Health Care Aide Certificate

Academic Requirements

The Academic Requirements for the Health Care Aide Certificate program are as follows:

• Academic Requirements:
  • English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2 with a minimum grade of 60%, or
  • English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 with a minimum grade of 55%, or
  • Satisfactory results on the Bow Valley College Admission and Placement Test.
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR):
  • If applying for PLAR, proof of previous employment totaling a minimum of 600 hours within the past three years as a Health Care Aide (HCA) or personal care provider is required.
• Transcripts may be required to be evaluated by WES in some cases.
• It is recommended that you apply at least 8 months prior to the program start date due to the popularity of the program.

For international students, it is important to note that:

• A current Police Information Check (PIC) with a Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) must be submitted prior to your first work integrated learning placement.
• International applicants will need to obtain a co-op permit prior to any Work Integrated Learning experience.

For any clarification and support regarding the admission process, please contact LOA Portal's advisors.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Before you apply, make sure you meet the language proficiency requirements for your program. Bow Valley College teaches courses in Canadian English. To be admitted, you must demonstrate English proficiency, usually through high school or college transcripts or an English language test, depending on your program.

English language test results are valid for two (2) years from the day of testing. Results that expire before the program start date cannot be accepted. Official results must be submitted.

The following English language tests are accepted:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)
• CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks)
• Duolingo
• PTE (Pearson Test of English)
• CELBAN (Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses)
• CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
• OET (Occupational English Test)

The English language requirements apply to all Bow Valley College programs except for specific programs, including the Health Care Aide Certificate, which has its own requirements listed below.

For the Health Care Aide Certificate, candidates whose first language is not English must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:

• Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB): 7 in each strand
• Duolingo: 95
• IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall, with no section score below 5.5
• TOEFL: 71
• CELBAN: 7 in each area of listening, reading, writing, and speaking
• CELPIP: 7 general, with no section score below 6.0

Alternatively, candidates can meet the requirement by:

• Three (3) years of full-time secondary education at a Canadian high school where English was the language of instruction.
• Two (2) years full-time study at a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada where English was the language of instruction.
• Presenting a Canadian high school equivalency diploma (i.e., General Education Development test or GED).

These regulations are adapted from the Government of Alberta "HCA Curriculum (2019) Road Map" dated July 2022 and are not set by Bow Valley College.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors. The listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission. Do not worry, we will notify you of any changes during the application process.