Admission Requirements

1.  Applicants must be at least 19 years of age prior to start of the study period, or must be graduated from Grade 12 (or equivalent).

2.  Applicants must provide proof of meeting HCA Program Entry- English Competency Requirements (Please refer to the HCA Program Entry- English Language Competency Requirements.)

• For applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English*: English 10 completion or equivalent

• For applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English*: Standardized English language proficiency test score

*Defined as three (3) years of full-time secondary and/or post-secondary education at a recognized institution on the list of Approved English Speaking Countries. Secondary education will be considered starting from grade 8. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be considered.



3.  International applicants must provide a clear police certificate from the country of origin.

*International applicants who cannot provide a police certificate from their country of origin will be directed to:

• Provide proof they requested a police certificate from the correct authorities

• Write a letter explaining all they did to try to get one

Health Care Assistant – Accelerated
2026
February 2nd / March 2nd / April 20th / June 22nd / July 20th /August 24th /September 28th /

DOMESTIC
Non-refundable Application Fee: $250
Tuition: $9,700
Materials/Supplies: $600
Textbook fee: $150 
Administrative fee: $150 
Other fee: $170

INTERNATIONAL

Non-refundable Application Fee: $500
Tuition: $12,000
Materials/Supplies: $600
Textbook fee: $180 
Administrative fee: $150 
Other fee: $439

** ALL FEES ARE SHOWN AS CANADIAN DOLLARS**

755 hours over 23 weeks

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be granted the following credentials*:

Health Care Assistant – Accelerated Certifiacte

Dementia Certificate

Medication Assistance Certificate

Provincial Violence Prevention Certificate

WHMIS Certificate

*Graduates of the Health Care Assistant delivered by Gateway College are eligible for registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry

Combined Delivery: Online + On-site (face- to- face)

In-class instruction

Upon completion of the HCA program, graduates are prepared to work in a variety of practice settings including home support, assisted living, group homes, complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care.

English Language Competency Requirements

1. Applicants who provide evidence of three years of full-time instructions in English* must also provide proof of one of the following:

a.   Completion of Grade 10 English (or higher). A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.

b.   Completion of college courses determined to be equivalent to Grade 10 English (or higher) by post-secondary institutions. A minimum of a C grade is acceptable.

c.   ACCUPLACER Next Generation Test Result: Reading (230), Writing (230), Writeplacer (4)

2. Applicant who cannot provide evidence of three years of full-time instruction in English are required to provide proof of one of the following standardized proficiency tests from an authorized assessment agency

a. Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) or CLBPT Remote: Test in the last year. Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6 (Note: a CLB Report Card from a LINC Program indicating “Completing” CLB Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7 and Writing 7 AND “Recommended Class Placement” as Speaking 8, Listening 8, Reading 8 and Writing 8 may also be accepted.)
Note*Gateway College must verify the result directly with the assessment centre. Only verified results will be accepted

b. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General) : Test in the last two years, Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6
Note*Gateway College must verify the result through the verification portal. Only verified results will be accepted

c. International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic, IETLS General or IETLS Academic Online): Test in the last two years: Overall score of 6 with a minimum of 6 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 5.5 in Reading and Writing
Note*Gateway College must verify the result through the verification portal. Only verified results will be accepted.

d. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL or CAEL Online): Test in the last two years, Overall Score of 60, with no section less than 50
Note*Gateway College must verify the result through the verification portal(CAEL). Only verified results will be accepted.

e. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home edition): Test in the last two years, Overall score of 76 with no score lower than 20 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 18 in Reading and Writing
Note*Gateway College must verify the result directly with the assessment centre. Only verified results will be accepted.

f. Pearson Test of English (PTE): Test in the last two years. PTE Academic – Overall score of 50 with no score lower than 50 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than 45 in Reading and Writing. PTE Core – No score lower than 68 in Speaking, 60 in Listening, 51 in Reading and 60 Writing.
Note*Gateway College must verify the result through the verification portal. Only verified results will be accepted.

g. Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses (CELBAN): Test in the last two years, Listening 7, Speaking 7, Reading 6 and Writing 6
Note*Gateway College must verify the result directly with the assessment centre. Only verified results will be accepted.

h. Occupational English Test (OET): computer only (test in the last two years) with no score lower than C/280 in Speaking and Listening and no score lower than C/250 in Reading and Writing.
Note*Gateway College must verify the result through the verification portal. Only verified results will be accepted.

The following are to be completed prior to the first practice education experience:
• First Aid Certification
• CPR Level “C” Certification or “Basic Life Support (BLS)” Certification
• FoodSafe Level 1 Certification (or a certification course deemed equivalent)
• Completion of the Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) (available on the Learning Hub), which must include the following:
• A signed checklist SPECO Checklist. Pdf (phsa.ca)
• Proof of meeting current immunizations / vaccinations as per health care organization policies / guidelines (or signed vaccination exemption form, except TB)
• Criminal record check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults*
• Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum E-Learning Modules
• WHMIS – Provincial Course
• Completion of the Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules (LearningHub)
• Completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course (learningHub)
* Additional Police Certificate from the country of origin, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults, is required for international students.