Program Objectives

The Institutional and Home Care Assistance program prepares students for the trade or occupation of patient service associate and home support worker in the health and social services sector.

This profession aims to provide care and assistance in public, private and community health care networks to persons of all ages who are sick or who have physical, psychological, or psychosocial disabilities. The rationale of this occupation is to provide aid to patients so that they may recover or maintain their autonomy and overall health condition.

Program Content

Code Statement of Competency Hours Credits
751-702 Determine their suitability for the occupation and the training process 30 2
751-714 Establish a helping relationship 60 4
751-724 Adopt relational approaches with clients with cognitive impairments, mental health problems or neurodevelopmental disorders 60 4
751-734 Determine the appropriate means to respond to the needs of clients with physical illnesses and disabilities 60 4
751-745 Provide care related to activities of daily living (ADL) 75 5
751-752 Prevent infections and contamination 30 2
751-768 Provide assistive care related to daily activities 120 8
751-772 Deal with situations involving risk 30 2
751-787 Work with clients who require assistive care at home or in alternative living environments 105 7
751-794 Deal with family, social and cultural contexts 60 4
751-802 Provide assistance to clients in palliative and end-of-life care 30 2
751-813 Consider the rules and procedures for administering medications and basic invasive care involved in assistance with activities of daily living 45 3
751-824 Provide assistive care related to the client’s clinical reality 60 4
751-832 Administer first aid 30 2
751-845 Provide assistive care to clients requiring short-term care 75 5
870 58

Admission Conditions and Prerequisites

To be eligible for admission to this program, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

Persons holding an Secondary School Diploma (SSD) or its recognized equivalent, for example, an Attestation of Equivalence of Secondary Studies, or a post-secondary diploma such as the Diploma of College Studies or a Bachelor’s degree
OR
Persons who are at least 16 years of age on September 30 of the school year in which their training is to begin and have earned the Secondary III credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in the programs of study established by the Minister, or have been granted recognition of equivalent learning
OR
Persons who are at least 18 years of age upon entry into the program and have the following functional prerequisites: the successful completion of the General Development Test (see the following table), or have been granted recognition for equivalent learning

Specific conditions:
Persons who are at least 16 years of age on September 30 of the school year in which their vocational training is to begin in a specific program of study, who hold a Training Certificate for a Semiskilled Trade (TCST), and who earned the required credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in Secondary Cycle One in general education in the youth sector or in Secondary II in general education in the adult sector
OR
Persons who are at least 15 years of age on September 30 of the current school year, who have attained vocational maturity and who have earned their Secondary II credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics are eligible for admission to a pilot project for concurrent admission. By means of concurrent admission with an integrated schedule, they will continue their vocational training and their general education in the youth sector to complete the Secondary III prerequisites they need to obtain their vocational training diploma. Authorization by the Ministère is required for the concurrent admission of a student in Secondary III

Functional Prerequisites

A person who has reached the age of 18 can be admitted to a program of study leading to a Diploma of vocational studies (DVS) based on functional prerequisites. These prerequisites, in place for those aged at least 18 years at the start date declared for the vocational training program, are: successful completion of the general development test (GDT) and obtaining and passing the tests relative to the specific prerequisites in the language of instruction and mathematics, if applicable.

This table indicates the new course codes for common core basic education (CCBE) and diversified basic education (DBE) required for the specific prerequisites in language of instruction and mathematics for the targeted program of study. In the cases where the new course codes for the CCBE and the DBE are in progressive implementation, the old codes are indicated in parenthesis and are still valid. The equivalent course codes in basic education in the youth sector are also indicated in the table. When a DVS does not require any specific prerequisites in language of instruction or in mathematics, a (-) will be displayed in the appropriate field. Please note that the functional prerequisites do not apply to attestation of vocational specialty (AVS) programs.

