Congratulations on your acceptance into the Health Career Access Program (HCAP). While you are working as a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW), we will be scheduling your schooling to become a Health Care Assistant (HCA).
HCAP is a provincial-government initiative that provides a path for applicants with no health care experience to get hired and receive paid employer sponsored health care assistant training as part of their employment.
This page is your "hub" for all of the information you will need to be successful in the program. If you have any questions - check here first! We might have the answer right here for you. If not, you can find some contacts that can help guide you to the correct answer below.
For questions about future programming, schedule, admissions, or pre-requisites, please contact:
For questions about your employer, salary, vacations, or work schedules, please contact:
Ready to submit a uniform size request? Click below to submit your size. You must be already accepted into an OC cohort to submit a request.
As an OC student, you have access to all student services. Click the link below to explore supports such as Aboriginal Services, Counselling, and Accessibility Services!
Unsure if you meet HCA admissions requirements? Click below to learn about what requirements you need to meet to be accepted into the program.
Complete the form below to receive information on how to submit your application.
Please do not submit an application until you receive further instructions from our Admissions teams. Any applications received will be cancelled if they have not previously been in contact with our Admissions team and received a waiver code.
Once you have registered and paid for your pre-requisite course, you can submit your receipt for reimbursement. Click the link below for more information and to submit your reimbursement claim.
Yes! You will receive an education stipend to complement your salary if you are a part-time student. If you are a full-time student you will receive a stipend that will make up for any lost salary from your HCSW role.
Those questions should first be addressed with your manager. If the issue is with your manager or if you are not able to solve it with them, you can reach out to HealthCareerAccess@InteriorHealth.ca for additional assistance.
The HCAP program will cover the following costs of your program:
You will need to pay for:
Your instructor and department chairperson will be in touch with you to discuss next steps. Each situation is unique and a learning plan will be developed on an individual basis.
You will not be required to pay back any of the money you received from your salary or the tuition that was paid for you if you are unsuccessful.
HCAP is offered both in-person and online. Students are admitted to the next available cohort and may not have a choice whether they attend in-person or online. Due to limited availability, students are expected to attend the cohort in which they are originally admitted.
Classes may be scheduled in the evening or on weekends based on the needs and availability of OC. Not all HCAP cohorts are able to be scheduled at the same time.
Yes, regardless of if your class is online or in-person you are expected to show up to class to participate and learn with your peers. Failure to do so may result in learning contracts, probation, or withdrawal.
Please visit the link below to read about OC's COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
There are many things taken into consideration when assessing applications including pre-requisite completion, application date, hire date, and admission requirement submission, among other things. Applications may not be processed at the same time and may lead to different cohort start dates.
Sign up for one of the First Aid courses provided by OC's Continuing Studies! Click the link below to register for a course. If the course you want is full, make sure you join the waitlist so we know where more programs are needed.
OC offers Food Safe Level I through Continuing Studies. Click the link below to see the available courses and register or waitlist yourself.
Tuberculin (TB) testing can be completed no earlier than 6 months before your practicum start date. Please do not schedule your TB test until you know your practicum start date.
More information about TB tests and where to get them can be found through the link below.
A criminal record check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office. Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter.
Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to provide a clearance letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.
Proof of meeting current immunizations I vaccinations as per health care organization policies I guidelines (or signed vaccination exemption form, except TB). Applicants are advised that, if they are unable to provide proof of immunization or immunity they may be restricted or even excluded from practice settings based on the Health Facility or Health Authority policies and procedures for non-immunized students on placement. This information will be collected on the first day of class by the instructor.
The link below provides information on how to locate your immunization record.
As part of the HCAP program, OC requires completed consent to release information completed for the following individuals:
Please complete the release of information on your MyOkanagan page (link below) - it will look like this:
The PVP course is available through Okanagan College's Continuing Studies department. Click the link below to see offering dates and sign up if you have not yet completed the program!