Health Care Aide (Full-time, Part-time and Distance)

For information: 644-6370 or

To register: 644-6000

• Certificate
• Full-time and part-time studies
• Daytime, evening, and distance education classes
• Fall, winter, and spring starts
• Learn in the workplace
• Continuous admission

Program Overview

If you are a caring person who likes to help people, the Health Care Aide (HCA) program may be for you. As an HCA, you will help the health-care team provide care to clients. This program is available full-time, part-time, and by distance education. Our program meets provincial curriculum standards.

Career Potential

Ninety-nine percent of our HCA graduates find jobs in the field. The range of wages for new graduates is between $10 and $18 per hour. You will be eligible for jobs in these areas:

• Continuing care institutions
• Home care agencies
• Group homes
• Lodges
• Assisted or supportive living
• Day programs
• Specialized care centres and programs
• Acute care hospitals
• Private care

Transferability

Your Health Care Aide education can be used to gain credit with NorQuest's Practical Nurse program.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 10 level English or equivalent
• Clear criminal record check (More than one criminal record check may be necessary during the length of your program, in accordance with work placement requirements.)
• Up-to-date immunization record
• Health status questionnaire completed and submitted
• Must have the physical and mental abilities needed for lab and clinical practice courses
• Computer skills are an asset.

Clinical requirements for students in the full-time program:

• Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers course (BLS)
• Hepatitis B immunization
• Both BLS and immunization will be offered during the HCA program. You do not need to obtain these on your own.

Advanced Standing

Course work completed at another post-secondary institution may be equivalent to course work at NorQuest College. To be considered for advanced credit, a formal request for assessment is required. Request forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar and must be submitted one month prior to the start date of your program. Fees may apply. Please note that credit for previous course work is subject to limitations based on the time frame in which the work was completed.

Progression

Students must attain a pass grade in each course to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses.

Credential

After successfully completing all program requirements, graduates will be awarded a NorQuest Health Care Aide certificate.

Tuition and Fees

Click here for 2008/2009 Tuition and Fees

Funding Your Education

Students in this program may be eligible for Alberta government funding including costs for tuition, books, and living expenses.

Full-Time

The Health Care Aide full-time program allows you to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you need through full-time attendance at the downtown Edmonton campus.

Health Care Aide full-time is offered with in-class instruction from Monday through Friday. During the first term students will complete the following courses within 15 weeks: PCCA 1000, FOCC 1000, BCND 1000, SCAE 1000, and HPRT 1001. In the second term, you will complete the remaining courses through distance education while employed as a Health Care Aide. You will have up to 16 weeks to complete your distance education course work.

All students enrolled in the full-time delivery program must have employment in place by week 15. NorQuest’s Student Career and Employment Services, and Health Care Aide staff will assist students with their employment search.

Program information sessions will be offered each month from March to August. Call the Office of the Registrar or check www.norquest.ca for dates.

Part-Time

The part-time program allows you to continue working and to complete the HCA program at the same time.

Evening Part-Time

• Instructor-led seminars, labs, and clinical practice
• Two evenings per week and some Saturdays
• 24 to 31 weeks
• A seven-week part-time clinical practicum

Distance Education Part-Time

• Self-paced study (Course work may be completed in your home.)
• Attendance at mandatory weekend lab sessions to practise skills (Some lab sessions may include guest speakers.)
• Instructor assistance by telephone or email
• Course exams proctored in your community
• A five-week full-time pre-arranged clinical practice at a facility in your geographic location, with an assigned clinical mentor
• NorQuest instructor present at clinical sites for supervision and evaluation
• Maximum of six months to complete the program

Health Care Aide Program Outline (2008/09)

This program is being reviewed, and will undergo changes.
Due to the nature of each Health Care Aide program delivery method, the courses in the following list are not shown in instructional order.

Last updated: April 29, 2008