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What Is the Difference Between the Alberta HCA Directory and the CLHA’s Regulated Register?
For the past five years, HCAs in Alberta who work in the public sector have been required to be enroll in the Alberta Health Care Aide (HCA) Directory. Effective February 2, 2026, the Directory will no longer operate, and all HCAs, including those working in the private sector, will be required to be registered with the College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA).
What Is the Alberta HCA Directory?
The Alberta Health Care Aide (HCA) Directory is a database of Alberta’s HCAs who work in both public and private sectors. It has served as a central hub for information about HCAs and for workforce planning purposes. Members of the public cannot access the Directory to see who is listed as an HCA, and there is no process for making complaints against HCAs.
What Is Regulation?
In Alberta, regulatory colleges oversee specific healthcare professions such as nurses, doctors, and soon HCAs.
Once regulation comes into force on February 2, 2026, HCAs will be regulated by the CLHA, which will provide the public with increased confidence in the profession. The CLHA will be responsible for the following.
- Registration: making decisions about applications to become an HCA and HCA renewals.
- Standards and policies: developing and updating the documents that guide HCA practice and that HCAs are held accountable to.
- Public register: maintaining a register of the province’s HCAs, which can be searched by employers and members of the public.
- Education: approving and reviewing HCA certificate programs.
- Continuing competence: monitoring and supporting continuing competence, which includes establishing requirements for yearly learning plans and practice hours (to be implemented after regulation).
- Conduct: investigating and resolving complaints against HCAs.
| Future: Regulation (CLHA) | Current: Alberta HCA Directory | |
Mandatory registration |
Anyone who meets the requirements of registration, is using the HCA title, and performs the health services of an HCA must be part of the regulated register with the CLHA. | Enrollment on the Directory is required for HCAs who work for publicly funded employers. Enrollment is optional for other HCAs in the province. |
Professional liability insurance |
Regulated professionals are required to get professional liability insurance. Liability insurance provides protection for HCAs named in a complaint while safeguarding public interest. | The Directory does not require HCAs to carry insurance specific to their role. |
Protected titles |
Only HCAs who meet the requirements to be registered with the CLHA will be allowed to use the title of Health Care Aide. | Health Care Aide is not a protected title. A provider can call themselves an HCA without being on the Directory. |
Public register |
HCAs will have their names, registration numbers, and any conditions on their permit published on a public register, allowing anyone to see that an HCA has met requirements. | Information on the HCA Directory is not visible to the public. |
Standards of practice, code of ethics, and policies |
HCAs will be guided by a code of ethics and standards of practice, which set the expectations and requirements of practice for all HCAs in the province. | There are no common, province-wide standards, code of ethics, or policies specific to HCAs. |
Conduct process |
The conduct process has been established for all health professionals in Alberta. The CLHA will receive complaints against HCAs, which may be resolved formally or informally depending on the circumstances. | There is no province-wide way of investigating allegations of unprofessional conduct. |
Education requirements |
CLHA applicants will need to have formal training, either from an approved Alberta HCA program or an equivalent from outside of the province/Canada. Most applicants will need to pass a registration exam. | Many HCAs on the Directory have formal training. HCAs without formal training can be assessed using a Competency Assessment Profile (CAP) tool up to February 2, 2026. |
Continuing competence |
HCAs will participate in the Continuing Competence Program, which will support HCAs in meeting requirements for ongoing learning and practice in the profession. This program will be coming at a later date. | The Directory does not have a continuing competence requirement. HCAs may engage in ongoing learning as required by their employer. |
Resources for practice |
The CLHA will provide resources to support safe, ethical, and competent HCA practice, including learning modules and webinars, guidelines and info sheets, and access to a Professional Practice Team to assist with understanding regulatory requirements. | Resources may be available for HCAs through employers or external organizations, but they do not address regulatory requirements. |
More Information Coming Soon
We will continue to share updates on HCA practice and responsibilities. Please contact us if you have any questions.