The HCA pathway prepares learners for certification as unregulated care providers to work in a variety of care settings including, but not restricted to, continuing care (i.e., home, facility, and supportive), community living, stable acute care, and mental health programs. This pathway can only be offered through a partnership (i.e., a memorandum of understanding) with a post-secondary institution that has received licensing from Alberta Health for use of the Government of Alberta HCA Provincial Curriculum.

Instruction of these courses must come from an individual with a minimum qualification of a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

The Government of Alberta HCA competency profile can be accessed at Alberta Health Care Aide competency profile. (https://open.alberta.ca/publications/9781460137253)

High school students enrolled in HCA must complete, prior to writing the provincial HCA examination, the following:

• English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2, with a minimum mark of 60%, or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent
• OR
• English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, with a minimum mark of 55%, or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent

The Government of Alberta HCA Provincial Curriculum is designed to be offered as an eight (8)-month program run over two (2) terms. Many post-secondary institutions also offer other programs tailored to student choice, such as part-time and distance delivery. A dual credit HCA program may be offered with an alternate delivery schedule.

HCA students must achieve a minimum final grade of 70% in each course and pass the provincial HCA examination to graduate from the HCA program and receive the Government of Alberta HCA Provincial Curriculum Certificate.

The primary delivery method for the following courses must be off-campus.

• HCA3421: Clinical Placement 1
• HCA3436: Clinical Placement 2
• HCA3441: Consolidated Clinical Placement