Frequently Asked Questions

The timeline for the completion of application requirements will vary depending on the individual. It depends on various factors, including application criteria/process requirements, wait time to book the HCA competency assessment and complete additional education, if required. It could take as little as four months or up to one year. To streamline this process, the following is recommended: 

• Ensure your online application is complete 

• Return the Inspire consent form right away (after receiving the signed form, applicants are referred to a competency assessment within 15 business days) 

• Follow up with Inspire on next steps, returning the Non-Disclosure Agreement without delay 

• Pay and book your assessments at the next available time slots 

• Work with the HCA Consultant for financial support 

• After you receive your Performance Report issued by Inspire Global Assessments, you may wish to waive the reconsideration period (15 day) so that the Registry receives your report as soon as possible and can determine if further education is required to become registered 

• Enroll and complete any additional education as soon as possible to become registered, if required 

• Within 5-10 days of receiving completed education evidence, you will be registered 

Further information is also available on the Inspire website.

Those who have been educated as an HCA in Canada may review the application requirements for the Expedited Pathway for Graduates of an HCA Program in Canada (or equivalent) on the Registry website.

To qualify for this pathway, you must meet certain requirements, including proof of a Canadian HCA Program credential and recent HCA work experience, amongst other requirements.

As an Internationally Educated Health Care Professional (IEHCP), you will need to supply evidence of English language proficiency to prove you can listen, speak, read, and write in English. If your first language is not English, you will need to upload evidence of an official English Language Proficiency Test.

Additional information about IEHCP accepted language proficiency tests and test scores can be found here - English Language Proficiency Test Information Sheet.

After completing the competency assessment components, you can expect to receive the Performance Report issued by Inspire Global Assessments within 60 calendar days (or less). If you do not waive your reconsideration period after receiving your report, it will not be released to the Registry for 15 days. After receiving your Report, the Registry will determine if you: 

May be directly registered (no undemonstrated competencies); or 

If additional education is required (to address undemonstrated competencies) a Remedial Education Referral Letter will be issued to you. 

If you are referred to remedial education courses as a final step in the registration process, you may be eligible for the Remedial Education Bursary through the HCA Bursary Program (HCA Competency Assessment & Remedial Education). You can expect to receive communication from the HCA team to schedule a call with the HCA Consultant to discuss your eligibility for this bursary and receive support to navigate the course options. Once all requirements have been successfully completed, the Registry will process your registration and provide you with a number within 5-10 business days.

Candidates have six months to complete both parts of the competency assessments. The assessment components, the CBA and SLA must be completed within three months of each other. This is because the competency assessment evaluates competencies and knowledge at a specific point in time; the more time that elapses, the less valid the results. If you feel that you will take longer than one year to complete the competency assessment process, please contact Inspire.

Please review the information on the Inspire FAQ page about scheduling the SLA assessments. The SLA calendar is published on the Inspire website every 2-3 months.

A testing accommodation refers to a modification that is made to the assessment to support applicants with medical, physical, psychological, or learning conditions, or to observe a spiritual or religious observance.  You must apply for an assessment accommodation separately for the CBA and for the SLA. All accommodations must be pre-approved prior to your assessment date. Please contact Inspire directly to request an accommodation.

The days of interval between both CBA and SLA assessments will depend on scheduling and availability of assessment slots. It may be possible to schedule both assessments within a 2-day interval, though some candidates prefer more time between. The assessment components, the CBA and SLA must be completed within three months of each other.

For anyone needing to travel from outside the Lower Mainland to take the CBA and SLA in Vancouver, you can contact Inspire at info@inspireassessments.org  so that you can combine both assessments into one trip. The exact schedule will depend on the availability of assessment slots. It may be possible to schedule both assessments within a 2-day interval.

This information is found on the Inspire FAQ. Prometric is the testing company that runs the Computer-Based Assessment (CBA); they have testing centres all over the world. In British Columbia, the only testing centre is in Vancouver. Visit www.Prometric.com to find the testing site nearest you.

1. The only Prometric testing centre location in British Columbia is in Vancouver, but they do have other locations across Canada and globally. When you are scheduling your Computer-Based Assessment (CBA), you can choose a location nearest/most convenient for you.
2. Inspire only offers the Simulation-Lab Assessment (SLA) at Langara College in Vancouver or BCIT in Burnaby.

