Préposé aux soins de santé (English)

General Program Information

The Préposé aux soins de santé Program is offered through an agreement with Alberta Health and is based on the mandated 2019 Health Care Aide provincial curriculum.

Once the program is completed, students are required to pass the provincial examination in order to receive their HCA accreditation from Alberta Health (Contact the Centre Collegial de l’Alberta for further information).

Regulations

The program is based on the 2019 Health Care Aide Provincial Curriculum. No prior course work from the 2013 Provincial Curriculum is transferable for credit.

Program requirements (36 units)

• PSSTC 100 - Rôle et Responsabilités d’un Préposé aux soins de santé
• PSSTC 101 - Communication & Documentation dans un environnement des soins de santé
• PSSTC 110 - Le corps humain, la santé et la maladie chronique
• PSSTC 120 - Prodiguer des soins centrés sur la personne
• PSSTC 121 - Satisfaire aux besoins complexes
• PSSTC 122 - Activités spéciales pour clients ayant divers problèmes de santé
• PSSTC 150 - Stage clinique intégré I
• PSSTC 151 - Stage clinique intégré II
• PSSTC 160 - Stage clinique intégré III

Practicum requirements

In order to be eligible for their practicum, the following criteria must be met:

• Successful completion of all prerequisite courses.
• A current Police Information Check (PIC) with Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) must be submitted prior to practicum placement. Students who fail to provide a clear Police Information Check will not be allowed to participate in the practicum. Students who are entering the program and who have concerns related to their ability to satisfy a Police Information Check should consult with CCA admission staff immediately upon being admitted to the program.
• Immunization requirements as expressed in University of Alberta placement policies must be met in order to participate in practicum placements.
• A valid certificate in immediate care in resuscitation for healthcare professionals (C) is required by employers before participating in internships.
• Complete Alberta Health Services (AHS) Information & Privacy training online learning module and submit the signed Confidentiality and User Agreement on the last page of the module.
• Current N95 Mask Fit testing as arranged by the program.

The work of interns is governed by the Orientation Guide for the Health Care Assistant Program. This guide includes information on the requirements, rights, and responsibilities of interns, supervising instructors, the Alberta College Administration, and placement sites.

Withdrawal from internships by students

1. Before the Add/Drop withdrawal date
   Students who wish to withdraw from a placement may do so without penalty, provided they meet the Add/Drop withdrawal deadline.
   Due to the unique nature of placements and the complexity of the placement process, withdrawal is permitted provided that the program placement coordinator is notified in advance.
2. After the Add/Drop withdrawal date
   Students who withdraw from an internship after the established withdrawal deadline (Add/Drop) will normally receive a “W”grade. Before withdrawing, they must contact the program’s internship coordinator.
   When serious, exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control have adversely affected their performance in the internship and led to their withdrawal and/or failure, the CCA Director may decide not to assign a “W” grade but rather the grade “IN” (Incomplete) and not to count the withdrawal. This exception is granted when the student is able to provide documentation demonstrating the existence of such circumstances. A solution for retaking the course will be evaluated and proposed to the student.
3. Re-enrollment after withdrawal from an internship
   Students who have withdrawn from an internship may re-register for the course provided they follow these rules:

• Students who have withdrawn from an internship, regardless of the date of withdrawal, must have contacted the program internship coordinator in advance. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from the healthcare assistant certificate program.
• Students who withdraw from an internship after the deadline for withdrawal (Add/Drop) and receive a grade of “W” must obtain permission from the Alberta College Centre Administration before re-registering for the associated course.
• The number of withdrawals from a practicum is limited to one (1) for the entire program. Students who have already withdrawn from an internship after it has begun, whether before or after the Add/Drop deadline, and who withdraw again from an internship (before or after the Add/Drop deadline) must withdraw from the Health Care Assistant Certificate program.

Dismissal of a student by the internship site

Students enrolled in internships planned as part of the healthcare assistant certificate program must act in a professional, ethical, respectful, and responsible manner. They represent their institution within the organizations that graciously agree to host them so that they can successfully complete their studies.

In this regard, students whose behavior leads the internship site to terminate their internship due to failure to fulfill their obligations and responsibilities, despite warnings issued to the student and the internship coordinator, will be immediately withdrawn from the course without the possibility of continuing their internship at another site. In addition, students who are expelled from an internship setting due to failure to fulfill their obligations and responsibilities will have to withdraw permanently from the program without the possibility of re-enrolling. The student may appeal the decision by contacting the director of the Alberta College Center, following the Alberta College Center’s procedure.

Academic Standing

The passing grade for each course in the Health Care Assistant program is B-, which is equivalent to a grade of 70%. This grade is determined by Alberta Health Care Aide.

Academic standing is determined by a student’s performance immediately after the first semester of the program.

Satisfactory Standing: Awarded to a student who obtains a grade point average of 2.7 (B-) or above in the course indicates that the student is eligible to continue in the program.

Marginal Standing: Awarded to a student who obtains a grade point average of 2.0 to 2.6. Students with marginal standing may be permitted to continue under academic warning.

Unsatisfactory Standing: Normally given to a student who obtains a grade point average of 1.9 or below. Students whose records are found to be unsatisfactory will be required to withdraw.

Graduation: In order to graduate, students are required to successfully complete their program requirements with a minimum grade point average (GPA) 2.7 per course.

Note: The certificate awarded by the University of Alberta/Centre collegial de l’Alberta attests to the successful completion of the Préposé  aux soins de santé program, however students must also successfully complete the provincial examination (see HealthCare Aide Directory -  Provincial Exam) within 60 days of completing the PSSTC 160  course in order to obtain provincial certification to practice as a Health Care Aide.