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HCA Training Program

Program Overview

Thanks to funding by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia through the Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG), BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is offering free training to 16 new Health Care Assistants (HCA) in the Kootenay and Cariboo regions. Students enrolled in the program will receive skills training by way of the provincially approved curriculum for health care assistants, delivered in partnership with Discovery Community College (DCC).

The program fully covers tuition costs and provides funding for additional training supports.

BCCPA has gained strong support for this initiative from several employers in the region. All participating employers have part-time or full-time positions available in their organizations. Following the completion of the skills training program, BCCPA will facilitate job connections between participating employers and program graduates.

CWRG Eligibility Criteria

Participants must:

  • currently reside in B.C.;
  • be 16 years of age or older;
  • be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons entitled to work in Canada;
  • be in possession of a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • be unemployed, or employed part-time*, seasonally, casually, or precariously**;
  • have not participated in any other CWRG funded training projects in the last fiscal year (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026) or be currently enrolled in any other federally or provincially funded training programs at the start of the project;

*Part-time is defined as those employed less than 30 hours per week.
**Precariously is defined as those who are employed but at risk of losing a job and in need of training for a new job.

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College Admissions Prerequisites

The above are the minimum grant eligibility requirements potential participants must meet before moving forward with the application process.

Additional admission requirements are set by Discovery Community College in line with their standard admission prerequisites, including:

  • Grade 12 graduation or mature student status (19+)
  • Meet English language competency requirements:
    • Proof of completion of Grade 10 English or higher for native speakers
    • Proof of standardized English language assessment test for non-native speakers

Key Dates

Pre-screening/interviews: Actively accepting applications.

Skills training dates: October 27, 2025 – July 3, 2026

How to Apply

If you meet the minimum CWRG Eligibility Criteria & Discovery Community College’s Prerequisites, please click here to apply through BCCPA’s application form.

General Enquiries

For general enquiries or assistance, please contact BCCPA’s Programs department:

Email: programs[at]bccare.ca

FAQs

Health Care Assistants (HCAs), sometimes referred to as Care Aides, provide important personal assistance and support services for a wide variety of medical clients including seniors, injured or disabled persons and chronically ill people who require short-term assistance or ongoing support. HCAs work in a variety of health care settings including long-term care, assisted living, and in the community providing home care.

HCAs assist clients with mobility, activities of daily living, and personal care. They observe and monitor clients, complete records, and report changes and unsafe conditions to their supervisor. HCAs are supervised by nurses and other regulated health care professionals.
The HCA Diploma Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line caregivers and respected members of the health care team. Under the direction and supervision of a health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being of clients. Those who choose careers as HCAs are looking to help other people and make a difference.

Learn more about becoming an HCA at www.choose2care.ca or visit the FAQ section on our Health Human Resources information page here.
BCCPA has obtained grant funding from the Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG) to train HCAs in B.C.'s Prince George and West Kootenays regions via Discovery Community College's HCA Diploma program.

The funding allows BCCPA to fully fund the Diploma tuition cost for participants, as well as provide an up to $5,000 in additional financial supports during training.

Students enrolled in the program will receive part-time skills training by way of the provincially approved curriculum for health care assistants. Participants will also benefit from enhanced occupational health and safety training.
As a CWRG participant, the full cost of the HCA Diploma Program tuition is covered through the grant funds. Additionally, participants are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in additional participant financial supports to help eliminate barriers to their successful program completion, such as childcare, transportation and other eligible training supports.
The training program will be delivered through varying schedules throughout the program components. The theory component will take place online with synchronous Monday-Thursday daily sessions. On-site lab and practice education components will be completed in the community with varying schedules. In total, the entire program consists of 780 hours of training.

Participants are expected to have a flexible schedule to accommodate the variable scheduling requirements throughout the theory, lab and practice education program components.
Through the onset and completion of the program and obtaining employment in the field, students will share their participant success story to highlight how the program has benefitted them. Further, students will be expected to complete a final student outcomes evaluation survey and provide any follow up employment outcomes information post-program completion.
Upon completion of the HCA Training Program, graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of practice settings, including home support, assisted living, long-term care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care. As our population ages, demand for senior care services continues to increase, meaning that HCAs are one of the fastest-growing occupations in all regions of British Columbia, as well as across Canada, with high job prospects.
The theory component is delivered online. The practical component of the program will be conducted in-person at participating care homes.

While COVID-19 specific mandates have been lifted, students are still expected to comply with provincial Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures at all times while in care settings. These measures are essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
The Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG) provides funding for communities and industries to support in-demand skills training leading to secure and sustainable employment for unemployed or underemployed (part-time, seasonal or casual) British Columbians. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
Due to funding eligibility guidelines, only those who are either a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person entitled to work in Canada are eligible for Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG) funding. Note: Participants with SINs beginning with ‘9’ will need to additionally provide a valid protected status document, a valid work permit, as well as a valid study permit which cover the entire training period for eligibility verification purposes.
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