Program Overview

Thanks to funding by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is training 10 new Therapeutic Recreation Assistants in select communities across Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, and Sea to Sky regions of B.C. Students enrolled in the program will receive skills training by way of an industry recognized curriculum for TRAs, delivered in partnership with Stenberg College.

In partnership with the Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG), BCCPA will cover the entire cost of tuition for participants, as well as provide additional training supports.

BCCPA has gained strong support for this initiative from several employers in each 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.

The program will be delivered over the course of 47 weeks, including 40 weeks for theory, and 7 weeks for practice education. The theory component is delivered entirely online. In total, the entire program consists of 1336 hours of training.

CWRG Eligibility Criteria

Participants must:

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• 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 12 months 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 30 hours or less 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.

Stenberg College Admissions Prerequisites

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

Additional admission requirements are set by Stenberg 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 12 English or equivalent for native speakers
  • Proof of standardized English language assessment test for non-native speakers
• Completion of a Criminal Record Consent Form under the Criminal Record Review Act

Key Dates

Pre-screening/interviews: Actively accepting applications.

Skills training dates:

• August 28, 2024 – August 4, 2025

How to Apply

We are currently accepting applications for applicants residing in the following regional communities:

• Vancouver Island: Campbell River, Courtenay, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Sidney, Saanich, Esquimalt
• Sunshine Coast: Gibsons
• Sea to Sky: Squamish

If you meet the minimum CWRG Eligibility Criteria & Stenberg College Admissions Prerequisites, please click here to apply through BCCPA’s training intake request form.

General Enquiries

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

Email: programs [at] bccare.ca
Phone: 604-736-4233 ext. 246

About Therapeutic Recreation Assistants

Learn More

Learn more about Stenberg College’s TRA Program here.

FAQs