Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum

Overview

Health Care Aides [HCAs] are an unregulated workforce that provide basic health services and support with daily living activities for clients who have medical conditions or major functional limitations. HCAs work under the direct, indirect, or indirect remote supervision of a regulated health professional, such as a nurse, in a variety of settings including but not limited to home care, assisted living facilities, long-term care, acute care hospitals, private agencies, and individual clients.

The Government of Alberta HCA Provincial Curriculum [2019] is owned and managed by Alberta Health. Post-secondary institutions [PSIs] are required to enter into a license agreement with Alberta Health to use the curriculum.

Program Outline

Term	Course Number	Course Title	Current Total Hours	Current Credits
Total			695	36
1 (16 weeks)	1	Health Care Aide Role and Responsibility	45	3
	2	The Human Body, Health, and Chronic Illness	45	3
	3	Communication and Documentation in the Health Care Environment	60	4
	4	Providing Person-Centered Care and Comfort	75	5
	5	Clinical Placement 1	80	3
2 (16 weeks)	6	Meeting Complex Care Needs	75	5
	7	Special Activities for Clients with Various Health Conditions	75	5
	8	HCA Clinical Placement Experience II (Instructor – Led)	160	5
	9	HCA Consolidated Placement Experience	80	3

HCA Provincial Examination

The Government of Alberta Provincial Health Care Aide Exam provides a standardized assessment to determine Health Care Aide [HCA] students’ success in meeting the entry to practice competencies as outlined in the Alberta HCA Competency Profile [2018].

Successfully passing the Provincial HCA Examination is the final step required for Alberta Health Care Aide [HCA] students to graduate from the HCA Program and receive the Government of Alberta 2019 HCA Provincial Curriculum Certificate.

Prior to Clinical Placement, Secure and Submit the Following

Current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Search
Current Immunization Record
Practicum site specific requirements

Health Care Aide Program Entry Requirements

The following requirements must be met to be eligible for entry into a licensed HCA program:

Academic English Language Arts [ELA]

English 20-1 or 20-2 with a minimum score of 60% or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent, or
English 30-1 or 30-2 with a minimum score of 55% or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent such as a Canadian High School Equivalency Diploma; General Education Development-Test (GED)], or Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), or
Deemed equivalent by completion of Next-Generation ACCUPLACER (Assessment Placement Test) Reading and Writing Tests, with a minimum score of 237 in each category. The Math test is not required.

Note:

Students who have not met the ELA requirement [i.e., 20-1, 20-2, 30-1, or 30-2 English Level] with the minimum grade are subject to completing the Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Assessment Test. This can include students out of province, out of country, or mature students that have been out of school for a significant length of time.

English Language Proficiency [ELP]

Candidates where English is a Second Language (ESL) must meet the English Language Proficiency requirement in addition to the Academic English requirement. Equivalencies are as follows:

By presenting a Canadian High School Equivalency Diploma [General Education Development-Test (GED)], or
By attending high school in Canada. Studies must have been in English at an approved Canadian high school [Grades 9,10,11,12] with at least three consecutive years of full-time academic study, or
Providing evidence of attending two consecutive years of full-time equivalent post-secondary study in English in a subject other than a HCA program at a Canadian institution, or
By completing an approved ELP test with the required Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB]: A minimum CLB of 7 in each of the four language skills [speaking, listening, reading and writing] and not an average of 7.
Official test results must be submitted directly to PSI.
PSIs will accept submissions from any one of the following approved ELP tests:

Approved English Language Proficiency [ELP] Tests:

1. International English Language Testing System [IELTS] Academic: 6 [with no section score
  below 5.5],
2. Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Testing [TOEFL iBT]: 71,
3. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program [CELPIP] General: 7 [with no section

score below 6],

Canadian Language Benchmarks Tests/Milestones Test: 7 in each strand, not an average of 7,
Duolingo English Test: minimum score of 95, and
Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses [CELBAN]: 7 in each area of listening, reading, writing and speaking, not an average of 7.

Notes:

Test Currency: Results must be obtained within two years of the program’s start date.
Test Validity: IELTS-Academic and TOEFL results are valid for two years from the day of testing.
Results that expire before the program’s start date will not be accepted.

Digital Literacy

Candidates must possess knowledge of computer/technology tools to be successful in the program.

Candidates must –

Be able to communicate, research and understand information.
Know how to use a computer to surf the web and email.
Be able to critically evaluate and understand how technology can affect one’s behavior.
Be able to create, produce content and effectively communicate using email, media and internet.

4. Students must be 18 years or older.

SELECTION PROCESS

Application Review: The admissions team will review all submitted documents to ensure eligibility.
Assessment Testing (If required): Applicants who do not meet the ELA or ELP requirements will be contacted to complete the Next-Generation ACCUPLACER or an approved ELP test.
Verification of Digital Literacy: The digital literacy self-assessment checklist will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the required competencies.
Final Decision: Applicants who meet all requirements will receive an official admission offer. Applicants who do not meet the requirements will be notified and may be provided with recommendations for future application attempts.

Waitlist Policy: Upon reaching enrollment capacity, all students wishing to register will be placed on a waitlist for the next cohort upon completion of application requirements. (PR-0010)