skills you need to help older adults in acute care, assisted living or home support. Through in-class instruction, practical experience in our state-of-the art nursing labs and clinical instruction, you will learn to provide care to those in need of support. You will graduate with an understanding of effective team work and the ethics and communication skills required to care for older adults despite their varying needs.
Please Note: The length of the program may be altered depending on placement opportunities due to COVID-19.
The TRU advantage
Studying through an accredited university for your HCA means you have:
- Access to TRU’s state-of-the-art nursing lab
- Support from many student services
- Experienced and caring faculty to teach and support you
- Student loans and bursaries
- An increased advantage in the job market through TRU’s close reciprocal relationship with the health care industry
- The option to advance your certificate into a Nursing degree, including TRU's LPN or BScN, while earning money and gaining hands-on experience working as a HCA
Program options
| Health Care Assistant | Certificate | Kamloops Campus | September and January intakes |
| Health Care Assistant | Certificate | Williams Lake Campus | February Intake |
| Health Care Assistant | Certificate | Distance - Open Learning | Continuous Intake |