Once Inspire has processed your referral, you’ll receive an email asking you to register for an online Inspire account. Here you will need to submit a Confidentiality and Consent agreement. After you submit these documents, you can expect to receive an email inviting you to pay for your assessment within 15 business days. If you are still waiting for an email communication with next steps, you are encouraged to follow up with Inspire directly.

You can find a list of suggested resources to help you prepare for the CBA and SLA assessments on the How to Prepare page.

The HCA bursary is structured as a reimbursement. You must first pay the assessment fees for the CBA and SLA. After payment has been received by Inspire, you will be invited to schedule the assessments. Once you receive your scheduled date for the SLA, the next step is to schedule a consultation call with the HCA team to discuss your eligibility for the bursary. This call, outlines the HCA assessment components and completion timeframes to ensure eligibility to receive the bursary funds. After the call you will receive a link to complete the online application form. 

You can find a summary of the competency assessment fees on the Fees page on the Inspire website.

To be eligible for the HCA Competency Assessment Bursary, you must: 

• Have submitted an application to the Registry. 

• Have the intention of completing Remedial Education courses (if required) to become a registered HCA. 

• Have a scheduled date for the HCA Single Track Simulation-Lab Assessment (SLA) component. 

• Have submitted original receipts for the HCA Single Track CBA and SLA assessments. 

• Have completed a consultation call with the HCA team. 

• Have, with the support of the HCA team, completed the Important Timelines outlined in their application form within the established timeframes. 

• Submit a completed Competency Assessment Bursary Application Form with all supporting documents. 

• Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). Applicants without a valid SIN may be eligible for bursary support but will not receive payment until they have a valid Canadian SIN. 

• Have or will receive the competency assessment outcome within three months of the application form submission date. 

To be eligible for the HCA Remedial Education Bursary, you must: 

• Have submitted an application to the Registry. 

• Have completed all components of the HCA Single Track competency assessment (i.e. CBA & SLA). 

• Following completion of the HCA Single Track competency assessment, the applicant was not immediately eligible for registration with the Registry and received a Remedial Education Referral Letter outlining the need for additional education. 

• Have completed a consultation call with the HCA team. 

• Have completed all of the remedial education requirements as mutually agreed upon with the HCA Team. 

• Submit a completed Remedial Education Bursary Application Form with all supporting documents. 

• Submitted original receipts for the remedial education courses.
  

• Send confirmation of obtaining Registry number by the Registry to info@choose2care.ca within the timeframe set out in the Bursary application Form. 

• Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). Applicants without a valid SIN may be eligible for bursary support but will not receive payment until they have a valid Canadian SIN. 

The HCA Competency Assessment Bursary consists of a one-time payment of up to $2,100 to help cover the costs associated with the HCA Single Track Assessment. 

You may also be eligible for a Rural Travel Allowance to help off set the costs associated with travel and accommodation to complete the competency assessment. The allowance is a one-time payment ranging from $750 to $1,000 and is calculated based on the distance between your primary residence and the SLA site. 

The Remedial Education Bursary is a one-time payment to help cover the costs associated with any remedial education required for registration and as directed by the Registry. This bursary is a one-time payment ranging from $150 to $3,500, proportionate to the cost of the required courses. 

You may also be eligible for a Rural Travel Allowance if you are living in a rural and remote location and have been referred to a remedial course with a mandatory in-person component. This allowance is a one-time payment ranging from $750 to $1,000 and based on the distance between your primary residence and the nearest institution that offers this course. 

Note: The bursaries are offered based on available funds remaining as Health Match BC has limited funding available. Bursaries are issued to eligible applicants on a first come first served basis until the available funds run out. 

The HCA Bursary does not cover costs of study materials. The bursary includes financial assistance for the Computer-Based Assessment (CBA) and Simulation Lab Assessment (SLA) assessment fees.

At this time, the HCA Bursary is only to help cover costs associated with the HCA Competency Assessment registration pathway (i.e. competency assessments costs and remedial education costs if applicable). Please review other financial support options you may be eligible for, including student loans and scholarships on the Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals page or the Graduates of HCA Programs (in Canada, Outside BC) page.

Yes, you may still be eligible for the HCA Bursary.

You are eligible to receive the HCA Competency Assessment Bursary if you have received a decision from the BC Registry based on your Performance Report in the last three months. Similarly, you are eligible for the Remedial Education bursary if your Registry number has not been issued more than three months ago.

