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The CLHA Council approves all practical nursing diploma programs, health care aide education programs, programs leading to advanced authorization by the CLHA Council, as well as refresher programs in Alberta.
The entry-to-practice education in Alberta for LPNs is a diploma program available from post-secondary institutions.
The entry-to-practice education in Alberta for HCAs is a certificate program available from post-secondary institutions.
A nursing refresher program is an approved program from the CLHA for individuals who were previously registered with the CLHA as an LPN on the general register but are no longer eligible for active registration.
Advanced practice education programs prepare Alberta’s LPNs to meet the requirements for advanced practice, as well as to meet the CLHA’s Standards of Practice on Restricted Activities, Advanced Practice, and Supervision, and post-entry-level training.
For post-secondary institutions (PSIs) offering a practical nurse or a health care aide education program, it’s important to understand the relationship between legislation, the CLHA, and your institution.
The Council of the CLHA delegates the review of all of Alberta’s practical nurse and health care aide education programs to CLHA staff. The review reports generated by CLHA staff are then reviewed by the Education Standards Advisory Committee (ESAC). Following the report review, ESAC prepares recommendations for the CLHA’s Council. The Council reviews ESAC’s recommendations and determines approval status. Education programs are reviewed to:
- fulfill the CLHA’s legislative duty under the Health Professions Act to approve all practical nurse and health care aide education programs,
- promote safe practice through a standardized education approval process and the use of comprehensive education standards,
- provide stakeholders with a transparent account of program approval, and
- support continuous evaluation and improvement of education programs.
ESAC is a committee appointed by the CLHA’s CEO that makes recommendations to the CLHA Council on education program approvals and program standards. Committee members have a complement of practical experience and/or subject matter expertise useful in guiding quality programming. Opportunities to join this committee are made available periodically.
The CLHA’s Council approves education standards for practical nurse and health care aide programs. These standards provide a benchmark for program quality, are used to measure program performance, and determine a program’s ability to graduate competent and safe practical nurses and health care aides.
Education standards are revised as necessary to ensure currency and relevancy and undergo a comprehensive review every four years.
Practical Nurse Program Approval Standards and Indicators (LPN) (Effective January 1, 2025)
For questions on HCA program review, please contact HCAprogramreview@clha.com.
This operational policy supports the review of all practical nurse education programs. For questions on HCA program review, please contact HCAprogramreview@clha.com.
Any post-secondary institution wishing to offer a new program should refer to the CLHA’s policies and guidelines.
In Alberta, to ensure consistency in Health Care Aide (HCA) education, the Government of Alberta (GOA) developed and owns the HCA Provincial Curriculum. The only curriculum accepted for HCA education programs is the HCA Provincial Curriculum; there is no other accepted education alternative at this time. To establish a new HCA program, a post-secondary institution must apply for, and maintain, a license through Primary and Preventative Health Services (formerly Alberta Health) to use the curriculum. Primary and Preventative Health Services (PPHS) currently has a moratorium on new program licenses and there is no active application process for new program licenses.
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides (CLHA) will not be in a position to review new HCA programs until after the existing moratorium on new licenses is lifted by the GOA. For more information on licensing: Health care aide program | Alberta.ca.
For questions on HCA program review, please contact HCAprogramreview@clha.com.
All programs are required to complete continuous monitoring through notices of change and periodic progress reports. Should your program have any questions about reporting or require any of the reporting templates please contact the relevant Program Review Team: