Activity Assistant

Entrance requirements

You must meet all entrance requirements to be accepted to the program. View the entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

All students entering this program are also expected to be computer literate. This means knowing how to run programs in a Windows environment, and having basic Internet, word processing, and spreadsheet skills.

Supporting documents

Once you have applied to the program, you will need to submit the following documents.

1. Letter from employer(s) confirming 20 volunteer or work hours in an adult care setting with a satisfactory reference/recommendation.

Need volunteer hours? Contact the following care homes: Maplewood Seniors Care Society, Menno Place, Tabor Village.

If you are unable to meet this requirement by the program start date, email continuingeducation@ufv.ca. 

2. Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening

A satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening is required for practicum. Complete the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector using access code CACJXKC5VT.

After making the fee payment, you will receive an online receipt from the Ministry of Justice. Your results are sent directly to Continuing Education.

3. Immunization Record

The BC Health Authorities require you to be up-to-date on your vaccinations. For questions about immunizations, please contact Immunize BC, your doctor, or a community health centre.

• You must provide records for all immunizations, or have your doctor complete the Health Practicum Student Immunization Record if you do not have records. This must be submitted no later than two weeks after the program starts.
• Students must be vaccinated against COVID-19, per PHO Order.
• For more information, please review the Communicable Disease Prevention Guideline (pg. 6-7).

4. First Aid certificate

You must have an up-to-date First Aid certificate: Standard First Aid, Emergency First Aid, or WorkSafe BC Occupational First Aid Level 1. Due before the first practicum.

5. Foodsafe certificate

You must have an up-to-date Foodsafe Level 1 certificate or Level 1 Refresher. Due before the first practicum.

How to submit the above documents

Your Criminal Record Check will be automatically sent to Continuing Education upon completion, but you will need to submit the other documents yourself.

To submit your documents, email continuingeducation@ufv.ca and attach the files.

• These documents must be scanned. Photographed documents will not be accepted.
• Label the email subject line as: AA Documents, Lastname, First Initial
• If you fail to email this documentation, you cannot be placed in a practicum and are not eligible to graduate.

Courses

The program is divided into courses as listed below.

1. ACTA 10: Fundamental Concepts for Activity Assistants 
   Online — 30 hours
2. ACTA 20: Wellness and Well-Being in Activity
   Online — 30 hours 
3. ACTA 30: Interpersonal and Communication Skills in Dementia Care 
   Online – 30 Hours
4. ACTA 40: Understanding the Population of Older Adults
   Online — 30 hours
5. ACTA 50: Practicum Orientation: Introduction to Care Settings 
   In-class — 10 hours pre-practicum
6. ACTA PRAC 1: Practicum #1 
   30 hours — observational
7. ACTA 60: Activity Design and Implementation Techniques
   In class — 30 hours
8. ACTA 70: Activity Adaptation and Modification for Physical and Cognitive Changes in Older Adults
   In class — 30 hours
9. ACTA 80: Responding and Managing Responsive Behaviours
   In class — 30 hours
10. Employment Preparation
    In Class — 10 hours
11. ACTA PRAC 2: Practicum #2
    90 hours — Hands-on, practical

See the Fall 2024 Activity Assistant program schedule.

Practicum

As part of the Activity Assistant program, you will complete two practicums that provide a meaningful work-like experience and exposure to professional care settings. First you will complete a 30-hour observational practicum midway through the program, and then you will complete a 90-hour hands-on practicum at the end of the program.

View the practicum webpage for more information.

Employment facts

If you are positive, compassionate, and resourceful and enjoy the rewards of spending time with people, a career as an activity assistant may be the perfect fit for you. Not only are there many activity aide job openings available, but it is also a fulfilling career with good income potential.

According to WorkBC, as B.C.’s population continues to age, the healthcare and social assistance field will see the largest increase in job openings in the next 10 years. Fifty-four percent of these will come from the need to replace retiring workers, while an additional 46 percent will arise as a result of expansion in the healthcare system in response to the growing medical needs of an aging population.

Most activity assistants are employed by healthcare agencies and work in long-term care homes. However, some activity assistants also find employment in residential homes, community mental health centres, adult day care programs, hospice care, community centres, private homes, and even cruise ships. Common titles for Activity Assistant grads include:

• Activity assistant
• Activity aide
• Activity worker
• Care/activity aide
• Activity coordinator
• Therapy recreation wellness assistant
• Recreation assistant
• Recreation aide
• Recreation worker
• Recreation programmer
• Life enrichment assistant

To find your textbooks, use the UFV Bookstore's textbook search tool. Select "CE - Continuing Education" as your area of study.