Acute care HCAP participant resources

The Health Career Access Program is a paid work and training initiative for individuals seeking an entry point to employment in health care. New hires will start as a health care support worker providing non-direct care within the emergency room and receive paid training to become a health care assistant upon successful completion of the program.

The Health Career Access Program happens in three stages:

• Stage one: Join the program as a health care support worker.
• Stage two: Complete basic workplace training and onboarding while working in an emergency room.
• Stage three: Complete post-secondary training to become a health care assistant and work for 12-months as part of your Return of Service agreement.

From your original application to the HCAP program, completing your workplace training and onboarding, to your post-secondary training and your Return of Service work as a health care assistant, it will take approximately 12 months to complete the program.

You will be paid $21.37 per hour when you are working as a Health care support worker.  When you attend school, you are paid a stipend of $801.00 per week if you are studying full-time and the amount is pro-rated if you are studying part-time. (current as of April 2021)

Obligations as a participant of the Health Care Access Program:

• Complete all pre-requisites for post-secondary institutions, including Food Safe and CPR during their workplace training period.
• Start post-secondary training as assigned.
• Work with their employer during non-educational days (up to 37.5 hrs/week) and during school breaks.
• Participate in clinical placement.
• Complete post-secondary training in the health care assistant program.
• Register with B.C. Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry to formally become a health care assistant.
• Apply for postings, provide proof of registry as a health care assistant, fulfilling the Return of Service agreement.