1. As outlined in the eligibility criteria, you are eligible to receive the bursary funds when you complete all components of the HCA competency assessments (i.e. CBA & SLA) and the BC Care Aide Registry has received a copy of your Performance Report issued by Inspire Global Assessments within the timeframe agreed upon in the application form.
   
2. Eligibility for the HCA Competency Assessment Bursary is not contingent on your performance on the competency assessments. Please note that the competency assessment is not a pass or fail. The Performance Report identifies any gaps in competencies to meet the entry-level expectations of Health Care Assistants in BC.

Yes, you still qualify for the HCA Bursary if you are currently or have previously received Employment Insurance (EI).

You do not need to be a Permanent Resident to qualify for the bursary. Having said this, you must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), attached to a valid work permit (i.e. not expired) to be able to receive the bursary funds.

The bursary is structured as a reimbursement once all competency assessment components and/or remedial education courses have been successfully completed within the timeframes established.

Please review other financial support options you may be eligible for, including student loans and scholarships on the Internationally Educated Health Care Professionals page or the Graduates of HCA Programs (in Canada, Outside BC) page.

Eligible applicants can participate in both the HCA Bursary Program (HCA Competency Assessment & Remedial Education)  and the Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants – Health program at Douglas College. Both programs work together to ensure the best support is provided to applicants. However, the programs will not provide funding for the same expenses. For example, an applicant cannot receive the HCA Competency Assessment Bursary from the HCA team and be reimbursed for the competency assessment fees by the Career Pathways program. You are required to disclose any and all prospective sources of funding that will directly support education and registration pathways to becoming an HCA, including funding received from Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants.

You are eligible to participate in the HCA competency assessment workshop only if you are registered with the Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program. You can visit douglascollege.ca/careerpaths to learn more about the program and apply.

You can find a list of suggested resources to help you prepare for the CBA and SLA assessments on the How to Prepare page. You may also wish to research Preparation courses offered by schools in BC.

For more information on these funding options, please visit the following websites:

1. BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) for more information about the funding available for the HCA Training Program.
2. Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program: Health for more information about the funding available.

If you are looking to complete the HCA Full program as an alternative to the HCA competency assessment, you can browse the recognized programs near your location on the Education page of the Choose2Care website.

If you have been referred to remedial education as part of the competency assessment process, please refer to the recommended schools on the Remedial Education letter issued by the Registry. During the Remedial Education consultation call, we can support you in identifying the best options to complete the course(s).

It is a good idea to explore all of your options before making a decision on which registration pathway you will choose. 

HCA Full program: Please visit the Education page on the Choose2Care website to browse HCA programs recognized by the BC Care Aide Registry. Contact the school of your choice for more information about admission requirements, course schedules, tuition fees and more. Health Care Assistant training in BC varies from school to school, with the average duration of seven months. Most HCAs graduate, register and start working in less than one year. 

HCA competency assessment: Please visit the Inspire website for information about the process, assessments, and current timelines. 

The terms of the bursary do not specify the means of transportation and the types of accommodation covered. You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements and booking your own accommodation.

To be eligible, you must provide proof of primary residence by submitting one of the accepted documents. The bursary funds are distributed once you completed all requirements outlined in your Bursary Application Form.

If your primary residence is located less than 300km from the SLA site or the post-secondary institution offering the remedial course and you require taking a BC ferry to travel to these locations, you are eligible for the Rural Travel Allowance.

To be eligible for the Expedited Pathway, participants must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Qualifies for registration under the Expedited Pathway category with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry.  

• Submit a completed Expedited Pathway Stipend Application Form with all supporting documents to the HCA Team. 

• Provide a BC Care Aide Registry number and has an Active – Good Standing status. 

• Provide a transcript from the Learning Hub as proof of completion of the HCA Standardized Orientation program. 

• Provide proof of employment as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in BC by having a Nurse Manager or Human Resources Representative submit a satisfactory Confirmation of Employment Letter to the Health Match BC HCA team at info@choose2care.ca 

• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) as of the date the funds are issued to be eligible to receive the stipend. 

To be eligible for the stipend, your employer must provide proof of current employment as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) in British Columbia. 

We cannot accept employment letters from applicants. As outlined on the Expedited Pathway Stipend page, your employer must submit the Confirmation of Employment directly to us at info@choose2care.ca
Please note that this document can be completed by a Human Resources (HR) Department Representative or a Nurse Manager.

Yes, you can work full-time, part-time or casual as an HCA to be eligible for the stipend.

