Comprehensive Health Care Aide Challenge
Overview
If you are already employed as a health care aide and can successfully complete Assiniboine’s challenge process, you have the opportunity to obtain a CHCA program certificate.
Applicants to the CHCA Challenge program will get credit for the hours they have already worked in health care settings as a health care aide. If you have worked 300 hours in the previous 12 months, you are eligible to challenge the CHCA program.
You’ve worked in health care for a long time, and now is your chance to turn all that hard work into a formally-recognized certificate. The CHCA Challenge encourages you to work at your own pace so the course work can fit into your busy schedule. Once you register for a step, you have four months to complete it!
Upon completion of the CHCA Challenge program, continue to be an important part of the health care team. You will be valued for your commitment to continuous learning, and you may be able to find additional jobs in other areas of health care.
A Comprehensive Health Care Aide certificate can open the door to jobs for you in hospitals, personal care homes, acute and extended care, doctors offices, private care facilities, mental health setting and home care.
Admissions
Applicants must be employed in a health setting as an uncertified health care aide and have a minimum of 300 clinical hours in the previous 12 months to be eligible for admission into the CHCA Challenge program.
Students are responsible for identifying a qualified preceptor (LPN/RN) for the administration of the clinical examination or be tested by Assiniboine’s faculty at a mutually-agreed date and time. Prior to writing the theory and clinical exams, proof of payment is required.
Students requiring additional clinical placement may need to provide the following prior to practicum rotation:
- Up-to-date and completed immunizations
- Evidence of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation – Health Care Provider level (CPR-HCP) or Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Current Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector, Child Abuse Registry, and Adult Abuse Registry checks
- Evidence of completion of an approved 12-hour, non-violent crisis intervention training course or Provincial Violence Prevention Program
Criminal Record/Abuse Registry Checks
Many agencies where students are placed for practicum experience require students disclose convictions for any offenses. In some instances, applicants with a criminal record may be unable to complete the program. Applicants listed on the Child Abuse Registry and/or Adult Abuse Registry will be unable to complete the program if they require practicum experiences involving persons in care. If you fall into one of these categories, please contact the School of Nursing prior to applying.
Registry check must be current if you have to go out on a clinical placement. Documents obtained prior to program acceptance will not be acceptable. Please note that the process for completing these documents may take 4-6 weeks.
Careers & Connections
Careers
Graduates find employment in acute and extended care hospitals, personal care homes, private care facilities, mental health settings and home care.
Connections
Assiniboine has a number of agreements with other colleges, universities and professional organizations, making it possible to apply credit taken at Assiniboine to programs at other institutions. For up-to-date information on agreements, visit the Articulation Agreements page.
Tools & Supplies
At-Home Computing
For this program, you are expected to have access to a computer at home. It should have a webcam, microphone and internet access to enable remote learning for the theory portions of your programs.
Courses & Costs
After being accepted into the CHCA Challenge program, students will follow the required course completion steps below. Students will advance after successful completion of all the required courses in the previous step.
STEP 1
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience 1 | PRAC-0054 | 3 |
STEP 2
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Living Laboratory | HLTH-0176 | 3 |
| Daily Living Theory | HLTH-0175 | 3 |
| Gerontology | HLTH-0004 | 3 |
| Health, Environment & Safety | WRKP-0002 | 3 |
| Human Relations/Communication | COMM-0037 | 3 |
| Nutrition | HLTH-0002 | 3 |
STEP 3
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Growth and Development | HLTH-0003 | 3 |
| Health Issues/Community Health | HLTH-0005 | 3 |
| Mental Health | HLTH-0006 | 3 |
STEP 4
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience 2 | PRAC-0055 | 3 |
To see when courses are being offered throughout the year, and the costs, click on the schedule below:
2023-24 Distance Education Schedule
Please note, the 2024-25 Distance Schedule will be available by May 31, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for tuition support?
If you are currently employed as an uncertified health-care aide by any regional health authority, you may be eligible for tuition support. Please contact your employer or HR department directly as eligibility is assessed through the employer not Assiniboine Community College.
More information is available through the MB Healthcare Providers Network.
What requirements do I need to apply to the CHCA Challenge program?
Applicants must be employed in a health setting as a health care aide and have a minimum of 300 clinical hours in the previous 12 months to be eligible for admission into the CHCA Challenge program.
