Health care aide provincial curriculum

What is the curriculum?

To encourage consistent training of the health care aide workforce in Alberta, Alberta Health and Wellness, in consultation with industry stakeholders, developed the Health Care Aide Government of Alberta Provincial Curriculum, first released in 2005. In 2010, the curriculum was updated and provided to public post-secondary and private institutions, and to employer organizations for use in health care aide education programs in the province.

The curriculum is the tool by which health care aides are trained to the 40 competencies identified in the 2001 Health Care Aide Competency Profile PDF icon. It consists of 37 modules including:

  • Client Safety;
  • Assisting with Medical Delivery;
  • Positioning Lifts and Transfers;
  • Working with Clients with a Diagnosis of Dementia;
  • and more.

Who can use the curriculum?

The curriculum is primarily designed for training people working as a health care aide. Anyone can register to take a health care aide training program at an institution with a valid licensing agreement.

If you are a caregiver looking for support and advice on how to care for a family member in your home, visit:

How do I obtain a copy of the curriculum?

Any post-secondary educational institution, private institution or employer organization wishing to provide educational training to health care aides in Alberta may obtain a copy of the HCA curriculum by contacting the Workforce Policy and Planning Branch of Alberta Health and Wellness. Call 780-644-7123 in Edmonton, or toll-free 310-0000 then 780-644-7123.

The steps to obtaining a copy of the curriculum are:

  1. Contact the Workforce Policy and Planning Branch;
  2. Submit your application;
  3. Enter into a licensing agreement with Alberta Health and Wellness.

Once your organization has a fully executed licensing agreement in place, you will be provided with a copy of the curriculum.

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