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Alberta Health Care Aide (HCA) Provincial EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR – JUST RELEASED
Alberta Health Care Aide (HCA) Provincial Exam Preparation
10-Line Exam Coverage in Points Form
1. HCA Role & Scope of Practice - Primary responsibilities for personal care and ADLs,
working under RN/LPN supervision, and boundaries of practice scope determined by
education and delegation
2. Infection Prevention & Control - Proper hand hygiene techniques, PPE donning
sequence (gown, mask, goggles, gloves), cleaning equipment between clients, and
preventing cross-contamination
3. Safety & Mobility Assistance - Safe transfer techniques, body mechanics (bending at
knees, keeping back straight), gait belt placement around waist, mechanical lift
operation per training, and fall prevention strategies
4. Client Rights & Ethics - Respecting refusal of care, maintaining confidentiality (sharing
only with authorized personnel), informed consent, following Alberta HCA Code of
Ethics, and reporting unsafe practice
5. Personal Care Procedures - Perineal care direction (front to back to prevent UTI), proper
feeding positioning (upright 90 degrees), oral care to prevent aspiration pneumonia, and
assisting with bathing while obtaining consent first
6. Skin & Wound Care - Pressure injury identification (non-blanchable redness), prevention
strategies for immobile clients, incontinence care with prompt hygiene, and recognizing
signs of infection (redness, swelling, fever)
7. Vital Signs & Observation - Monitoring and reporting vital sign changes, recognizing
signs of infection (confusion often early sign in elderly), hypoglycemia symptoms
(sweating, shakiness, confusion), and falls risk assessment
8. Communication & Client Support - Active listening techniques, therapeutic
communication with dementia clients (short, simple sentences), supporting clients in
grief, and responding to agitation/aggressive behavior by remaining calm and ensuring
safety
9. Safety & Emergency Procedures - Fire safety (no smoking with oxygen use), responding
to choking (encourage coughing if partial obstruction), responding to client
syncope/dizziness, and proper denture care and storage
10. Regulatory & Exam Structure - Three attempts within 60 days (or one year for
provisional registrants after Feb 2026), $315 exam fee, 14-day minimum wait between
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attempts, testing windows every two months (Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct/Dec), and virtual
proctoring via ProctorU
250 MCQs with Rationales
SECTION 1: Role & Scope of Practice (Questions 1-40)
1. What is the primary role of a Health Care Aide (HCA) in Alberta's continuing care system?
A) Diagnose and treat medical conditions
B) Provide personal care and support with activities of daily living
C) Prescribe medications to clients
D) Perform complex medical procedures independently
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HCA's primary role is to assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as
bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility under the direction of regulated health
professionals. HCAs are not independent practitioners and do not diagnose, prescribe, or
perform complex medical procedures .
2. Which regulated health professional is typically responsible for supervising and delegating
tasks to HCAs?
A) Physician
B) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN)
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C) Physiotherapist
D) Social Worker
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HCAs work under the supervision of LPNs or RNs who delegate tasks based on the
client's care plan. The supervising nurse is responsible for ensuring the HCA is competent to
perform delegated tasks and for assessing the client's ongoing needs .
3. What is the first thing an HCA should do when unsure about how to perform a delegated
task?
A) Attempt the task based on past experience
B) Ask the client how they prefer it done
C) Seek clarification from the supervising nurse
D) Refuse to perform the task
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When unsure, it is essential to seek clarification from the supervising nurse or other
regulated healthcare professional. Accepting tasks without proper knowledge can compromise
client safety and falls outside the HCA's scope of practice .
4. The HCA's scope of practice is defined by which of the following?
A) The client's family preferences
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B) The HCA's personal experience
C) The HCA's education, the employer's policies, and delegation from regulated health
professionals
D) The Alberta Health Services website
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The HCA's scope is determined by their education and training, employer policies,
and the delegation of tasks by regulated health professionals. This ensures safe and appropriate
care delivery within established boundaries .
5. Which of the following best describes the relationship between HCAs and regulated health
professionals?
A) HCAs function independently of regulated professionals
B) HCAs work under the delegation and supervision of regulated professionals
C) HCAs supervise LPNs and RNs
D) HCAs have the same scope of practice as LPNs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HCAs work under the delegation and supervision of regulated health professionals
such as LPNs and RNs. This ensures accountability and safety in care delivery while maintaining
clear boundaries of practice .