A job description listing your CHCA duties may be required for verification.
What steps do I take after I have applied and been accepted into the CHCA Challenge program?
STEP 1: REGISTER FOR PRAC-0054 WORK EXPERIENCE 1
Contact the Registrar’s Office to register and pay for PRAC-0054 Work Experience 1. After registration and payment, you will receive the Work Experience forms from the School of Nursing.
- The Work Experience forms are to be completed by your employer and returned to the School of Nursing for evaluation. (300+ clinical hours in the past 12 months are required to obtain credit for Work Experience 1)
Once your forms are assessed, and you meet the requirements, you will receive notification from the School of Nursing indicating you are eligible to proceed to Step 2.
Please note: if you do not meet the minimum 300 clinical hours employed as a health care aide requirement, you will not be eligible to continue in the CHCA Challenge program. You may be eligible to apply to the CHCA Distance Education program.
STEP 2: REGISTER FOR TERM 1 COURSES
After receiving notification of credit for PRAC-0054 Work Experience 1, contact the Registrar’s Office to register and pay for Term 1. There are 6 courses in Term 1 (HLTH-0176 Daily Living Laboratory, HLTH-0175 Daily Living Theory, HLTH-0004 Gerontology, WRKP-0002 Health, Environment & Safety, COMM-0037 Human Relations/Communication, and HLTH-0002 Nutrition).
- There is one multiple-choice exam for all of the Term 1 courses (no re-writes allowed) and a Critical Elements Skills Checklist that must be completed (the passing grade is 80% and Satisfactory on the skills test).
- When you are ready to write the exam and skills checklist, you will contact the School of Nursing to schedule a test date. The theory test is online and the skills checklist is face-to-face on campus. *Please note that the Daily Living Laboratory testing must be scheduled prior to the end of the Daily Living Theory course.
- If you are unsuccessful in the skills test and or any of the Term 1 theory components, you will be required to register for and successfully complete these courses through the CHCA Distance Education program.
Upon successful completion of all of the Term 1 components (theory and lab), you will receive notification from the School of Nursing indicating you are eligible to proceed to Step 3.
STEP 3: REGISTER FOR TERM 2 COURSES
After receiving notification of credit for Term 1, you will contact Registrar’s Office to register and pay for Term 2. There are 3 courses in Term 2 (HLTH-0003 Growth and Development, HLTH-0005 Health Issues/Community Health, and HLTH-0006 Mental Health).
- There is one multiple choice exam for Term 2 courses (no re-writes allowed) the passing grade is 80%. When you are ready to write the exam, you will contact the School of Nursing to schedule a test date. This exam is online.
Upon successful completion of all of the Term 2 components, you will receive notification from the School of Nursing indicating you are eligible to proceed to Step 4.
STEP 4: REGISTER FOR PRAC-0055 WORK EXPERIENCE 2
After receiving notification of credit for Term 2, you will contact Registrar’s Office to register and pay for PRAC-0055 Work Experience 2.
The School of Nursing will review your previously submitted Work Experience 1 form and will verify if any further practicum placement is required (if Work Experience 1 forms are older than 12 months at the time of Work Experience 2 registration, a new form will need to be completed by your employer and submitted to the School of Nursing).
How long does each step of the Challenge process take?
Students in the CHCA Challenge program have 4 months to complete each step, although a student may complete a step sooner if they wish. If a step is not completed in the allotted four month timeframe, a student will receive an “unsuccessful”.
If clinical placement is needed, what do I need to provide prior to the start of the practicum rotation?
Depending on the clinical placement required, the facility may request the following:
- Up-to-date and completed immunizations
- Evidence of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation – Health Care Provider level (CPR-HCP) or Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Evidence of a current criminal record, child abuse registry, and adult abuse registry checks
- Evidence of completion of an approved 12-hour, non-violent crisis intervention training course or Provincial Healthcare Violence Prevention Program
*It is recommended that all students prepare their documentation in advance to prevent undue delays in clinical practicum placements.
Do I have to come to an Assiniboine campus to complete the clinical skills checklist?
Although it is preferred that students complete their clinical skills checklist at an Assiniboine campus with a School of Nursing instructor, we recognize that this is not always possible. In this case, students are responsible for identifying a qualified preceptor (LPN/RN) for the administration of the clinical examination in consultation with the School of Nursing. Prior to writing any exam, proof of payment is required.