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The classroom is seen as a microcosm of the workplace where your commitment to personal participation, punctuality and responsibility will carry you effectively into the work force. Classes may be scheduled during the day, in the evening and/or on weekends.
Clinical practice experiences occur outside of the college setting. You will have two clinical courses in residential/complex care, where you will refine your ability to care for clients in a respectful, safe, competent and organized manner. During the community component of your practice experience, you will participate in community home support services that are designed to meet the health needs of older adults and others.
Recent updates were made to the HCA Provincial Curriculum and the 2015 provincial curriculum will be implemented September 2016. This ensures that you receive the most relevant, up-to-date curriculum to prepare you for your career.
Upon graduation, you will qualify for registration with BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. You will be able to competently carry out the roles and responsibilities of a health care assistant in the community or in care facilities; a role that is in high demand across the health sector.
Practice Experience
Student practice experiences in health agencies are essential to the program.
You will be placed in complex care facilities that provide residential care and support for a primarily older adult population. In community settings you will provide services and supports to adults living in their own homes. The majority of practice placements are in centres close to NIC campus communities, however it may be necessary to participate in placements in other Vancouver Island communities. You must arrange your own transportation and assume related costs. You may be required to work a variety of shifts; four, six eight and/or 12 hours shifts, including days, evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
Transfer Credit & Credit For Prior Learning
Your previous life, work, or study experience, unassociated with formal education, may qualify for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Your knowledge and skills will be evaluated to determine if you meet the objectives for selected courses up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the program. To qualify for PLAR, you must apply to the program, meet all the program requirements, and complete the PLAR before entering the program or one term before the scheduled course(s). The fee for each PLAR course is 75 per cent of the regular course fee. Refer to NIC policy #4-10: Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.
When an applicant meets some, but not all, learning objectives in a course(s), the assessment process may result in an exemption from some portion of the course(s). You will be required to register in the course and pay full tuition but your workload would be reduced. Note that eligibility for this process will be granted on an individual basis by the department. You must apply one semester in advance of the course start date.
For information about which courses qualify for PLAR please contact the department chair in your program.
To Be Successful
- Basic computer literacy and internet access are necessary. You must access all course manuals via Blackboard Learn, the college’s on-line learning platform, and use computer skills to access resources during coursework. Electronic documentation is also used in the practice setting. You are expected to have the ability to:
- navigate the internet and access online resources
- create word documents,
- attach word documents to emails and submit assignments via email.
- A valid driver’s license and access to personal transport is strongly recommended for the HCA-145 Home Support Practicum and other practice experience components. If you are not able to provide your own transport, you may have difficulty meeting the requirements of these clinical practice courses.
- It is an expectation of the Health Care Assistant program that you demonstrate responsible, accountable behaviour in terms of maintaining a pattern of regular attendance and establishing effective working relationships with student colleagues and faculty. You are required to adhere to all college policies and regulations.
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