OVERVIEW

The Health Care Assistant Program is designed to provide learners with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function effectively as frontline caregivers and respected members of a health care team. Under the direction and supervision of a regulated health professional, graduates provide person-centered care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families.

The program is divided into two levels. Each level consists of theory, laboratory practice, and clinical experience. The theory component is delivered through discussion groups, learner presentations, lectures, demonstrations, and guest speakers. Learners apply the theory component in the laboratory and clinical settings.

Upon completion of the Health Care Assistant program, graduates are prepared to work in a variety of practice settings including home support, assisted living, residential/complex care, special care units, other home and Community care settings, as well as acute care.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Grade 10 completion, Mature student status (upon completion of Accuplacer assessment), or equivalent
• NVIT Program Entry Requirements and Pre-requisites for Practice Education
• HTCA Program Admissions Package
• Proof of English Language Competency*
• HTCA – English Language Self-Declaration Form

Additional Requirements for Practicum Placement

• Standard First Aid with CPR Level C
• BC Food Safe Level 1
• HTCA Pre-Practice Requirement
• Immunizations (as required by practicum sites and recommended by the BC Centre for Disease Control, 2024)
  • diphtheria and tetanus, polio, hepatitis B, measles, mumps & rubella (MMR*), varicella, pertussis.
  • (From BCCDC Guide) COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for HCWs to reduce worker illness during periods of high SARSCoV-2 circulation in the community and to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to vulnerable individuals receiving health care, personal care or home support in hospital or community settings
  • Please share your COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination status and provide supporting documentation if you have received your annual doses. If you cannot provide proof of these vaccinations, you will need to follow the protocols set by your clinical/practicum placement. These may include measures such as wearing a mask or completing a disclosure report
  • Negative TB skin test (within 1 year of entering first practicum placement). In case of a positive TB skin test, a negative TB chest x-ray report is required.
• Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Record Check Clearance for Vulnerable Sector (RCMP Checks will not be accepted).

*One of the following proofs of English Language Competency:

1. Applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English (secondary or post-secondary, starting from Grade 8, in an approved English-speaking country) must provide proof of one of:
   • C minimum grade in English 10, or
   • C minimum grade in an equivalent college-level English course, or
   • ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Results: Reading 230, Writing 230, Writeplacer 4.
2. Applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English must provide proof of one of the following standardized test results (taken within the required timeframe). Official results must be shared with NVIT. Results received directly from applicants will not be accepted;
   • IELTS Academic/General/Online: Overall 6, minimum 6 in Speaking & Listening, no lower than 5.5 in Reading & Writing; or
   • TOEFL iBT: Overall 76, minimum 20 in Speaking & Listening, minimum 18 in Reading & Writing.
3. Internationally-educated applicants must also provide an official ICES report:

• • ICES Country Specific Information

NVIT is committed to ensuring education is accessible to all people. Students who do not meet program requirements should contact the Department Coordinator or an NVIT Academic Planner regarding upgrading opportunities.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

CAREER PATHWAYS

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