Health care employers in B.C. are being invited to participate in the new expedited pathway that will make it faster and easier for seniors’ care providers to hire Canadian-trained out-of-province care aides.
Before the pathway came into effect on January 15th, 2020, health care assistants trained outside the province were required to complete a skills assessment exam, known as the Nursing Community Assessment Services (NCAS). The exam, which cost up to $800 for applicants and could only be taken in Vancouver, added unnecessary barriers for workers seeking employment in B.C.
The new process will allow qualified health care assistants to register with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry, which is a requirement for all health care assistants who want to work for any of B.C.’s publicly subsidized health care employers. Participating employers will ensure that out-of-province HCAs complete a standardized orientation program.
Employers interested in offering the pathway are instructed to complete the Letter of Intent (LOI) and return it to the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. LOIs returned before February 14th, 2020 will meet the deadline for the initial publication of the Participating Employers List the following week.
By signing the LOI, employers are confirming that they will meet all requirements of the new pathway, including providing a standardized orientation program that addresses safe handling, violence prevention, infection control, as well as recognizing and reporting elder abuse. Education materials, developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health, will be provided to employers to support their participation in the pathway.
Publicly funded employers choosing to not participate in the expedited registration pathway are permitted to only hire HCAs who are already on the Registry. The new expedited pathway is not being offered to private-pay employers at this point in time.
Download the Participating Employer Package and Policy Implementation Q and A.
