Uncertified: $20.78 per hour
Certified: $21.43 to $25.52 per hour
Long Service Pay Adjustment of 2% after 20 years of service
Other benefits
Health care aide certificate
OR
Get certified through AHS. See the HCA Training Program below.
Health care aides (also known as HCAs) are valued members of the health-care team. Health care aides provide personal assistance and support services for people who are ill, elderly, or have a disability, and those who require short-term assistance or ongoing support. They work with patients who have chronic and/or complex medical conditions, physical or cognitive disabilities, or who require end-of-life care.
Health care aides provide essential and important daily living support and comfort to patients, clients and residents. They assist with bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and other personal hygiene activities. They may help patients/residents with feeding, mobility and exercise as needed.
Health care aides work in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, continuing care facilities and within patient/client home settings. They work collaboratively with nursing professionals and other members of the overall health care team.
Health care aides must be able to speak, read, write, and comprehend the English language well enough to follow directions and communicate effectively with patients/residents, patient family members and their team members. They report on their observations and communicate concerns to nurses and other licensed health care professionals.
Health care aides may work full-time or part-time hours, oron a call-in (casual) basis. They can apply for positions that are permanent, temporary or casual depending on department and facility needs. Shift schedules may include a combination of day, evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts, as well as on-call duty.
Health care aides are on their feet for much of their work day. Many work in environments that require varying levels of physical exertion to transfer patients, use and move equipment and provide personal care. Health care aides require patience and understanding because their patients may have mental or emotional challenges, in addition to physical limitations.
The demand for health care aides continues to grow as an important and necessary role in delivering health care in Alberta, making it a great career choice.
As of Sept. 1, 2022, AHS offers a training program for uncertified HCAs (in permanent full or part time positions in rural or remote areas of Alberta) to become certified.
Through the program, newly hired uncertified HCAs will receive orientation and support to enrol in a licensed HCA education program.
The program enables HCAs to continue working while earning their certification. The program takes about 8-12 months to complete and the tuition is covered by AHS. If you’d like to become a HCA and earn your certificate while you work, click on the link below to explore our job postings.
If you have questions about the program, please view the HCA Training Program Primer or contact hca.info@ahs.ca.
