MyCLPNA
Update on Health Care Aide Regulation
Sharing Our Plans for Regulation on February 2, 2026
In This Article
How Will the Transition to Regulation Work?
On February 2, 2026, Health Care Aide (HCA) regulation comes into effect. All HCAs enrolled on the HCA Directory at that time will be transitioned to the regulated register of the College of LPNs and HCAs of Alberta (CLHA). This includes HCAs who are “In-Progress” on the Directory.
You will be transitioned to the regulated register at no cost so that you can continue to practice as an HCA in Alberta. You will have until April 30, 2026, to pay $140 for your first practice permit and also to purchase professional liability insurance.
What Do Practice Permit Fees Cover?
All regulated healthcare professionals in Alberta pay for yearly practice permits. Permit fees cover costs related to regulation, which includes services such as:
- a secure database to store information related to you and your permit,
- staff to answer your emails and phone calls,
- development of practice guidance, and
- free education opportunities related to regulation.
Permit fees also pay for the work involved in monitoring education, conduct, and registration as well as other processes. To learn more about what regulatory colleges do, see below.
Regulatory colleges operate as non-profits. Permit fees are set based on the cost of regulating a profession, with consideration given to the level of responsibility that professionals have within the healthcare team.
What Do I Need to Pay for My Practice Permit?
The fees that HCAs will need to pay are listed below.
- $140: the cost of your first permit, due on or before April 30, 2026.
- $250: the annual renewal cost for your permit. This will be due on or before November 30 of every year, including in 2026.
- The cost of professional liability insurance: this cost is set by insurance companies. We estimate that it should be under $50 for the year for HCAs. More information will be shared soon.
Why Do I Need Professional Liability Insurance?
Professional liability insurance will cover costs you may have if you are ever named in a complaint. For example, insurance would cover the cost of a lawyer who can help guide you through the complaints process.
We will share more about the complaint process soon. Please note that the CLHA will handle complaints about HCAs starting February 2, 2026. We can only investigate conduct that occurred after this date.
What Do I Need to Do to Prepare for Regulation?
To prepare for regulation, make sure you are active and enrolled on the Directory. This will ensure that you are transitioned to the regulated CLHA register and that we can continue to contact you with important information.
What You Need to Do
- Complete your annual renewal for the HCA Directory as soon as possible, if you haven’t already. If you are not active and enrolled when the transition happens on February 2, there may be more costs and delays for you.
- Check your email for regular updates from the CLPNA and the Directory.
- Make sure your HCA colleagues know that they need to be enrolled on the Directory before February 2, 2026.
Why Is Regulation Important?
Regulation exists for the protection of the public.
What Do Regulators Do?
Regulatory colleges monitor a number of areas.
- Education: approving and reviewing HCA certificate programs.
- Registration: making decisions about applications to become an HCA and HCA renewals.
- Conduct: investigating complaints against HCAs and addressing unprofessional conduct.
- Continuing competence: monitoring participation in a continuing competence program.
- Standards and policies: developing and updating the documents that HCAs are held accountable to.
- Public registry: maintaining a registry of the province’s HCAs, which can be searched by employers and members of the public.
Your permit fees ensure that the CLHA can regulate the HCA profession fairly and effectively.
What Are the Benefits of Regulation for HCAs?
Regulation will make HCAs a professional role under the Health Professions Act. “Health Care Aide” will become a protected title. Protected titles ensure the public knows exactly who is providing their care and what qualifications and standards apply to them.
In addition, standardized education and other requirements will make it easier for HCAs to move between different work settings with recognized skills and education.