Health Care Aide
In-person + virtual classroom in Calgary, day/evening/weekend
A Health Care Aide provides direct care to patients who are ill, elderly or disabled.
- Program length
- 32 weeks (about 7 months)
- Next start date
- Oct 19, 2026
- Credential
- Certificate
- Tuition
- $12,950
- employed in field within 6 months
- 99%
- supervised clinical practicum
- 320 hrs
- students per cohort (avg)
- 12
The training
Your clinical practicum is spent with Alberta employers in long-term care, home care and acute care.
From day one you practise real care skills in our Calgary campus labs - safe transfers, personal care, and patient communication - guided step by step until they feel like second nature.
What you'll learn
Foundations of CaregivingWeeks 1-4
Roles, responsibilities, scope of practice, ethics, and the Alberta care system.
Anatomy, Physiology & NutritionWeeks 5-9
Body systems, common conditions, medication awareness, nutrition & hydration.
Personal & Clinical CareWeeks 10-16
Bathing, mobility, transfers, wound care basics, vitals, infection control.
Mental Health & Cognitive CareWeeks 17-20
Dementia care, behavioral response, cultural safety, trauma-informed practice.
End-of-Life & Family SupportWeeks 21-23
Palliative approach, grief, advance care planning, supporting families.
Clinical PracticumWeeks 24-30
320 hours in long-term care + home care + acute care with Alberta employers.
Admission requirements
- Age 18+ by program start date
- Grade 10 English or CLB 7+ for newcomers
- Standard First Aid + CPR-C (we can arrange)
- Negative TB test (recent within 6 months)
- Updated immunizations per Alberta Health
- Clean Police Information Check with vulnerable sector
Where this program leads in Alberta
- Graduate placement rate
- 99.14%Source: ABES graduate employment figure.
- Alberta salary range
- $19–$26Source: Government of Alberta ALIS 2023 Alberta Wage & Salary Survey and Job Bank Canada. Hourly rates.
Who hires in Calgary
- Alberta Health Services, Carewest, Covenant Health, AgeCare, Bethany Care Society, The Good Samaritan Society (continuing care)
- Bayshore HealthCare, CBI Health (home care)
Day to day tasks
- Helping patients with activities such as bathing, grooming, and dressing
- Helping patients with feeding or exercise
- Assisting with simple wound care, respiratory equipment or urinary care
- Reporting on patient condition to nurses or other staff
Where this credential takes you
The people
This program prepares you to write the Alberta provincial registry exam, and passing it puts you on the registry employers look for; many students have job offers before they finish.
What training here actually looks like
Graduate stories
“The Health Care Aide program was well organized and focused on practical skills that are useful in real life and workplace settings.”
“The college offers a supportive learning environment with flexible options and hands-on training, which makes a solid foundation for your career.”
“I felt supported throughout my journey, and the training helped me gain confidence and knowledge to move forward in my career.”
Supervised practicum placements
You complete 320 hours of supervised clinical practicum in real care settings, building the confidence - and the references - that employers look for before you graduate.
ABES vs Bow Valley College
| What you are comparing | ABES College | Bow Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Program length | 32 weeks (about 7 months) | 2 termsSource: Bow Valley College: Health Care Aide Certificate program page (2026) |
| Tuition (all-in) | $12,950 | not published |
| Upcoming start dates | Oct 19, 2026; Nov 23, 2026 | September 2026, January 2027, May 2027Source: Bow Valley College: Health Care Aide Certificate program page (2026) |
One clear price. Real ways to pay it.
$12,950
Total program cost. Includes books, scrubs, immunization records, and the HCA Alberta provincial registry exam fee.
Ask admissions about bursaries and payment plansLicensing & accreditation
- Government of AlbertaLicensed to deliver the HCA Provincial Curriculum, which the Alberta government developed and owns (Curriculum 2019)Verify with Government of Alberta
- Alberta Advanced EducationLicensed private vocational school under the Private Vocational Training Act (Alberta)
- Years operating35 years of career training in Calgary — established 1991
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Health Care Aide program?
The certificate runs 32 weeks full-time at our Calgary campus and includes a 320-hour clinical practicum with an Alberta healthcare employer. Many students receive job offers before they finish.
What is included in the tuition?
Tuition is $12,950, and that is the total program cost. It includes your books, scrubs, immunization records, and the fee for the Alberta Health Care Aide provincial registry exam, so there are no surprise add-ons.
What are the admission requirements?
You must be 18 by your start date and have Grade 10 English, or a Canadian Language Benchmark of 7 or higher for newcomers. You also need Standard First Aid with CPR-C, a recent negative TB test, current immunizations, and a clean police information check with vulnerable-sector screening. ABES can help you arrange the first aid training.
Do I get a provincial credential?
Yes. The program prepares you for the Alberta Health Care Aide provincial registry exam, and the exam fee is included in your tuition. Passing it puts you on the provincial registry that employers look for.
Where do Health Care Aide graduates work, and what do they earn?
Graduates work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices, private and senior home care, and community clinics. Our graduates report hourly wages of $26 to $29.
When does the next intake start?
Health Care Aide intakes start several times a year. You can see the next start date at the top of this page. An admissions advisor can confirm the upcoming intakes and walk you through what to complete before your first day.
What do Health Care Aides earn in Alberta?
ALIS puts starting pay around $19–$20/hr (about $40,000 a year full-time), typical pay at ~$22.77/hr (about $46,000), and experienced pay at $24–$26/hr (about $52,000). Wages are Government of Alberta ALIS 2023 Alberta Wage & Salary Survey and Job Bank Canada figures. The hourly rate is the reliable anchor; annual amounts assume full-time work, so part-time or casual roles earn less.
Will I find work after I graduate?
99.14% of ABES graduates from this program are employed. On the wider Alberta picture: HOT (ALIS) / Good (Job Bank), with about 32,100 employed across Alberta. Demand is driven by an aging population, baby-boomer retirements, and ongoing health-care labour shortages — especially in continuing care and rural Alberta.
Who hires Health Care Aides in Calgary?
Alberta Health Services, Carewest, Covenant Health, AgeCare, Bethany Care Society, The Good Samaritan Society (continuing care); Bayshore HealthCare, CBI Health (home care).
How do I advance after I graduate?
With experience alone: Senior / lead HCA, shift lead, or preceptor mentoring new staff. Employer-paid specializations: dementia, palliative, brain-injury, home care. Shift, weekend & night premiums plus seniority steps raise take-home pay. Practical ceiling around $26–$28/hr. With further study: HCA → Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): ~2-yr diploma → ~$31.91/hr avg (~$51,571/yr). LPN → Registered Nurse (RN): 4-yr BScN → ~$47.38/hr avg (~$73,823/yr). HCA experience is the classic springboard into practical nursing; LPN-to-BN bridging ladders toward RN.
Articles about Health Care Aide
Revolutionizing Healthcare Education: The Power and Purpose of Simulation Training at ABES
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- Your Educational Journey at ABES College: Complete Guide to Admissions, Program Options & Student Life
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