Health Care Assistant Certificate

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) program combines theory courses, lab skills and clinical practicums in real-world health care settings. Students learn to provide personal care to clients and residents in complex care, specialized dementia care, selected acute care settings and in the community.

The HCA certificate is normally an 8-month, full-time program offered in an accelerated format that allows students to complete the program inmonths. Classes are taught by experienced health professionals who share their stories about clinical practice.

Applications for the Fall 2021 intake at our North Vancouver and Sunshine Coast campuses are currently reserved for participants in the provincial government's Health Career Access program (HCAP), which is designed to increase the number of health care assistants in long-term care and assisted living services.

The HCAP program provides a path for applicants with no health care experience to get hired and receive paid employer-sponsored health care assistant training at an approved post-secondary institution such as CapU as part of their employment.

To apply for this program, see the provincial government's HCAP program.

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • Required minimum marks:
    • online test (TOEFL iBT^®): 83
    • paper-delivered test: 560
  • Capilano University TOEFL code: 0505
• ELA (English Language Assessment Test)
  • Required minimum mark: 145
• Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• Required minimum mark: 6.5 overall, with no single score below 6
• Alternate contact: ielts@sfu.ca
• CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment Test)
  • Required minimum mark: 70
• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English – Academic)
  • Required minimum mark: 56
• DET (Duolingo English Test) – Being accepted on a temporary basis until the Fall 2022 term
  • Required minimum mark: 110

Find a program that interests you

Each program may have unique requirements for admissions.

• Review the admissions information for your program of interest to find out if there are more steps.
• Check the application and document deadlines for your program.

Find a Program

Learn about CapU's admission requirements

Most CapU programs need proof that you:

• Have completed or are in the process of completing secondary school. View our International Secondary School Equivalencies (pdf) for more information.
• Meet our English language proficiency requirement.

Admission Requirements

Submit your application on EducationPlannerBC

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC, a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

• When you submit your application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of C$135, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs.
• You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
• If your original transcripts and supporting documents are not written in English, please submit a translated copy.

Apply on EducationPlannerBC

Receive an acknowledgement email

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC, you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

• This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
• Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
• All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
• If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Funding for International Students

Submit your official transcripts for Transfer Credit

For students who have previously attended post-secondary in Canada or outside of the country, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credits.

Please send all official documents for Transfer Credit to:

Capilano University
Centre for International Experience
Library Building, room LB127
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Official high school, university or college transcripts

Students must submit official high school and university or college transcripts for admission.

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing high school, university, or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Certified documents

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Only accept translations made by a certified translator.

Original academic documents

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Complete any additional program requirements

Some programs may have more steps for admission. You will need to work directly with that program to complete your application.

• Examples of these extra requirements may include a portfolio submission, interview or audition.

Receive letter of offer

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCapU email inbox.

• You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer.
• This deposit will go towards your first semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CapU.

Receive letter of acceptance and apply for a study permit

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance in your myCapU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew, a study permit.

• Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.

Permits & Visas

Get ready for your first day

Once you've been accepted into a program and have applied for your study permit, you'll need to start planning your courses.

• You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
• View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day.

Info for Admitted International Students