Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This course prepares learners for professional roles as Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) by providing essential training in care skills, geriatric care, and infection prevention. Designed for both clinical and community settings, the curriculum emphasizes practical competency and safety, ensuring graduates are fully equipped to deliver high-quality support within hospitals, nursing homes, and home care environments.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Care Support (5N0758)
Safety and Health at Work (5N1794)
Care Skills (5N2770)
Communications (5N0690)
Care of the Older Person (5N2706)
Patient Handling
Nursing Theory and Practice (5N4325)
Infection Prevention & Control (5N3734)
Work Practice Healthcare (5N1433)
First Aid Response (PHECC)
Career Planning & Job Seeking Skills
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course results in a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a direct progression route, click below:
QQI Code
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Professional opportunities are expansive, spanning both the public and private sectors, including hospitals, residential nursing homes, and hospices. Additionally, graduates are well-positioned for roles within community care centers and the HSE or private home care schemes, reflecting a critical need for skilled labor across the entire continuum of elderly care.