11 Weeks
Activity Assistant Certificate
Learn to plan and implement recreational activities for seniors, long-term care residents, and individuals with disabilities, enhancing their quality of life.
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Bringing Joy and Engagement to Care Communities
The Activity Assistant Certificate program at Western Community College focuses on training individuals to plan and implement recreational activities that enhance the well-being of residents in care facilities. Students learn to assess the needs and preferences of diverse populations, developing programs that promote physical, emotional, and social engagement. Through supervised practicums, students gain practical experience, preparing them to create positive environments that improve the quality of life for individuals under their care.
- Training in planning and implementing recreational activities.
- Understanding of the needs of diverse populations.
- Hands-on experience through supervised practicums.
Next Intakes
Contact our admissions team today or request information on upcoming program start dates.
Career Opportunities
Explore rewarding career opportunities in the healthcare
$24.54*
Graduate Employment HOURLY Rate
*Based on Canada Job Bank
This program trains students to work as Activity Assistants in assisted living facilities by introducing them to the idea that physical activity is a natural aspect of life and that it can impact numerous factors that affect residents’ health and quality of life.
- Activity Assistant: Plan and facilitate activities in long-term care facilities.
- Recreation Coordinator: Develop and oversee recreational programs for various populations.
- Therapeutic Recreation Assistant: Support therapeutic recreation specialists in implementing programs.
Why Study at Western Community College
Western Community College offers students an inclusive and vibrant learning environment, with dedicated support services to ensure your academic success and personal well-being.
- Installment-based, low tuition fee.
- Choose weekday, weekend, or evening classes to fit your schedule.
- Part-time or full-time class schedule.
- Free CLB preparation classes (*Conditions Apply).
Begin Your Path in CHILDCARE Career
Admission Requirements
Current HCA registration/Proof of completion of HCA or RCA program from an approved post-secondary institution/Proof of completion of Community Support Worker Program and Proof of English Language Proficiency.
Language Proficiency Requirements
To demonstrate language proficiency, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Option 1 – Evidence that 3 years of full-time secondary education (Grades 8–12), or 2 years if the Grades are 10, 11, or 12, have been successfully completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages.
This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program, or providing international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, or IQAS.
Option 2 – 2 years of full-time post-secondary education* have been completed in the program’s language of instruction in a country where the language of instruction is one of the principal languages (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, and IQAS).
*Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation.
Option 3 – Standardized Language Test
Achievement of minimum scores on a recognized standardized language test. Test results should be valid at the time of enrollment.
| Name of English language assessment/test | Minimum score(s)/level(s)* |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic | Minimum overall score of 5.5 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT | Minimum overall score of 46 |
| Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) | Minimum overall score of 40 |
| Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) | Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5. |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | Minimum overall score of 95 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | Minimum overall score of 43 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE) | Minimum overall score of 160 or ‘C’. Institutions may include other Cambridge Qualifications at a higher level (i.e., C2 Proficiency (CPE)). |
| Cambridge Linguaskill | Minimum overall B2 level |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | Minimum overall B2 level |
| The Michigan English Test (MET) | Minimum overall B2 level |
| iTEP Academic | Minimum overall score of 3.5 |
| EIKEN | Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1 |
Option 4
Mature student applicants:
Applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as outlined above:
Applicant provides attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages, and Applicant completes an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation: Reading, Writing and WritePlacer) and achieves the following minimum scores:
| Accuplacer Component | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 235 |
| Reading | 235 |
| WritePlacer | 4 |
Note: Assessment of Prior Education Where English is the Language of Instruction
As an option for proof of English language proficiency, institutions may accept evidence that an applicant has successfully completed a specified minimum of full-time secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction. Documentation demonstrating this evidence must be provided in English.
Education completed (in English) in the following countries will be considered as counting toward an assessment of prior education in English:
The following countries are recognized for education completed in English:
| American Samoa | Dominica | Lesotho | St. Kitts & Nevis |
| Anguilla | Falkland Islands | Liberia | St. Lucia |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Fiji | Malta | St. Vincent & the Grenadines |
| Australia | Gambia | Mauritius | Tanzania |
| Bahamas | Ghana | Montserrat | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Barbados | Gibraltar | New Zealand | Turks & Caicos Islands |
| Belize | Grenada | Nigeria | Uganda |
| Bermuda | Guam | Seychelles | United Kingdom |
| Botswana | Guyana | Sierra Leone | US Virgin Islands |
| British Virgin Islands | Ireland | Singapore | USA |
| Canada | Jamaica | South Africa | Zambia |
| Cayman Islands | Kenya | St. Helena | Zimbabwe |
Validity period of these test results is two years.
Apply Now
Take the next step toward your future!
Gain the skills you need for success and take the first step toward a rewarding career. Enroll today to learn essential industry knowledge, enhance your expertise, and open doors to new opportunities.
Apply NowCourse OUtline
Core Courses
Our curriculum is designed to equip you with the practical skills and knowledge required for a successful career as an Activity Assistant.
This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of PostSecondary Education and Future Skills.
220
Total program
hours
110
Practice Experience HOurs
$24
Graduate Employment HOURLY Rate
97%
Graduate Employment Rate
| Course ID | Title of Course | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AA100 | Activity Assistant Framework for practice | 100 |
| AA200 | Activity for well being | 40 |
| AA300 | Programming for individuals with cognitive impairments | 30 |
| AA400 | Clinical Placement 1 | 40 |
| AA500 | Clinical Placement 2 | 70 |
| Total | 220 hours |
Program Duration
Full Time: 11 Weeks
*Other scheduling options are available.
Fee Structure
Tuition & Financing
We offer competitive tuition rates and flexible financing options to make your education at Western Community College both accessible and affordable.
BC Student Loan
In-house Financing
Student Line of Credit
Scholarships
Our dedicated Financial Aid Officers will help you every step of the way.
Finance Options-
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