Program Overview
This program prepares individuals with previous health care assistant education and experience for practice in BC. It is designed to address individual needs as identified through the Inspire Global Assessments (IGA). It enables individuals to review and enhance previously acquired knowledge and upgrade their skills to meet practice requirements so that they may become registered as HCAs in BC with BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
The work done by HCAs is based on a set of fundamental values, beliefs and ethical principles that are consistently reflected in all aspects of their work with clients, families, team members and others. Amongst these core values, beliefs and principles, which serve as foundations of HCA practice, are those related to:
- Human Beings
- Older Adults
- Health and Healing
- Healthcare
- Caring and Caregiving
- The Family in Health and Healing
- Understanding Culture and Diversity
The Upgrade Program will include the following:
Comprehensive Theory Review Modules (2 months, 165 hours)
The theory review component is designed to be completed online with dedicated instructor support and supervision to ensure students meet the required learning outcomes. Each module is a highly intensive and streamlined version of each HCA Program Provincial Curriculum coursework (theory coursework). Individuals will work at their own pace, and an HCA instructor will be available to answer content-specific questions and to support student progress.
HCA Lab Skills Review and Skills Testing (1 month, 30 hours)
After completing the theory review, individuals will be oriented to the skills lab and will work with an HCA instructor to have a basic HCA skills refresher. Individuals will then be provided with a booklet of client care case scenarios and lab procedure performance checklists so that they can be assessed before going into the complex care placement.
Supervised Practice Experience Multi-Level/Complex Care (60 hours)
Individuals will be assigned to a clinical setting and will be directly supervised and evaluated by an HCA Clinical Instructor during this experience. There will be an opportunity for orientation at the start of the placement and then the student will be expected to competency perform HCA skills and meet program learning outcomes in the practice setting.
The HCA Upgrade Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line caregivers, and respected members of the healthcare team, in community and facility settings. Under the direction and supervision of a regulated health care professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being of clients.
The following are to be completed prior to starting the program if practice education placement is required: (HCAU400)
- Provide evidence of clear TB testing prior to acceptance (all must be done no more than three months before the start of the program);
- Provide evidence of up-to-date Immunizations (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, Chicken Pox, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Influenza and others as required by clinical sites.
- Provide evidence of full COVID-19 vaccinations
- Criminal record check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults. If not a Canadian citizen, a Criminal Record Search with the Vulnerable Sector from your country of origin must be secured.
- Obtain a satisfactory certificate of health from a physician with a Physician’s Waiver
Note: Students are responsible for all costs related to immunization.
Learners must have their First Aid/CPR, FoodSafe, Violence Prevention, SPECO, and WHMIS courses to be eligible to participate in the practicum component. (For HCAU400 only)
Career Opportunities
- Home Support Agencies
- Assisted Living
- Acute/Complex Care Facility
- Adult Day Care
- Long Term Care
- Special Care Units
- Private Homes
- Group Homes
Learning Objectives
The nine program learning outcomes that the students must meet for successful completion of this program are:
- Provides 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, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families
- Provide person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges
- Provide person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges
- Interacts with other members of the healthcare team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals
- Communicate clearly, accurately, and sensitively with clients and families in a variety of community and facility contexts
- Provides personal care and assistance in a safe, competent and organized manner
- Recognizes and responds to own self-development, learning and health-enhancement needs
- Performs the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable and professional manner
DEFINITION: PRACTICE EDUCATION
“A work experience (WE) is part of a program in which a student applies and practices skills and knowledge learned in the program in a work-place setting. It is provided by a host organization in a formal agreement with the institution. The work performed by the student must be relevant to the learning objectives of the program. The student must be supervised by a person who is employed or retained by the host organization and who is qualified in a career occupation relevant to the program the student is taking.” (The Private Training Act (PTA) Policy Manual)
To clarify the meaning of ‘work’ not to be implied to be paid employment, ‘practice education’ is used to replace ‘work experience’ on SSC program outlines. e.g. Practice Education Hours and Practice Education Requirements.
The four types of work experience (practice education) include:
- Clinical placement – part of program leading to a career occupation in a health field, with no more than 10 students supervised by one instructor
- Cooperative placement – a student is paid
- Practicum – student is not paid
- Preceptorship – student supervised by one preceptor
DEFINITIONS: DELIVERY METHODS (The Private Training Act (PTA) Policy Manual)
- In-class instruction: 100% hours of coursework instruction delivered in a classroom or other setting, where instructors share the same physical space as students.
- Distance education: 100% hours of coursework instruction, excluding work experience hours, either asynchronous or synchronous (or combination), delivered remotely from a BC location.
- Asynchronous distance delivery: students and instructors do not meet in ‘real time’. There is no live video lecture portion of the program. Students may move through assignments at their own pace, supported by online resources such as recorded lectures, videos, reading material, assignments, and discussion groups.
- Synchronous distance delivery: students attend classes virtually in ‘real time’ with instructors and classmates; e.g. video conferencing
- Combined delivery: Hours of coursework instruction provided through a combination of in-class and distance delivery.
