This program prepares you for a rewarding career with strong employment opportunities and a clear sense of job satisfaction. As age and illness advance, many people need support from caring individuals who have the compassion and skills to provide basic health services. This program is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to function as a front-line caregiver in a variety of long term care settings, which include both residential care facilities and home support agencies.
Student loans and Alberta Works Grant Funding are available to qualified applicants. If you would like to learn if you qualify for funding, please call our Academic Advising office at 403.529.3819 (Medicine Hat) or 403.362.1677 (Brooks).
Our Health Care Aide program is a one-year certificate program that provides you the theory and hands-on training you’ll need to secure work in the field of health care. For your convenience, this program is available at both our Medicine Hat and Brooks Campuses. This program offers flexibility to students with a variety of needs.
Full-Time Program (includes the Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum)
The full-time program is a concentrated, 20-week learning experience that offers you instruction in the classroom and laboratory, plus practicum placements in Continuing Care, Assisted Living, and Community agencies. The full-time program is offered in September and January in Medicine Hat and, according to demand and student numbers, in Brooks.
Part Time Program (includes the Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum)
A part time learning option is also available. As a part time student, you have the option to attend class with the full time program students to enhance learning and resources or to complete the courses via distance learning for the theory courses and a combination of distance and onsite learning for the skills component. The part time program is accessed on a course-by-course basis. Within the program, some courses require the successful completion of prerequisites. You must complete all seven courses within two years of commencing the program. Courses start in September and January each year.
Prior Learning Assessment
This program option is available to individuals with related work experience, a recommendation from their employer and evidence of successful completion of 20 of the HCA-PPC modules through their employers. Upon admission, successful completion of both theoretical and psychomotor testing components based on the above mentioned modules is expected, in order to continue. You will then complete the HCA-PPC courses 100-116 through the PLA mechanism. This process is normally completed within the distance learning delivery model. If you have not obtained the 20 HCA-PPC modules through your employer, please contact the program coordinator directly at either Medicine Hat or Brooks.
As a graduate, you will be prepared to provide care to older adults experiencing diverse, often complex, health and illness needs. In a hospital or care facility, you will work as part of a team under the direct supervision of an appropriate health care professional. In the home care setting, you will work more independently but still under the direction of a health professional. Health Care Aides assist in these areas:
Our Health Care Aide program includes the Health Care Aide Provincial Prototype Curriculum (HCA-PPC). The program offers you the flexibility of studying full or part-time. Both options provide instruction in the classroom and laboratory, plus practicum placements in continuing care, assisted living, and community agencies. Within the program, some courses require the successful completion of pre-requisites. You must complete all seven courses within two years of commencing the program. Courses normally start in September and January each year.
Graduates of the program will find employment opportunities with:
You will be required to submit official transcripts showing credit in
Pre-Program Requirements
You must submit the following documentation prior to the first day of classes:
The program is based on the Government of Alberta Health Care Aide Curriculum and covers all areas included in the competency list for workers in Alberta. The MHC program consists of eight courses:
HCAP 120 Safety HCAP 121 Caring for the Client HCAP 122 Medication Delivery and Dementia HCAP 130 Foundations and Communication HCAP 131 The Body and The Mind HCAP 132 Knowledge and Skills I HCAP 133 Knowledge and Skills II HCAP 134 Practicum
To complete this program you must
Should you fail to achieve these outcomes you will be required to withdraw from the program.
*Each course contains a number of modules. Following the review of each module, you are required to achive 80% on the written module post-test.
It is expected that you will maintain the required level of competency in each skill throughout the program. You may be required to withdraw at any time should your performance in relation to the delivery of safe and professional care and/or maintenance of program standards be questionable.
In January 2003, the Health Care Aide program introduced a revised curriculum based on new provinical guidelines. Participation in this certificate update program would be open to previous graduates of a recognized program (to be determined on an individual basis by the program coordinator). The program consists of three 21-hour courses: medication administration, psychomotor skills and demnetia care. Since the program has been in evolution, some of the potential participants may have already comleted one or more of the components. The program coordinator will evaluate deficiencies in current certificates on an individual basis. Admission Requirements You must be a graduate of a recognized certificate program as determined by the program coordinator on an individual basis. Program Requirements To attain full certification, you must successfully complete one or more of the offered components, based on the deficiences of your current certificate. (as evaluated on an individual basis by the program coordinator). HCAP 104 Mediction Administration HCAP 105 Psychomotor Skills HCAP 106 Dementia Care
Graduation Requirements
In January 2003, the Health Care Aide program introduced a revised curriculum based on new provincial guidelines. Participation in this certificate update program would be open to previous graduates of a recognized program (to be determined on an individual basis by the program coordinator). The program consists of three 21-hour courses: medication administration, psychomotor skills and dementia care. Since the program has been in evolution, some of the potential participants may have already completed one or more of the components. The program coordinator will evaluate deficiencies in current certificates on an individual basis.
Admission Requirements
You must be a graduate of a recognized certificate program as determined by the program coordinator on an individual basis.
Program Requirements
To attain full certification, you must successfully complete one or more of the offered components, based on the deficiencies of your current certificate. (As evaluated on an individual basis by the program coordinator).
Medicine Hat College distributes over $300,000 in scholarships and bursaries each year. Applying online is easy!
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There are several options to assist you in funding your education at MHC. Find out what option is best for you.
Academic Advising info@mhc.ab.ca Tel: 403.529.3819Toll Free: 1.866.282.8394
Tel: 403.362.1677 (Brooks)
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