Alberta Health Care Aide (HCA) Provincial EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR – JUST RELEASED
Alberta Health Care Aide (HCA) Provincial Exam Preparation
10-Line Exam Coverage in Points Form
1. HCA Role & Scope of Practice - Primary responsibilities for personal care and ADLs,
working under RN/LPN supervision, and boundaries of practice scope determined by
education and delegation
2. Infection Prevention & Control - Proper hand hygiene techniques, PPE donning
sequence (gown, mask, goggles, gloves), cleaning equipment between clients, and
preventing cross-contamination
3. Safety & Mobility Assistance - Safe transfer techniques, body mechanics (bending at
knees, keeping back straight), gait belt placement around waist, mechanical lift
operation per training, and fall prevention strategies
4. Client Rights & Ethics - Respecting refusal of care, maintaining confidentiality (sharing
only with authorized personnel), informed consent, following Alberta HCA Code of
Ethics, and reporting unsafe practice
5. Personal Care Procedures - Perineal care direction (front to back to prevent UTI), proper
feeding positioning (upright 90 degrees), oral care to prevent aspiration pneumonia, and
assisting with bathing while obtaining consent first
6. Skin & Wound Care - Pressure injury identification (non-blanchable redness), prevention
strategies for immobile clients, incontinence care with prompt hygiene, and recognizing
signs of infection (redness, swelling, fever)
7. Vital Signs & Observation - Monitoring and reporting vital sign changes, recognizing
signs of infection (confusion often early sign in elderly), hypoglycemia symptoms
(sweating, shakiness, confusion), and falls risk assessment
8. Communication & Client Support - Active listening techniques, therapeutic
communication with dementia clients (short, simple sentences), supporting clients in
grief, and responding to agitation/aggressive behavior by remaining calm and ensuring
safety
9. Safety & Emergency Procedures - Fire safety (no smoking with oxygen use), responding
to choking (encourage coughing if partial obstruction), responding to client
syncope/dizziness, and proper denture care and storage
10. Regulatory & Exam Structure - Three attempts within 60 days (or one year for
provisional registrants after Feb 2026), $315 exam fee, 14-day minimum wait between
, Page 2 of 120
attempts, testing windows every two months (Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct/Dec), and virtual
proctoring via ProctorU
250 MCQs with Rationales
SECTION 1: Role & Scope of Practice (Questions 1-40)
1. What is the primary role of a Health Care Aide (HCA) in Alberta's continuing care system?
A) Diagnose and treat medical conditions
B) Provide personal care and support with activities of daily living
C) Prescribe medications to clients
D) Perform complex medical procedures independently
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HCA's primary role is to assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as
bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility under the direction of regulated health
professionals. HCAs are not independent practitioners and do not diagnose, prescribe, or
perform complex medical procedures .
2. Which regulated health professional is typically responsible for supervising and delegating
tasks to HCAs?
A) Physician
B) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN)
, Page 3 of 120
C) Physiotherapist
D) Social Worker
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HCAs work under the supervision of LPNs or RNs who delegate tasks based on the
client's care plan. The supervising nurse is responsible for ensuring the HCA is competent to
perform delegated tasks and for assessing the client's ongoing needs .
3. What is the first thing an HCA should do when unsure about how to perform a delegated
task?
A) Attempt the task based on past experience
B) Ask the client how they prefer it done
C) Seek clarification from the supervising nurse
D) Refuse to perform the task
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When unsure, it is essential to seek clarification from the supervising nurse or other
regulated healthcare professional. Accepting tasks without proper knowledge can compromise
client safety and falls outside the HCA's scope of practice .
4. The HCA's scope of practice is defined by which of the following?
A) The client's family preferences
, Page 4 of 120
B) The HCA's personal experience
C) The HCA's education, the employer's policies, and delegation from regulated health
professionals
D) The Alberta Health Services website
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The HCA's scope is determined by their education and training, employer policies,
and the delegation of tasks by regulated health professionals. This ensures safe and appropriate
care delivery within established boundaries .
5. Which of the following best describes the relationship between HCAs and regulated health
professionals?
A) HCAs function independently of regulated professionals
B) HCAs work under the delegation and supervision of regulated professionals
C) HCAs supervise LPNs and RNs
D) HCAs have the same scope of practice as LPNs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HCAs work under the delegation and supervision of regulated health professionals
such as LPNs and RNs. This ensures accountability and safety in care delivery while maintaining
clear boundaries of practice .