Methods of Evaluation
Methods of evaluation vary amongst the courses in the program. Please see the individual course outlines on how students are evaluated for each course.
Where Are Sprott Shaw Graduates Working?
Our Health Care, Nursing and Dental graduates can be found working throughout the province. In addition to health authorities across BC, our Practical Nursing and Health Care Assistant graduates are working at recognized hospitals like Vancouver General Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Chilliwack General Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, and more.
Our Dental Assistant graduates can be found working at a variety of dental clinics throughout the province such as Family Care Dental Clinic, Heavenly Dental, NOVO Dental Centre, and more. Our Pharmacy Assistants can be found working in Walmart Pharmacies, Rexall Pharmacies, and numerous other independent pharmacies throughout BC.
Click below to learn more about where our graduates are currently working. Please note that these lists do not cover every single business that has hired a Sprott Shaw graduate, but they do provide a good representation of the sort of industries that Sprott Shaw graduates are working in.
Success Stories
- “I want to say that my instructors, both classroom and clinical, were such special people and they have impacted my life forever.” – Jessica B.
- “Upon graduation, I received 7 employer call-backs requesting job interviews.” – Richard B.
- “If it wasn’t for the school and my instructor’s support, I probably would have given up with all the setbacks that I had. I am so glad I didn’t because now I have my diploma and a career that I love.” – Vicky T.
Program Details
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet all of the pre-requisites listed below, meet their financial obligations to the college at registration, and acknowledge their understanding of SSC’s policies and procedures provided in the Student Handbook, prior to starting classes.
NOTE: Students are provided with a detailed list of books, e-resources, workshop/lab supplies, and lab/tool kits that are included in the program’s fees and will have the opportunity to opt in or out of purchasing from Sprott Shaw College or any other specific source any of these items at the time of registration.
EDUCATION LEVEL (one of the following)
* Grade 12 or equivalent (GED, Adult Basic Education) with evidence of a ‘true certified copy’ or original transcript
* Mature student status (age 19 and one year out of high school)
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY POLICY
All programs at Sprott Shaw College (SSC) are conducted in English. Therefore, proficiency in the English language is a requirement for enrollment. This can be demonstrated by evidence of:
A) completion of 3 years of full-time secondary (Grades 8-12) or post-secondary education in English in a country where English is the language of instruction.
Countries where English is the language of instruction: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, United States Virgin Islands, Zambia, & Zimbabwe.
OR
B) by achieving a recognized standardized language test/assessment at an overall level equivalent. (See English Requirements below)
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY POLICY: BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry
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.
To ensure consistency and quality assurance, institution-created tests are not acceptable for the assessment of HCA program applicants.
For clarification, three years of full-time instruction in English is defined as three (3) years of full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education in the English language at a recognized institution on the list of Approved English Speaking Countries. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.
Applicants must provide a transcript and/or a BC personal education record as evidence of completion of a minimum of three years of full-time secondary (inclusive of grade 8) or post-secondary instruction in English. It is expected that the student has taken full time studies (with a minimum of 18 credits per academic year (60% courseload). Documentation should indicate completion of a minimum of six semesters with a minimum of 54 credits in total.
APPROVED ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES
The following countries are considered as those with English language systems / institutions, where English is a primary and official language, and the language used for education.
Proof of meeting the HCA Program Entry – English Language Competency Requirements
APPLICANTS WITH THREE YEARS OF FULL-TIME ENGLISH INSTRUCTION (one of the following) from a full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education at a Ministry of Education-recognised institution or equivalent in the country of origin on the list of Approved English Speaking Countries:
* English 10 completion (or higher) or equivalent with a minimum ‘C’ grade (transcript required). Secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8; ESL courses will not be considered
* SSC English for Healthcare (min. grade 76%)
* Completion of college courses determined to be equivalent to Grade 10 English (or higher) by post-secondary institutions. (Minimum Grade C)
* ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test results: Reading 230, Writing 230, and Writeplacer 4
APPLICANTS WITH LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF FULL-TIME ENGLISH INSTRUCTION (provide one of the following standardized proficiency tests):
* Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) test is conducted at a recognized Language Assessment Centre/Location by a certified CLB language assessor (e.g., CLB Placement Test (CLBPT) completed at a Centre for Language Benchmarks (CCLB) Assessment Centre). Self-assessment tests, e.g., CLB-Online Self-Assessment (OSA) cannot be accepted for HCA program entry. Tested in the last year (in person or remote):
Listening 7
Speaking 7
Reading 6
Writing 6
* International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General, or IELTS Academic Online) tested in the last two years:
Overall score 6
Minimum 6 in Speaking and Listening
Minimum 5.5 in Reading and Writing
* Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL or CAEL Online) tested in the last two years:
Overall score of 60
No section less than 50
* The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition) tested in the last two years:
Overall score of 76
No score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening
No score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing
* Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General) tested in the last two years:
Listening 7
Speaking 7
Reading 6
Writing 6
For further information on English requirements, see your Career Advisor
HEALTH REQUIREMENT (one of the following)
* Completed SSC Health Declaration form
* Physician’s waiver
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
* Excellent communication skills (composition)
* Submit a criminal record check from the Criminal Records Review Program [Schedule B] including clearance to work with both children and vulnerable adults (Schedule B must be done no more than three months before program start date)
* A clear police certificate from the country of origin is required prior to acceptance into the HCA program for all international applicants, including those currently residing in Canada, as students will work with vulnerable clients. In addition, students must complete a B.C. Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) check to meet practice education requirements.
