Becoming a health care assistant in B.C.

Publication date: March 24, 2025

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Program overview

Normally, to become a health care assistant, you must complete 6 to 8 months of post-secondary education at your own expense before you can apply for a position. Through the Health Career Access Program (HCAP), the Province will pay for your post-secondary education and provide a weekly living allowance.

All successful program applicants in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities or acute care settings must start as a health care support worker before advancing to a health care assistant position. Those hired will complete the online orientation and may go directly to a post-secondary institution. 

Becoming a mental health and addictions worker is the other career pathway offered through HCAP. 

About the role

All successful program applicants in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities or acute care settings must start as a health care support worker before advancing to a health care assistant position. Those hired will complete the online orientation and may go directly to a post-secondary institution.​

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Health care support worker

Health care support workers are supervised by registered nurses or other regulated health care professionals. They provide a variety of critical non-clinical, care supports to patients and residents in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities or acute care settings.

Typical duties may include:

  • Participating as a key member of a health care delivery team
  • Establishing a caring relationship with clients, residents and families
  • Providing support and assistance with mealtime activities
  • Providing support and assistance in carrying out activities
  • Performing housekeeping duties
  • Greeting and directing visitors
  • Restocking supplies
  • Completing and maintaining relevant records

Health care support workers are paid at the grid 11 level of the Hospital and Hospital Employees’ Union 2022-25 facilities and community health services collective agreements.

 

Health care assistant

Health care assistants are members of the health care team who provide personal care in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, assisted living facilities, group homes, long-term care and community care. They are supervised by registered nurses or other regulated health care professionals and follow established care plans to provide personal care such as bathing, grooming, dressing, assisting with meals and oral hygiene.

Common duties may include:

  • Helping in the delivery of nursing care, including taking temperature, pulse and respiration readings
  • Documenting information on a patient’s chart
  • Responding to call bells/alarms in hospital settings
  • Observing and monitoring patient progress, symptoms and behavioural changes and reporting significant observations
  • Using mechanical aides (e.g. specialty beds, lifts, wheelchairs and stretchers) to transport patients
  • Assisting with positioning, lifting and/or transferring patients using established lifting/safety techniques
  • Maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients and staff

On average, health care assistants earn an annual provincial salary of $52,140. 

Visit Choose2Care to find out more about being a health care assistant, what they do, and the qualities that help make someone a good fit.

​ Program requirements

Education

Skills

  • Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
  • Establish and maintain relationships with clients, residents and co-workers
  • Work independently and in cooperation with others
  • Physically able to carry out the duties of the position
  • Able to operate related equipment

Background checks

  • Criminal record check - You will be required to undergo a Criminal Records Review Program criminal record check for people working with children or vulnerable adults
  • Immunization status - Applicants to the program should be prepared to provide their COVID-19 and influenza immunization status and immunity to other critical vaccine-preventable diseases

You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to apply to HCAP.

Application process

Step 1: Expression of interest

Be prepared to provide:

  • First and last name
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • Postal code
  • Preferred health region (where you want to work)
  • Background information

Submit your expression of interest

The form takes less than 10 minutes to complete. 

Please submit the expression of interest one time only. Resubmissions do not improve your chances of being hired and can slow down the hiring process.

Step 2: Recruitment process 

Employers are hiring on an ongoing basis and will continue to contact applicants and hire as new education cohorts are required.

  • If you receive and accept an offer of employment, work and/or training will begin as soon as possible
  • Keep your contact information up-to-date: You can use your BC Services Card to login to view and manage your profile

There is no timeline for when a potential employer may contact applicants. Depending on the needs in your region, not all applicants will be contacted.

Program journey

Phase 1: Health care support worker 

All individuals must complete a provincially standardized health care support worker orientation and onboarding program.

  • You will be paid for your time and one-time funding is available for pre-requisite course fees
  • When you complete the orientation, you will begin work as a health care support worker
  • Your employer might require further training at your worksite

Phase 2: Post-secondary certificate 

After your work placement as a health care support worker, you will begin a full-time health care assistant education program at a post-secondary institution.

  • Participants must complete the health care assistant orientation 
  • The program is a partnership between participating employers and post-secondary institutions
  • The training is expected to last approximately one year and is offered at no expense
  • Participants will be paid a weekly living allowance equivalent to a full-time health care support worker salary while attending full-time classes or participating in clinical training as part of the education program

Phase 3: Health care assistant 

Upon completion of the education program, you will earn a recognized post-secondary certificate and are eligible to register as a health care assistant.

  • Once registered as a health care assistant, you are required to complete a 12-month return of service
  • If you do not accept employment or complete the 12-month return of service, you must pay back the weekly living allowance and other education costs
  • Health care assistants can work throughout B.C. in long-term care homes, assisted living facilities and acute care hospital settings and provide community home support