Admission Requirements
- To be accepted into a recognized BC HCA program, applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English. Students must be able to communicate effectively in English to be successful in their studies and capable of providing safe and competent care to clients in the work environment during practice education components. Please complete the following English Competency Self-Declaration form.
- Completed HCA Intake Package. Carefully read the Health and Program Information Bulletins. Prospective students must review these bulletins and decide whether they believe the HCA program is suited to them. Prospective students who have questions or concerns should contact an educational advisor.
Applicants who have been educated in an English-speaking environment
Applicants must provide proof of the following:
- a minimum of 3 years of full-time instruction in the English language at the secondary &/or post-secondary level at a recognized institution in a country on the list of approved English-speaking countries and;
-
Applicants who have not been educated in an English-speaking environment
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 Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) or CLBPT Remote. Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General or CELPIP Online). Test in the last two years. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IELTS General or IELTS Academic Online). Test in 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 in 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 in the last two years. Overall score of 76 with no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing.
- A CLB Report Card from a LINC Program indicating “Completing” CLB Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7 and Writing 7 AND “Recommended Class Placement” as Speaking 8, Listening 8, Reading 8 and Writing.
- Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN) Test in the last two years with results of Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 6, Writing 6.
Note: If the program is accepting international students, a clear police certificate from the country of origin must also be included as a program entry requirement.
Indigenous Priority Admissions
North Island College is dedicated to improving its ability to meet the educational needs of Indigenous students. NIC’s Indigenization Plan, “Working Together” outlines our commitment to Indigenization, reconciliation and decolonization. To further advance these goals, North Island College has reserved seating and priority admissions in many of our programs for students of Indigenous ancestry.
Applicants will be considered on a first-applied, first-qualified basis for all programs with the exception of Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, where a selective admission process will be used.
To be considered for a priority admission seat, Indigenous students must:
- Self-identify as an Indigenous person
- Complete the Indigenous Priority Admission Request for a Reserved Seat form
- Meet NIC’s general admission requirements, and/or specific program requirements
Before Classes Begin
Once accepted to the program complete the following:
- Submit the Criminal Record Check form, which will be sent to you by Admissions once you are offered a seat in the program. This process can take some time, so submit promptly to ensure your clearance arrives before the clinical experiences.
- Arrange to complete the immunization form, which will be sent to you by Admissions once you are offered a seat in the program. This form must be validated by a Health Professional (such as a public health nurse at your local health unit, a family doctor, or private immunization clinic) and must be submitted to the Health Care Assistant program faculty. This process can take some time, so begin as soon as you can.
- The Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) is mandatory for all staff and students who work in Health Authorities. Most of this training will be completed online through the Learning Hub. However, any students working in high-risk areas* are required to complete an additional 8-hour classroom module at their own cost, and before their placements in high-risk areas*. High-risk areas* are: Correctional Health Services, Emergency Departments, Home and Community Care, Long Term Care, Mental Health and Substance Use, In-Patient Psychiatry, Neurology, Brain Injury, Paramedics, and Protection Services.
- Submit a current Standard First Aid with CPR C certificate or equivalent that will not expire before the end of the HCA program.
- Submit a Food Safe Level 1 certificate or equivalent that does not expire before the end of the HCA Program.
Note: Foodsafe (TFS 010 ) is offered at NIC. If a course is taken at an institution other than North Island College, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure it meets the requirements of the HCA program. Please consult an NIC educational advisor or the HCA program Department Chair for information on course equivalencies.
These pre-practice requirements must be completed and submitted to the HCA program records in order for a student to enter the Practice Experience placement sites. If circumstances deem it impossible to complete these pre-practice requirements before the first day of class, the instructor must be contacted to develop a plan for completing any outstanding requirements by 30 days before entering the practice experience placement site.
Return to: