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General inquiries about the CCA Registry please contact 1-866-265-9900 or by email
at: CCARegistry@healthassociation.ns.ca
General inquiries about the Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) Program please contact 1-866-265-9900 or
by email at: CCAProgam@healthassociation.ns.ca
General inquiries about the CCA Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL) Program please contact 1-866-265-
9900 or by email at: CCARPL@healthassociation.ns.ca
A Continuing Care Assistant 1 (CCA) is an individual who provides assistance with activities of daily living to individuals of all ages in a variety of health care practice settings, for the purpose of promoting holistic health and independence. CCA Certification is the entry-level education required to practice as a personal care provider 2 within Nova Scotia’s continuing care sector. This includes nursing homes and home care agencies providing services to NS Department of Health Wellness (DHW) clients. CCAs are also employed by other health care service providers such as hospitals and residential care facilities.
The CCA Program was introduced in Nova Scotia in 2000 to replace DHW recognized personal care worker, home support worker and home health aide designations. The CCA education prepares personal care providers 2 to work in either facility-based or home care settings, assisting individuals with instrumental/activities of daily living (ADLs and IADLs), meeting the CCA Scope of Practice and Competency Framework. The CCA Program reflects a person-centred philosophy. This philosophy is a holistic social model of care, which considers the person and their families to be at the center of the care and services provided.
The goal of person-centred care is to create therapeutic relationships/partnerships among care provider staff, the client, and their families that will lead to the quality care outcomes and enhance the quality of life. The person-centred philosophy recognizes individuals have unique values, diverse backgrounds, personal preferences, an equal right to dignity, respect, and to participate fully in their environment. 2
To deliver the CCA Program, education providers are required to obtain and maintain a license through the CCA Program’s Standards Compliance Assessment (SCA) licensing process. The SCA process validates the CCA Program is being delivered consistently throughout the province of Nova Scotia.
The CCA Curriculum Standards identify the delivery structure and standardized education competencies required for each Certified CCA to deliver appropriate, timely, and respectful person-centered care in a variety of practice settings. The Curriculum identifies such things as the program rationale, philosophy of care, the program’s outcomes, subject matter learning outcomes and objectives, delivery requirements, entrance requirements, teaching resources, and measurement tools.
The purpose of the CCA Program education is to prepare learners to deliver short or extended periods of assistance and support services to people in various care settings. The Program integrates theory and practice through the use of classroom, laboratory, and placement learning and experiences.
The competency-based learning objectives and outcomes with standardized teaching and assessment tools originate from the CCA Scope of Practice and Competency Framework. The Framework is used as a resource for developing the CCA Curriculum Standards which directs the educator’s curriculum development and delivery. The Curriculum Standards are used to evaluate the education delivery to ensure it meets industry’s needs. Using competency-based learning objectives and outcomes, the curriculum is developed and measured systematically while meeting industry practice requirements.
Upon completion of an approved education program, the graduate is eligible to write the provincial Certification Exam administered by the CCA Program Advisory Committee (CCAPAC), to receive CCA Certification. CCA Certification is the provincial entry-to-practice standard for designated care settings under the jurisdiction of the NS Department of Health and Wellness.
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