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Learn about health care aide education in Alberta, the curriculum offered and where you can study to become a health care aide.
Health care aides (HCAs) work under the direct or indirect supervision of a regulated health professional, such as a nurse, in a variety of settings including, but not limited to:
HCAs provide basic health services, assistance and support with activities of daily living for clients who have medical conditions or major functional limitations.
In Alberta, the HCA occupation is currently unregulated. To ensure consistent education of the HCA workforce in Alberta, the Alberta government developed and owns the HCA Provincial Curriculum. Licensed post-secondary institutions use this curriculum to educate people who want to be HCAs. The most recent update to the provincial curriculum was in 2019.
Effective October 1, 2017, the Alberta government implemented a moratorium on licensing new post-secondary institutions to offer the HCA Provincial Curriculum. The moratorium remains in effect until further notice, to allow the government sufficient time to:
The Alberta HCA Directory acts as a database to collect information on the HCA workforce. The directory provides information about HCAs in Alberta, and has a number of resources including news, education and job boards.
All HCAs working for a publicly funded employer must maintain continued enrolment on the Alberta HCA Directory.
Alberta Health has mandated that HCAs currently on the directory who completed the Alberta HCA Curriculum (2013), or previous versions, must update their education by successfully completing the Alberta HCA Bridging Modules on the directory by June 30, 2022.
Learn more about the Health Care Aide Competency Profile – 2018.
To become a HCA in Alberta, you have 4 options:
The following entry requirements must be met to be eligible for entry into a licensed HCA program:
Candidates must possess knowledge of computer and technology tools to be successful in the program. Candidates must:
Note: Students who have not completed the ELA, 20-2 level requirement and achieved the minimum grade are subject to completing the ACCUPLACER assessment test. This can include students out of province, out of country or mature students who have been out of school for a significant length of time.
Candidates where English is a Second Language (ESL) must meet the English Language Proficiency requirement in addition to the Academic English requirement. Equivalencies are as follows:
Tests benchmarked at a CLB 7 for all 4 language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). Official results must be submitted directly to the post-secondary institution.
Note: Test Currency: results must have been obtained within 2 years of the start date of the program. Test Validity: IELTS (Academic) and TOEFL results are valid for 2 years from the day of testing. Results that expire prior to the start date of the program will not be accepted.
Contact the post-secondary institutions listed below for additional program information including admission requirements, course length, delivery and tuition costs.
For questions related to HCAs or the Alberta HCA Directory, email: [email protected]
For questions related to the Substantial Equivalence Assessment, email: [email protected]
For questions related to the HCA exam, email: [email protected]
Connect with the Health Workforce Partnerships Branch:
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Alberta Health
Health Workforce Partnerships Branch
PO Box 1360, Station Main
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N3
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