Specific Prerequisites

Language of instructionSecond languageMathematics
AdultsYouthAdultsYouthAdultsYouth
ENG-3101-1 et ENG-3102-2 ou (ENG-3070-3)632-308 ou (628-316)----

Educational Organizations Offering the Program

Schedule:

Capitale-Nationale

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
CS Central Québec
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F. Eastern Québec IHCA24-25 D/E To be determined
RACPAB2425 D Continuous entry

Estrie

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Eastern Townships SB (Estrie)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F.P. Lennoxville IHCA_24-25 D Continuous entry
PAB_GRANBY D Continuous entry
PAB-LVTC D Continuous entry
Concomitance (CFP Lennoxville)
Recognition of Acquired Competencies (RAC) - CFP Lennoxville IHCAr24-25 D/E Continuous entry

Gaspésie - Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Eastern Shores SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F.P. Anchor Winter2025 D Feb. 3rd, 2025
C.F.P. Northern Lights

Laval

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Collège CDI Administration, Technologie, Santé (Campus de Laval)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Collège CDI Administration, Technologie, Santé (Campus de Laval)
CS Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier (Laval)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.D.C. Laurier Pont-Viau PSW8 D Feb. 25th, 2025
PSW6 D Jan. 29th, 2024

Montérégie

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
New Frontiers SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
C.F.P. Châteauguay Valley (CVCEC) - D Continuous entry
5858W25D D To be determined
Nova Career Centre RAC-IHCA D Continuous entry
Recognition of Acquired Competencies and Skills (RAC) - NFSB IHCA-RAC D/E Continuous entry
Riverside SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
ACCESS Career Centre RAC-INSHC D/E Periodic entry
INSHC2509 D Sept. 22nd, 2025
INSHC2410 D Oct. 7th, 2024

Montréal

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Collège Canada inc.
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Collège Canada inc 01 D/E Aug. 27th, 2024
Collège CDI Administration, Technologie, Santé (Campus de Montréal)
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Collège CDI Administration, Technologie, Santé (Campus de Montréal)
English-Montréal SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Shadd Health and Business Centre/Centre d'études commerciales Shadd A6125E E Jan. 17th, 2025
A6125 D Jan. 23rd, 2025
I6124 D Sept. 6th, 2024
I6124E E Sept. 27th, 2024
J6124 D Oct. 31st, 2024
Lester-B.-Pearson SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Career Development Services IaHA 2021 D/E Continuous entry
Pearson Adult and Career Centre IHJAN25 D Jan. 13th, 2025
West Island Career Centre HC250207 D Feb. 7th, 2025

Outaouais

Legend
Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full
Western Québec SB
Vocational Training Centre Group Status D/E Start Date
Maniwaki Adult Education Centre
Pontiac Continuing Education Centre 1 D To be determined
Western Québec Career Centre March 2025 D To be determined

Home Support Worker
Patient Service Associate

Vocational training in Institutional and Home Care Assistance leads to two careers:

Patient attendants, also referred to as orderlies, provide hygiene care to patients (bathing, dressing, shaving, etc.) and accompany them in their daily routine. They help the elderly, the sick and the disabled with their daily movements, distribute meals, make beds and ensure the cleanliness of the rooms. In a hospital or long-term care residence, they may also be responsible for taking blood pressure, taking temperatures and pulse rates, and recording this information in the patient’s chart. This is an essential but rewarding job that requires physical fitness, patience and listening skills. A job as an orderly requires dedication, good judgment and the ability to take initiative.

Home support workers, often referred to as live-in caregivers, provide assistance (meals, housekeeping) to keep people in their homes. They help and accompany people with a loss of autonomy in their daily activities (getting up, feeding, bathing, etc.) and socialize with them. It is an essential but rewarding job that requires physical fitness, patience and listening skills. A job as a home support worker requires dedication, good judgment and the ability to take initiative.

Related Training(s)

Health, Assistance and Nursing
Institutional and Home Care Assistance
Special Care Counselling

Average Salary

Home Support Worker — $20.55
Patient Service Associate — $21.86

Job Titles

Home health care worker
Homemaker
Patient service associate

Privacy and Cookie Notice

This site uses cookies for functional and analytical purposes. By clicking on "Accept" or continuing your browsing, you agree to the storage of cookies on your device.

Read Privacy Policy