Rosewood College’s Health Care Aide program offers a balanced combination of online and in-person learning, designed to provide students with the knowledge, practical skills, and real healthcare experience needed to succeed.

This program is delivered through a hybrid model and cannot be completed entirely online. Students must be available in Calgary for in-person theory classes, lab classes, and clinical placements.

• Theory and Lab Classes – 24 Weeks
  Theory classes are delivered through a hybrid model, combining in-person instruction with online learning through Microsoft 365 Teams. Lab classes are completed on-site at Rosewood College, where students practise hands-on skills in a structured and supportive environment.

  2. Clinical Placements – 8 Weeks
  Students complete clinical placements at approved healthcare sites, where they apply their classroom and lab learning in real-world care settings. Clinical shifts are typically 8 hours and may be scheduled on any day of the week, depending on site availability. Placement locations may vary, and program completion dates may be adjusted based on clinical placement availability.

  Class Schedule
  Classes are held Monday to Friday in 4-hour sessions. Online components follow the same scheduled structure as face-to-face classes to ensure consistent learning and participation. Students engage in interactive webinars, discussion forums, group work, and daily tests.

  Student Support and Ratios
  Rosewood College is committed to providing a supportive learning environment with low facilitator-to-student ratios:

  • Lab: 1 facilitator to 12 students

  • Practicum: 1 facilitator to 8 students

• Licensed by the Private Vocational Training Branch of the Government of Alberta.

• Eligible for student aid financing.

A passing grade in the HCA Provincial Comprehensive Exam is a requirement for being awarded the HCA Certificate. This exam must be written after the student has successfully passed their Course 9 Clinical III. 

Students must meet the following requirements for entry into the HCA Program:

• Grade 11, 20-2 level course, with a minimum score of 60% achieved or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent; OR

• English 20-1 with a minimum of 60% achieved or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent; OR

• English 30-1 or 30-2 with a minimum of 55% or Canadian jurisdiction equivalent; OR

• Deemed equivalent by completion of ACCUPLACER (assessment placement test).

NOTE: Students who have not completed the ELA, 20-2 level requirement and achieved the minimum grade must complete the ACCUPLACER assessment test. This may include students out of province or out of country or mature students that have been out of school for a significant length of time.

Candidates for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) must meet the following English Language Proficiency requirement in addition to the Academic English requirements detailed above. Equivalencies are as follows:

• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of a minimum of 7 in each of the 4 language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and not an average of 7; OR

• Completion of high school in Canada. To meet this requirement studies must have been in English at an approved Canadian high school with at least three consecutive years of full-time academic study; OR

• By completing a recognized post-secondary degree or diploma program in Canada. To meet this requirement the program must have involved at least two full years of full-time, consecutive academic study in English.

The following English Language Proficiency Tests are accepted by Rosewood as an indication of the CLB requirement detailed above:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: 6 (there must be no section score below 5.5); OR

• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Testing (TOEFL iBT): 71; OR

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General: 7 (with no section score below 6); OR

• Canadian Language Benchmarks/Milestones Test (7 in each strand, not an average of 7).

NOTE: All test results must have been obtained within two years of the start date of the program. IELTS (Academic) and TOEFL results are valid for two years from the day of testing. Results that expire prior to the start date of the HCA program will not be accepted.

Students choosing to take the Duolingo English Test must score a minimum of 95. Students may take this test by clickinghere.

Candidates must possess knowledge of computer and technology tools to be successful in the program. Candidates must:

• Be able to communicate, research and understand information;

• Know how to use computer to email and surf the web;

• Be able to critically evaluate and understand how technology can affect one’s behaviour; AND

• Be able to create and produce content and effectively communicate using email, media, and the internet.

Domestic: $13,500

International: $18,750

Program fees include ALL textbooks and supplies.

Eligible for student aid financing.