Health Care Assistant certificate
(formerly Home Support/Resident Care Attendant certificate)


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job market for Health Care Assistants?
At this time the employment opportunities for HCAs from UFV is improving. Nevertheless, for every available position there are many qualified applicants. A Graduate Questionnaire sent out to all recent graduates indicates that approximately 70% of the class found work within one month after completing the program. All HCAs start with casual work and initially may need to work at two or three job sites in order to get enough hours.

What is the nature of the work done by a Health Care Assistant?
The program trains individuals to provide daily, personal care for elderly individuals with chronic health problems. Many of the HCAs find employment in long term care facilities. Others find employment in home support, providing care in the individual’s home rather than an institutional setting. A small number of HCAs are employed in acute care areas in hospitals. All employment involves working shifts and for the first two to five years will involve being on call 24 hours a day.

What type of a salary can a new graduate of the Health Care Assistant program expect to receive?
Starting salary ranges from $12 to $19 per hour depending on the worksite. Home Support and private facilities tend to pay less, while facilities with union certification pay more.

What kind of a person is best suited for the role of HCA?
The individual best suited for the role of a HCA enjoys working with elderly people and truly cares for them; demonstrates positive characteristics such as patience, honesty, dependability, self motivation, and a desire to be a life long learner; is responsible and mature; and is in excellent physical and mental health as the program and consequent employment is physically and emotionally stressful.

What things should I consider in order to be successful in the program?
The program is a very intense, full time, six-month course of study. It involves classroom learning with significant home work, as well as laboratory and clinical experience. In addition to the qualities above, the successful student needs to have personal affairs such as finances, child care, and transportation arrangements in order. Perfect attendance is expected so appointments should not be scheduled during class, lab, or clinical times.