Get some key facts about this career and see where your training can take you.
Learn how to provide safe, compassionate support to people with special healthcare needs. Qualify to work in hospitals, personal care homes, and private residences. Start your career in just 6.5 months.
What is a Health Care Aide?
Health care aides work under the supervision of a nurse. They assist clients who need help with everyday tasks, such as eating, grooming, hygiene, mobility, medication reminders, and therapeutic activities.
- Most health care aides work with seniors
- Some health care aides assist youth and adults with disabilities and people recovering from serious injuries
- Health care aides help seniors live safely in their own homes
- Health care aides help nurses monitor patient health in care homes and hospitals
- Health care aides help families care for loved ones who need special support to meet daily needs
“Health care aides are incredibly valuable to the patients, families, and nurses they work with. They are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the nurses. Plus, they provide a level of emotional support and practical care patients can’t get anywhere else. That’s why we’re seeing such a spike in demand for this role.” (Nancy Scott RN, Instructor)
Herzing College Health Care Aide Program
Herzing College is a leader in quality Health Care Aide training. We offer a comprehensive, up-to-date program that produces graduates employers want to hire.
- 6.5-month diploma program
- Taught by instructors with years of healthcare experience
- 8-week practicum at a care home
- 4 certificates included in the program: First Aid, CPR, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, and P.I.E.C.E.S
- Career support to land your first job after graduation
- Continuously updated course content, reviewed by an expert curriculum committee
- Frequent program start dates
- Financial assistance may be available for students who qualify
Career Outlook
After graduating from our Health Care Aide program, you will be qualified for jobs at:
- Personal care homes
- Hospitals
- Home care companies
- Group homes
Some of our Health Care Aide graduates have also been hired as teaching assistants.
Who Hires Our Grads?
Graduates of our Health Care Aide program have been hired by hospitals and personal care homes:
Study Topics
Herzing’s Health Care Aide training includes courses in patient care techniques, anatomy and physiology, reporting and documentation, hygiene and nutrition.
Click for a detailed description of each course.
This course introduces the foundations of the language of medicine and provides instruction in the organization and structure of the body components (anatomy) and their functions (physiology). Topics include the cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, musculoskeletal, digestive, lymphatic and immune systems and practical laboratory activities associated with health care practice.
This course continues to provide instruction in the organization and structure of the body components (anatomy) and their functions (physiology). Topics include the integumentary, reproductive, nervous, endocrine systems and special senses: the eyes and ears. It presents practical laboratory activities associated with health-care practice, including CPR and First Aid
This course will expose the students to the human development, social, and ethical issues faced by Heath Care Aide workers. Topics will include the role of the Health Care Aide, ethics, sexuality, growth and development, infection control and safety.
This course will continue to expose the students to the human development, social, and ethical issues faced by Health Care Aide workers. Topics will include respite care, nutrition, stress, abuse, substance abuse, religion and culture, death and dying, family, and home management.
This portion of the program focuses on those skills and abilities required to provide health care aide services within the home of a client. Since the home environment is different from an institution, this program exposes students to these differences and ensures that they are able to employ their skills within this environment as well. Topics will include laundry care, bulk meal preparation, light housekeeping, bathing, respite care, palliative care and safety checks.
This course provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge acquired in their Health Care Aide courses and demonstrate mastery of essential practical skills. It emphasizes the development of psychomotor competence, professional practice, and safe, effective client care in a simulated practice setting.
Students will develop, practise, and demonstrate required skills through hands-on learning activities in the lab environment. By the end of each lab session, students are expected to demonstrate proficiency and competence in all assigned skills for that lab.
Students must successfully pass the skills course with a final grade of 80% in order to be eligible for the clinical practicum.
Attendance at all scheduled labs is mandatory. To support skill mastery and the development of psychomotor expertise, students are strongly encouraged to engage in additional practice at home and/or during scheduled open practice lab times.
The instructor-supervised clinical practicum component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in a health care environment. The internship requires full-time day attendance working in the clinical setting. The duration of the practicum is eight weeks, during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 8 weeks of work experience.
Instructors
Nancy Scott
Instructor, Health Care Aide
Admission Requirements
What you need to get started.
- Have a minimum of a Canadian provincial high school diploma or equivalent, or be a mature student
- Pass an entrance test administered by Herzing College
- Be interviewed in detail regarding interest in the field
- Note: admission to some programs may include additional requirements
Not all programs and learning formats available at all campus locations.
The Health Care Aide program is registered at and delivered by Herzing College Winnipeg.
Overview
| Industry |
Healthcare
|
| Program Length | 6.5 months, includes 8-week internship |
| Learning Format | On Campus and Hybrid at Herzing Winnipeg |
| Language | English |
2025 Overall Graduate Employment Rate
80% of available Herzing College graduates were employed in a related field.*
*statistics based on most recent available
Program Partners
Why Choose This Program?
- 6.5-month program that gets you ready for work fast!
- Health Care Aide instructors are licensed nurses with years of professional experience
- Program includes an intensive 8-week practicum
- Training includes valuable certifications employers want
- We have a fully equipped kitchen where students learn to plan and prepare healthy meals for patients
- Small class sizes where every student gets step-by-step instructor support
- Friendly environment with students of all ages and backgrounds
- We offer the Herzing Open Education Program (HOEP), which lets graduates take additional programs and certificates, tuition-free
