Health Care Aide Certificate

Through a variety of delivery options at Bow Valley College, you can earn a Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum 2019 Certificate. Due to the popularity of this program, we recommend you apply at least eight months prior to the program start date. The Health Care Aide Certificate is available in the following delivery options: Full-time: on-campus study over an eight-month (2-term) period. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR): you may be eligible to challenge the courses in the Health Care Aide (HCA) program if you have work experience as a health care aide or caregiver and wish to meet provincial health care aide certification requirements. The tuition for this pathway is $4112.00. The PLAR HCA pathway is only offered through the Calgary downtown campus and not through the Regional campuses. Heath Care Aide for English Language Learners: this pathway program is for learners with minimal English Language proficiency skills. To learn more to see if this is better suited for you, please visit the program page. Regional Learners: see below for more information. This program focuses on developing the core skills needed to care for individuals with various health care needs. Topics include personal care, assisting with mobility and nutrition, communication, assisting with medication delivery, and clinical skills. You will learn in a combination of on-campus labs, in-class learning, and clinical instruction in continuing care, acute care, and community/home care settings. Clinical shifts may include days, evenings, nights, and/or weekends. Regional learners Learners living in the area surrounding Calgary can take the program starting in Fall (September) or Winter (January) through Regional campuses. Contact Regional or view our locations. Program delivery is blended which includes a combination of online and in-person learning. Lab time is in-person at the Calgary downtown campus. Clinical instruction will occur in continuing care, acute care, and community/home care settings. Clinical experience You will be required to travel to various locations in order to complete your clinical and practicum placements. Every effort is made to accommodate learners in clinical placements within the time frame of the program, however in rare instances there may be a delay in program completion until a clinical placement can be arranged. Graduation requirements To obtain your Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum 2019 Certificate, you will need to successfully complete the program, enroll in the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory, and pass the Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Examination. Tuition and financial aid Refer to the Program Tuition Fee Chart for an estimate of the cost of completing a Bow Valley College career program. When creating a budget, consider the costs of tuition, learner fees, textbooks, learning materials, and police information check fees. Attend a financial aid information session for advice on financing a Bow Valley College education.

Bow Valley College is an innovative, world-class college with more than 600 faculty and staff who speak more than 50 languages. It is ideally located in the heart of downtown Calgary, a young, vibrant metropolitan centre.  Bow Valley College closely follows national and international trends in business, health care and human services to create certificate and diploma programs that are relevant and useful all over the world. Practicum work terms provide graduates with the competitive skill sets they need to be successful in today’s workplace. Courses are also transferable for further post-secondary study through agreements with other higher education institutions.

Bow Valley wants students to have the best experience on campus, so they offer volunteer opportunities, student events, student services, workshops and engagement activities year-round to make the most of student's time at Bow Valley College. Activities and programming are designed to allow international and Canadian learners to connect, develop intercultural skills and build strength through volunteer opportunities.

Vision
We open doors and open minds by creating opportunities for learners, employees, employers, and communities, and by shaping the future of college education.
Mission

• To include all learners.
• To challenge our thinking.
• To remove barriers.
• To provide opportunity.
• To make all learning count.

Values
Respect, Inclusion, Creativity, Teamwork, Resilience