Health Care Assistant Certificate

Admission requirements:

• B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, or
• 19 years of age and out of secondary school for one year as of the first day of classes.

English requirements:

All applicants are required meet the HCA Program Entry Requirements for English Language Competency as outlined below.

• Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English* must also provide proof of one of the following:
  • English 10 with minimum 60% or equivalent.
  • ENGL 070 with a minimum of 60% or equivalent college course.
  • Accuplacer Next Generation Test Result: Reading 230, Writing 230 and Writeplacer 4

• Applicants who cannot provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English* are required to provide proof of one of the following standardized proficiency tests from an authorized assessment agency.
  • Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT or CLBPT Remote). Test within the last year. Scores: Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General or CELPIP Online). Test within the last two years. Scores: Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General or IELTS Academic Online). Test within the last two years. Overall score of 6 with a minimum of 6 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 5.5 in Reading and Writing.
  • Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL or CAEL Online). Test within the last two years. Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 50.
  • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition). Test within the last two years.
    • For tests taken before January 21, 2026, overall score of 76 with no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing.
    • For tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, overall score of 4 with no score lower than 4 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 3.5 in Reading and Writing.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic). Test within the last two years. Overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 45 in Reading and Writing. PTE Core - No score lower than 68 in Speaking, 60 in Listening, 51 in Reading and 60 Writing.

*Defined as three (3) years of full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education at a recognized institution on the list of Approved English Speaking Countries. Secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.

Other Admission Requirements:

• Criminal record check clearance to work with vulnerable adults and children from the Criminal Records Review Program. Applicants must follow instructions provided to them by OC admissions to complete this requirement.
• Standard First Aid Certification.
• CPR Level “C” Certification or “Basic Life Support (BLS)” Certification.
• Foodsafe Level 1 Certification (or equivalent).
• Evidence of a negative tuberculin screening test (TB test), taken no more than six months before the date of application (and evidence of appropriate follow-up tests, if necessary)

Program Pre-practice Requirements:

• Proof of meeting current provincial immunization policies and guidelines by completing the Okanagan College Immunization Record Form. Applicants are advised that, if they are unable to provide proof of immunization they may be restricted and/or excluded from clinical practice.
• Workplace Hazardous Materials (WHMIS) provincial course completion.
• All the B.C. Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) including the 8-hour in-person classroom course completion.
• Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules completion.
• Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course completion.
• Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) checklist completion.

Other information and recommendations:

• It is recommended that students also complete a Grade 11 Science or an ABE Science at the 70 or 80 Level.
• Applicants are advised that students in this program engage actively in laboratory practice, acting both as patient/client and as caregiver in simulated health care situations.
• Notwithstanding all specific program prerequisites, Okanagan College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant when, in the opinion of OC, there is sufficient and substantiated evidence, medical or otherwise, to conclude that by granting admission OC would jeopardize the safety of clients under student care or would otherwise be negligent in providing for the safety and well-being of clients, agency staff or other students.
• Several of the program pre-practice requirements are available on the provincial online LearningHub and will become available to students once enrolled in the program. Student will be provided with guidance for how to complete those requirements as part of the program orientation on the first day of classes.
• There may be additional fees associated with other admission and program pre-practice requirements. These requirements are usually completed outside of regular class time. Students are responsible for submitting appropriate documentation by the due dates provided. OC admissions and/or HCA department chair will provide further instructions.
• Students may proceed into clinical practice only after successful completion of ALL the program pre-practice requirements.
• Students must arrange for their own transportation to and from practicum sites. Travel expenses are the students responsibility. A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle are required for practicum experiences, carpooling is not a reliable option. Locations and schedules will be provided closer to the time of the practice experience.

A minimum of 50% of the program must be completed through OC.