Diploma in Mental Health Care Assistant
Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus
Canada,British Columbia
0 Shortlist
24 Months
Duration
CAD 29,591/year
Tuition Fee
CAD 150
Application Fee
Sep 2025
Apply Date
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Canada, British Columbia
Type: University
Location Type: Urban
Founded: 1969
Total Students: 12,000 +
Int. Students: 1,400 +
Campus Detail
Main Campus Address
900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, CA
Diploma in Mental Health Care Assistant
Program Overview
The Mental Health Care Assistant Diploma Program trains international students to practice in hospital, long term care, community, and mental health settings. Students learn to help clients with daily living activities. They also gain the skills to enhance client quality of life and mental well-being.
The four-semester program bridges the Health Care Assistant Certificate program and Community Mental Health Worker Certificate program learning outcomes through an integrated experiential capstone project.
Graduates will be able meet clients’ basic needs. This includes providing support for mental health challenges. They can find work in:
- Hospitals
- Long-term care settings
- Community settings
Why choose the Mental Health Care Assistant program at Vancouver Island University?
- VIU is the only public university in BC offering this specialized program to international students
- Faculty with industry-based expertise and international experience
- One-on-one interactions with faculty and peers through small class sizes
- Graduates can continue on to Practical Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs
- Combines two certificates:
- Health Care Assistant (HCA) Certificate - Year One
- Community Mental Health Care (CMHC) Certificate - Year Two
- Special capstone project integrates skills learned in both programs
Application Fee
Application Fee: CAD 150 Tuition Fee
CAD 29,591 per year
*Note: The fee is approximate and is subject to change
Living Cost in Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus
CAD 11,400 per year
*Note: The fee is approximate and is subject to change
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Funding
Check program website for more information about funding options.
Student Visa For Canada
Any student who wishes to study in Canada requires a student visa. Some of the essential information for the application process is given below.
When Should I Apply?
4 to 6 months
Ideally, one should apply for the study permit at least 4 to 6 months before the commencement of your course/program.
Bank Account
No Need!
There is no need for a blocked bank account to apply for a student visa to Canada.
Duration of visa
Course Duration + 3 Months
The student visa is valid for the entire period of your course plus three months.
Time to Wait for Visa
35 Days
It takes time. It might take up to 35 days post your interview for the application process to complete and for you to finally receive your visa.
Appointment
Required
It varies from applicant to applicant, but one may have to take part in one or two visa appointments, namely a medical examination and a visa interview.
How you can apply
Application Process
An applicant can either apply online or offline by visiting a visa application centre and submitting their documents. After the analysis of your application, you might be called for an interview.
Fee
Visa Fee
The visa application fee for Canada is CAD 150.
Minimum Funds
833 CAD, 917 CAD
You require a minimum monthly amount to be deposited into your account to prove that you can sustain yourself while studying in Canada. If you are studying in Quebec, you need to have a monthly minimum of CAD 917, and if you are studying in a province except for Quebec, you need to have a minimum of CAD 833 per month.
Any other expenses
Required
You will have to pay a medical examination fee and a visa application service fee to the tune of CAD 15 if you visit a visa application centre to apply for your visa.
Medical Examination
Required
One has to undergo a series of medical examinations to be deemed fit for a student visa of Canada. The tests mostly include blood and urine tests, chest x-rays and other organ checkups.
Language Skills
Not Required
one doesn’t need to prove their language skills in applying for a Canadian Visa.
Disclaimer: The information provided about the work permit is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or the publisher. The author and the publisher, therefore, disclaim any liability in connection to and with the use of this information.
Work Permit
Students who wish to work in Canada require a work permit to do so. A student in Canada can work part-time during the course of his studies and full-time during holidays and semester breaks and post the completion of their course/program.
Rules for getting a part-time work visa in Canada
You can also work part-time on campus at your university.
Work Permit
Duration
Your part-time work permit will be valid for as long as you have a valid study permit.
Working Hours
20 Hours/Week
As a full-time student, you can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week. However, you can work full- time during holidays and breaks.
Documents Required
List
To apply for a work permit, you will need a study permit that mentions that you are allowed to work part-time on campus.
Social Insurance Number
Study Permit
You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to Service Canada. if you wish to work in Canada during the course of your studies. To apply for the same, you need a valid study permit, and you should be a full- time student at a recognized university.
You can work part-time off-campus if you are studying in the Quebec province.
Duration of Work Permit
Your part-time work permit will be valid for as long as you have a valid study permit.
Work Hours
As a full-time student, you can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week. However, you can work full- time during holidays and breaks.
Documents Required
To apply for a work permit, you will need a study permit that mentions that you are allowed to work part-time on campus.
Social Insurance Number
You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to Service Canada if you wish to work in Canada during the course of your studies. To apply for the same, you need a valid study permit, and you should be a full- time student at a recognized university.
Working after completing your course
In Canada, you will need a work permit to get a full-time job in Canada after finishing your studies. You chose a work permit like the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if you wish to stay back in Canada and work full-time.
Visit Government of Canada Website for more detail
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The Post- Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows you to work for three years in Canada if you have completed a two years degree or more.
Application
how can i apply
You can either apply online or download the form and mail the application along with the required documents. Pay your fee and then wait for the decision to come.
Application Documents Required
List
To apply for the work visa, you need a degree from a recognized and accredited Canadian University along with an intention to stay and work in Canada only temporarily.
When to Apply?
One can apply for the full-time work permit in the first three months post the completion of their course during which the study permit is still valid.
How long does it take?
90 days
You will have to wait for 90 days for the decision on your work permit.
Duration
3 Years
The work permit is valid for 3 years if you have completed a two years degree program or more.
Fees
CAD 255
The fee for the work permit is CAD 255 plus the holder fee and the work permit processing fee.
Monthly Wages
CAD 1,600
An applicant is guaranteed a minimum salary of CAD 1,600 per month while working in Canada. This amount though varies on the job and the province you are working in.
Work Hours
No Limit
There is no maximum limit, and you can work for as many hours as you want on the full-time work permit.
Required Documents
List
To apply for the work visa, you will need the following documents:
- Forms: IMM 5710, IMM 5476 and IMM 5475;
- Graduation Proof
- Proof of payment of work permit fees
- Copies of your travel and identification documents, passport pages and current immigration document.
Till a decision is made on your work visa, you can continue to work full time. All you need to have is your completed degree, should have applied for the permit before the expiry of your study permit and you should be allowed to work off-campus.
Information
Disclaimer
The information provided about the work permit is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or the publisher. The author and the publisher, therefore, disclaim any liability in connection to and with the use of this information.