The HCA Team will acknowledge receipt of your application within five (5) to seven (7) business days from the submission date. Please note the processing time may vary if the application is incomplete. 

The receipt of the stipend in full can be expected within 4-6 weeks, with all the required documentation being submitted.

The required qualifications for Health Care Support Workers include:

• Grade 10, including the successful completion of English 10, or equivalency
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with clients, residents, and coworkers
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position
• Ability to operate related equipment

Health Care Support Workers are supervised by Registered Nurses or other regulated health care professionals. They provide a variety of critical non-clinical, non-direct care supports to patients and residents.

Typical duties include:

• Participating as an integral member of a healthcare delivery team
• Establishing a caring relationship with clients, residents, and families
• Providing support and assistance with mealtime activities
• Providing support and assistance in carrying out activities
• Performing housekeeping duties
• Greeting and directing visitors
• Restocking supplies
• Completing and maintaining relevant records

Once accepted into the HCAP program and hired into a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) position, the HCAP Pre-Requisite Stipend of $342.00 is available to support successful applicants with the costs related to the completion of pre-requisite courses. 

Applicants who are required to complete additional requirements as part of HCAP, may be eligible for additional funding.  

* Please note, offers may be contingent upon confirmation of requirements - for example, passing an English proficiency test. In these cases, conditional offers are accepted for an applicant to receive the stipend. 

The stipend is a fixed amount at $342 and not dependent on the type, number, or costs of the pre-requisites required by the applicant. 

Applicants who are required to complete additional requirements as part of HCAP, may be eligible for additional funding.  

A one-time payment of $342.00 will be paid to qualified HCAP applicants based on the following eligibility criteria: 

• Applicants must submit proof of acceptance into HCAP – a complete offer of employment or letter from a hiring manager confirming acceptance into the Health Career Access Program (HCAP), working as a Health Care Support Worker (HCSW).  Offers may be contingent upon confirmation of requirements - for example, passing an English proficiency test. In these cases, conditional offers are accepted for an applicant to receive the stipend. 

* Please note: Acceptance letters from institutions offering the Health Care Assistant Program are not sufficient proof of enrollment into HCAP. 

• Applicants must complete and submit an HCAP Pre-Requisite Stipend Application Form with all supporting documents to the HCA Team. 

• Applicants must provide a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to Health Match BC as of the application date and to receive a T4A, as this stipend is a taxable income.

Further notes on eligibility: 
This stipend is only available to Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents.

Currently, the English Language Tests eligible for funding include:

• Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT)
• CELPIP
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT

Applicants who are required to complete an English Language Proficiency Test as part of their enrollment into the HCAP program, may be eligible for funding in addition to the $342 stipend based on the following criteria: 

• All criteria as outlined for the Stipend. 

• Applicants must submit an official receipt from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test showing the applicant name, institution name, total amount paid, and date. 

If applicants are required to complete an Accuplacer for enrollment into a post-secondary institution, an additional reimbursement is available to cover this cost.

The English Language Test (ELT) stipend is available for up to two (2) attempts of the test, whether an applicant is successful or not. Funding is up to $400 per test and is based on official receipts from a recognized English Language Proficiency Test.

If applicants are required to complete an Accuplacer for enrollment into a post-secondary institution, an additional reimbursement is available to cover this cost.

A second criminal record check may be requested by some Post Secondary Institutes for approval to do practicum training. To qualify for this reimbursement, applicants must provide written confirmation from their employer that an original criminal record check has been completed and they must submit the second criminal record check receipt. 

Once your application has been received, the HCA team will respond to you directly with instructions on how your employer can provide written confirmation.

If a participant needs to update their required immunizations for program compliance, they may do so from their doctor or travel clinic. Health Authority employees can receive these immunizations from their employer. Funding is up to $300 and is based on official receipts.

Reimbursement would be dependent on the participant showing place of employment (confirming it is not a Health Authority site), an itemized receipt limited to: form review or assessment fees; Tdap-IPV (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio/Pertussis); Hepatitis B; MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) and confirmed payment. As the Hepatitis B vaccine is administered in three (3) doses, documentation will only be accepted if the receipt clearly indicates that all three doses have been received.

*If Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test is not covered by your employer or post-secondary institution, you may submit a receipt for reimbursement.

If a participant is asked to complete a Violence Prevention Program by their Post-Secondary Institution, they may be eligible for reimbursement. 

*Applicants must submit proof from the school showing fee paid and course completion.