* Provide evidence of up-to-date Immunizations: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, Chicken Pox, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Pertussis
* Evidence of full COVID-19 vaccinations
Practice Education Requirements
* Provide evidence of clear TB testing
* Influenza vaccinations (and others), as required by clinical sites
* Adhere to the requirements of the BC Practice Education Guidelines
NOTE ABOUT PRACTICE EDUCATION
The cost of the following pre-requisites to the program’s practice education is to be covered by the students. Students need to complete the training components when they are scheduled in the program, as required in student files prior to the first practice education experience. All evidence must be current and valid.
· Standard/Intermediate First Aid Certification.
· CPR Level “C” Certification or “Basic Life Support (BLS)” Certification.
· Foodsafe Level 1 Certification (or a certificate course deemed equivalent).
· Completion of Mask fit testing.
· Completion of Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum In-Class Modules.
The following pre-requisites to practice education are covered in the program.
· Completion of the Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) (available on the LearningHub), which must include the following:
o A signed checklist SPECO Checklist.pdf (phsa.ca)
o Proof of meeting current immunizations / vaccinations as per health care organization policies / guidelines (or signed vaccination exemption form, except TB)51
o Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum E-Learning Modules
o WHMIS – Provincial Course
· Completion of the Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules (LearningHub)
· Completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course (LearningHub)
Certificate Requirements
90% passing mark for successful completion of all modules.
Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to receive an HCA Upgrade Program Certificate. If only a component of the program is completed, a transcript specifying completion component(s) will be issued but not a full certificate. As evidence that HCA education referral requirements have been completed, successful candidates will supply their Transcript and/or Program Certificate as evidence for registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker.
HCAU100 through HCAU204 are Online Review Modules. Each module requires a Final Assessment Result of 90%. Individuals will work at their own pace within the 2 month requirements. Any unsuccessful attempt at any level may require a re-sit or retest.
HCAU300 requires on-site attendance and is graded as Complete/Incomplete. HCAU400 is a monitored practicum which is graded as Complete/Incomplete.
Students can expect to complete 1 – 4 hours of homework per day.
Clinical placement sites are subject to availability (may be in various areas).
Contact Us Today!
Our advisors are happy to answer any questions.
Courses List
This 12 week Certificate program requires the student to complete the following courses.- This introductory course provides learners with a variety of student centric learning strategies and techniques.
- Students will learn goal setting, planning and time management, problem solving, writing skills, computer skills, and the effective use of information technologies.
- Characteristics of caring person-centred
- Basic human needs
- Human development
- Family in health and healing
- Multiculturalism and diversity
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Protection and Safety in health and healing
- Introduction to interpersonal communication
- Knowledge to self
- Non-verbal communication
- Responding to others
- Violence prevention / Abuse awareness
- Conflict management and resolution
- Understanding health
- Components of health
- Psychological / emotional (feeling) components of health
- Cognitive (thinking) components of health
- Social (interactive) components of health
- Spiritual components of health
- Lifestyle change
- Workplace settings and contexts
- Team work in health care settings
- Legal and ethical issues
- Professional approaches to practice
- Self-reflective practice
- Employability
- Medical terminology
- Structure and function of the human body
- Nutrition and healing
- End-of-life care
- Challenges to health and healing, including:
- Common challenges
- Board effects on the individual and family of health challenges
- Common disorders related to each body system
- Chronic illness
- Applying critical thinking and problem-solving when caring for individuals experiencing common health challenges in various health care settings
- Cognitive challenges in older adulthood
- Elder Abuse
- Mental health challenges
- Stigma associated with mental health challenges
- Caring for the person and family
- Suicide risks and prevention
- Infection prevention
- Measuring vital signs
- Health and cold applications
- Assisting with oxygen needs
- Assisting with medications
- Assistance with administering medications
- Wound care
- Problem Solving when carrying out caregiving procedures
- Asepsis and prevention of infection
- Promoting comfort and rest
- Promoting person hygiene
- Moving, positioning and transferring a client
- Bed making
- Promoting exercise and activity
- Promoting healthy nutrition and fluid intake
- Promoting urinary and bowel elimination
- Home management
- Assisting with medications
- Lab skills booklet
- Lab review
- Client care scenarios
- Open lab practice
- Final skills testing
- Orientation at the start of the placement
- 40-hour practicum placement
