Planning to apply for training through the Education Opportunity and Access Fund?
Use this list to help choose a program that leads to stable, in-demand work in B.C.’s health care system. These roles are experiencing the highest staff shortages, but you should consult with school advisors and/or health authorities in your region to ensure these occupations are in demand in your particular community.
- Care Aides / Nursing Assistants
- Clerks (Admitting, Scheduling, Records, etc.)
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Registered Nurses
- Recreation / Activity Aides
- Rehabilitation Assistants
- Sterile Supply Technicians / Medical Device Reprocessing
- Medical Lab Assistants (MLAs)
This list can help guide your decision when choosing a training program.
Training for one of these occupations may lead to faster employment and long-term stability.
You should consult with school advisors and/or health authorities in your region to ensure these occupations are in demand in your particular community.
If your program requires a language test (like IELTS or CELPIP), we will reimburse the cost.
Examples of Eligible Courses
Micro-credentials and prerequisites
| Course | Delivery | Length | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Long Term Care Practitioner Micro-credential | Online | 6 weeks | Applied Long Term Care Practitioner Micro-credential |
| Canadian Fall Prevention Curriculum | Online | 5 weeks | Micro-certificate in Canadian Fall Prevention Curriculum | Continuing Studies at UVic |
| Strategies and Actions for Independent Living (SAIL) | Online | 3 weeks | Micro-certificate in Strategies and Actions for Independent Living (SAIL) | Continuing Studies at UVic |
| Wound Management for Health Professionals | Online | 14 weeks | Micro-certificate in Wound Management for Health Professionals | Continuing Studies at UVic |
| Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology | Online | 60 hours | Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology | Vancouver Island University | Canada |
| Medical Terminology | Online | 25 hours | Medical Terminology (HDCR 560) | Douglas College |
Certificates and degrees
| Course | School | Length | Delivery | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Office Administration, Certificate | Camosun College | 8 months | In-person | Medical Office Administration, Certificate | Camosun College |
| Health Care Assistant, Certificate | Camosun College | 28 weeks | In-person | Health Care Assistant, Certificate | Camosun College |
| Health Care Assistant Certificate | Capilano University | 8 months | In-person | Health Care Assistant Certificate - Capilano University |
| Activity Assistant Certificate | North Island College | 4 months | Online | Activity Assistant Certificate | North Island College |
| Nursing Unit Clerk Certificate | University of Fraser Valley | 6.5 months | Blended | School of Continuing Education > Programs > Nursing Unit Clerk Certificate | UFV.ca |
| Nursing Unit Clerk - Certificate | Selkirk College | 8 months | Online | Nursing Unit Clerk - Certificate | Selkirk College |
| Health Care Assistant Certificate | Thomspon Rivers University | 27 weeks | In-person | Health Care Assistant Certificate: Thompson Rivers University |
Chose a school close to home
We recommend applying to the public college, university, or institute closest to where you live. This can reduce travel time and housing costs—and make it easier to complete your program.
All institutions listed below are eligible under the Education Opportunity and Access Fund.
Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley
| Institution Name | Type | Main Campus Location(s) | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) | Institute | Burnaby, Vancouver | bcit.ca |
| Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) | Institute | New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack | https://jibc.cahttps://jibc.ca |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) | Institute | Burnaby | nvit.ca |
| Douglas College | College | New Westminster, Coquitlam | douglascollege.ca |
| Langara College | College | Vancouver | langara.ca |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) | University | Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Cloverdale | kpu.ca |
| University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) | University | Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission | ufv.ca |
| Capilano University | University | North Vancouver | capilanou.ca |
Vancouver Island
| Institution Name | Type | Main Campus Location(s) | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camosun College | College | Victoria | camosun.ca |
| North Island College (NIC) | College | Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni | nic.bc.ca |
| Vancouver Island University (VIU) | University | Nanaimo, Duncan, Powell River | viu.ca |
Interior B.C. / Okanagan / Kootenays
| Institution Name | Type | Main Campus Location(s) | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okanagan College | College | Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm | okanagan.bc.ca |
| Selkirk College | College | Castlegar, Nelson, Trail | selkirk.ca |
| College of the Rockies (COTR) | College | Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere | cotr.bc.ca |
Northern B.C.
| Institution Name | Type | Main Campus Location(s) | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of New Caledonia (CNC) | College | Prince George, Quesnel | cnc.bc.ca |
| Coast Mountain College | College | Terrace, Prince Rupert, Smithers | coastmountaincollege.ca |
| Northern Lights College (NLC) | College | Dawson Creek, Fort St. John | nlc.bc.ca |
| University of Northern BC (UNBC) | University | Prince George, Terrace | unbc.ca |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) | Institute | Merritt | nvit.ca |