The stipend is paid via direct deposit after applicants submit all required documents outlined above. Applicants will receive a confirmation email with the date and amount of funds, once the stipend is processed.

The stipend is a taxable income and HEABC will issue a T4A at the end of the year. This is the reason a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) is required as of the application date.

The HCA Team will acknowledge receipt of the application within five (5) to seven (7) business days from the submission date. Please note that the processing time may vary if the application is incomplete. A payment in full can be expected within 4-6 weeks of all required documentation being submitted.

Each eligible recipient will receive up to $10,000 to help offset the APN program tuition and fees.

The bursary will be paid in equal installments on a semester basis to a total of $10,000.

The first payment will be issued once the applicant has submitted all required documentation and considered eligible.

All installments are paid directly to the recipient. Funds will be disbursed by HEABC and may take up to 6 weeks for processing once it is deemed the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

• APN Education Bursary Application Form,
• APN program registration or acceptance letter for intakes beginning between September 1, 2022, and May 31, 2025,
• Void cheque or direct deposit information,
• A copy of applicant’s APN program tuition statement dated no sooner than two weeks following the start of the term,
• Proof of registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry,
• A signed Return of Service agreement with the Ministry of Health committing to 12-months of work within BC’s public health system as a licensed practical nurse upon graduation.

Please note: Bursary recipients must submit additional documentation each semester to continue to receive bursary funds. This includes a copy of the student’s tuition statement each semester, dated no sooner than two weeks from the start of the new term and an unofficial transcript from the last completed semester.

To continue receiving semester-based funds, applicants must submit the following documents each semester:

1. A copy of the applicant’s APN program tuition statement dated no sooner than two weeks following the start of the new term.
2. Unofficial transcripts from the last completed semester.

The applicant must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). This must be received as of the application date and to receive a T4A, as this bursary is a taxable income.

The bursary is open to individuals who began their first term of the APN program between September 1, 2022, and May 31, 2025.

This bursary is for registered HCAs interested in the Access to Practical Nursing program at a qualifying public BC post-secondary institution, beginning their first term between September 1, 2022, and May 31, 2025. The list of qualifying post-secondary institutions is provided in question #9 (see below).

The APN Education Bursary is available to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents only.

Please note HCAs who received the HCA Recruitment Incentive or have completed the Health Career Access Program (HCAP), must complete their existing return of service before they can be eligible for the APN bursary.

Qualifying institutions include any public post-secondary institution in British Columbia offering an APN program that is recognized by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).

Currently, these include:

• Coast Mountain College
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• North Island College
• Northern Lights College
• Okanagan College
• Vancouver Community College
• Vancouver Island University

At this time, private post-secondary institutions do not qualify as part of the APN Education Bursary and therefore applicants from such schools are not eligible for this bursary.

Qualifying applicants must sign a Return of Service (ROS) agreement to receive the APN Education Bursary. This agreement is between the APN bursary recipient and the Ministry of Health of BC. The ROS commits the applicant to working as a licensed practical nurse within BC’s public health system upon graduation for a minimum of 12 months with a ‘Qualified Employer ’.

“Qualified Employer” means a publicly funded health sector employer, such as: (a) a regional health board designated under section 4(1) of the Health Authorities Act, Provincial Health Services Authority, First Nations Health Authority or Providence Health Care; or (b) an employer at long-term care or assisted living facility to the extent the position is to work at such a facility, excluding contract agencies; excluding contract agencies.

This bursary is specific to students in Access to Practical Nursing Programs and not Practical Nursing Programs.

Recipients of the APN bursary are not eligible for the Employer Sponsored Earn and Learn Programs and / or Ministry related bursaries such as the Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) or the Return to Practice Nursing (RTPN) bursary programs and Priority Program Bursaries (and vice versa).

Bursary recipients are required by law to return all bursary funds under the following circumstances:

• The bursary recipient withdraws or is asked to withdraw from the APN program and is therefore unable to fulfill commitments outlined in the Return of Service (ROS) agreement, unless exceptions are made by the Ministry of Health,
• The bursary recipient fails to complete their 12-month ROS commitment (this includes recipient who have either resigned or are terminated from a licensed practical nurse position).

You can search for nursing job listings by public health employer on the BC Health Careers website.

APN bursary applicants must be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. This step ensures that all bursary applicants meet the minimum standard professional requirements set out by the Registry.

Graduates of the APN program can obtain regulatory/licensing requirements from the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives.