Overview

Health care aides work under the direct or indirect supervision of a regulated health professional, such as a nurse, in a variety of settings including:

  • home care
  • assisted living facilities
  • long-term care

Health care aides provide basic health services, assistance and support with daily living activities for clients who have medical conditions or major functional limitations.

In Alberta, the health care aide occupation is unregulated. To ensure consistent training of the health care aide workforce in Alberta, the Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum was developed and first used in 2005 and then updated in 2010, 2013 and 2019.

Licensed post-secondary institutions use this curriculum to train people who want to be health care aides.

Alberta health care aide directory

The Alberta Health Care Aide Directory provides more information about health care aides in Alberta – what they do and how to become one. The directory has a number of resources including news, education, job boards and updates.

Competency profile and curriculum

Following the release of the Health Care Aide Competency Profile 2018, the Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum was updated in 2019 for use in health care aide education programs across the province. It is used by licensed post-secondary institutions.

New licence agreements are on hold indefinitely

Effective October 1, 2017, the Alberta government implemented a moratorium on licensing new post-secondary institutions to offer the Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum. The moratorium remains in effect until further notice, to allow the government sufficient time to:

  • evaluate workforce supply and demand, as well as clinical placement challenges and opportunities
  • plan and allocate resources to conduct efficient license application reviews

Health care aide programs

To become a certified health care aide in Alberta, you must complete a recognized health care aide program through a post-secondary institution licensed to use 2019 provincial curriculum.

Prior to June 30, 2020, you may complete a health care aide program through a post-secondary institution licensed to use the 2013 provincial curriculum.

You may also obtain an Alberta Health Care Aide certificate by undergoing a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition evaluation available through some licensed post-secondary institutions offering the HCA program.

Contact the post-secondary institutions listed below for additional program information including admission requirements, course length, format, and tuition costs.

Licensed post-secondary educational institutions

  • ABM College
  • Academy of Learning
  • Alberta Business and Educational Services
  • Alberta Caregiving Institute
  • Bay River College
  • Bow Valley College
  • Cambrooks College (July 1, 2012 to October 22, 2018)
  • CDI College
  • CLI College of Business, Health and Technology
  • Columbia College
  • Excel Academy
  • Health Care Aide Academy
  • Keyano College
  • Lakeland College
  • Lethbridge College
  • MaKami College
  • Medicine Hat College
  • MTG Healthcare Academy
  • Nightingale Academy
  • NorQuest College
  • Northern Lakes College
  • Portage College
  • Red Crow Community College
  • Red Deer College
  • Reeves College (March 20, 2014 to September 23, 2019)
  • Robertson College
  • Rosewood College
  • Royal Health Care Aide Training Program (Lethbridge)
  • Training Inc.
  • University of Alberta, Campus St Jean

Contact

Connect with the Health Workforce Partnerships Branch:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-415-0213
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: healthcareaide@gov.ab.ca

Address:
Alberta Health
Health Workforce Partnerships Branch
PO Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2N3

Related

Health Care Aide Competency Profile – 2018
Continuing care publications