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Health Care Assistant Upgrade (Resident Care Attendant Upgrade)

This part-time, home study program is intended to provide training to those care-givers presently working or have worked in a continuing care setting as a care aide, attendant, or assistant (as designated by the occupational title of Long Term Care Aide, Geriatric Aide, Care Aide, Nursing Aide, Personal Care Aide, or Home Support Aide). It is expected that students will draw upon their previous knowledge and work experience throughout the program, which will provide them with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to function as frontline care providers.

The program is designed to meet the educational needs of learners with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. For those who are presently working and have had no formal training, the program provides a comprehensive curriculum which will provide them with the knowledge base and skills necessary to function effectively.

If you know the admission requirements,

Find out more about this program:

Program Description Career Prospects Admission Requirements Program Status

Apply to this Program Fees and Other Costs Additional Information Courses Check Course Schedule

Program Description

Students usually attend class one 6 hour day per week.  The exception is clinical experience, when students are expected to attend 5 days per week.

Topic

Start Length Credential Campus Part or Full‑time September 10 months Certificate Broadway Part-time

Career Prospects

Admission Requirements

General

VCC welcomes applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

As Vancouver Community College is a post-secondary institution committed to educating adult learners, applicants should be 18 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school.

Please note that you must submit official transcripts and educational documents to support your application; unfortunately, we cannot accept photocopies or fax versions.

Program Specific

1) Grade 10 or acceptable equivalent*

2) Presently working as health care assistants with at least eight months experience (assisted living, intermediate or extended care in a care facility or home support agency) as certified by a letter from the employer.

3) Criminal Record Search
In accordance to the Criminal Records Review Act, all individuals who work with vulnerable adults and/or children must complete a Criminal Records Check through the Ministry of Justice. Access http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/criminal-records-review/apply/index.htm to complete the review request. The Criminal Record Form, with payment (no personal cheques), need to be sent directly to the Solicitor General’s Office. 

The Criminal Record Check Form will ask for the Organization Name: Vancouver Community College and the Organization Contact Name - Niki Scarfo, Registrar's Office, ID Number 937836 for Dental, BScN, Tutoring ESOL programs and Kathy Andreatta, Registrar's Office, ID Number 113043 for all other VCC programs.

Ensure you use your legal name and that you have applied at VCC under the same name.

Seats are offered to applicants who have met all admission requirements, on a first-qualified, first-served basis

Upon Acceptance:
4) Proof of a negative TB skin test or chest xray. For further information about Health requirements click here

5) Regulations stipulate that a properly fitted respiratory mask must be used when providing care to patients with suspected, known, or probable cases of acute respiratory infections. The respiratory mask must be a N95 respirator that is individually fitted by a trained and certified person. This individual mask fitting should be done just prior to beginning your program and is good for one year and must be performed annually. The original certificate must be presented to your program during the first week of classes. Please view online list of approved fit test service providers

*Applicants whose first language is other than English may be required to successfully complete an English Language Assessment test

Recommended characteristics

- Effective command of oral and written English

- Ability to work under close direction and to act with initiative as a member of the health care team

- A genuine concern for the well-being of others

- Flexibility, trustworthiness, and dependability

- Maturity

- High standards of personal hygiene and grooming

- Ability to use the problem-solving approach

- Physical stamina, absence of back problems.

- Ability and willingness to adjust to shifts, clinical settings, and different hospital locations, and to provide own transportation to the classroom and clinical experience

Program Status

Accepting applications

VCC is accepting applications from international students.

Apply to this Program

The first step, apply early. Students who have officially applied and met all admission requirements are sent a letter of acceptance approximately four to five months in advance of the next available start date. A first payment is required to reserve a space in the program.

Online     Fax     In Person If you're ready and know the program you want, apply now. Download and complete the (PDF) application form and fax to 604.871.7458. Visit us at one of our campus locations.

After you apply, you can check your to see if all of the requirements have been met or to update contact information. Please use the temporary login ID and Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you used to complete your original online application.

Fees and Other Costs

Application Fee Tuition Fee $30.00 $952.20

Other Costs

Cost Type Details College initiative fee $27.36 Student union fee $24.81 U-Pass $300 Other costs Textbooks and other costs: $220

Additional Information

Health Requirements:

Updated immunizations strongly recommended: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis B vaccine and current influenza vaccination. Please review Important Health Requirements for the VCC School of Health Sciences.

Courses