Health Care Management

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know when a certain course will be offered?

See the annual course schedule posted on our website. The schedule is updated in February of each year. [top]

I have seen your website and I still have some questions that I would like to answer before taking my first course. Who should I talk to?

See our contacts page.  If you have questions of an administrative nature, or need clarifications of the website, you should contact Student Advising, or the Program Assistant. To get advice about your study or career plans, or to determine if our courses are right for you, you should contact the Program Head. One of the best ways to reach the Program Head is by visiting the link "is this right for me?" located on the left side of the screen. The Program Head can then read about your educational background and work experience, and respond to you by email, by telephone, or schedule a telephone conversation with you. [top]

What sources of financial aid are there to assist me in my studies?

See BCIT Financial Aid for Part-time Students.  [top]

How much does it cost to do individual courses or an entire program?

The two main costs associated with our courses are tuition fees and reading materials. Tuition fees are shown on the BCIT website, and they change slightly from year-to-year.  For details, click on any of the courses on our annual course schedule page. Textbook and other reading materials are an additional cost, ranging from $30 to $110 depending on the course, and average around $50. If you are intending to complete a program of 8 courses (24 credits), the total cost is about $6,000.

There is a different tuition fee for International students. Please see the section "Tuition fees for Part-time Studies courses" for details. [top]

I am having trouble with logging into my course. What do I do?

Contact the It Services helpdesk. They should be able to resolve your problem. [top]

When and where can I check my grades?

Grades are normally available through myBCIT about two weeks after the end of the course. [top]

What introductory accounting course should I complete before taking HMGT 5640 BC Health Care Financial Planning and Management? I do have previous bookkeeping experience and Microsoft Excel. Would that satisfy the recommended prerequisite for HMGT 5640?

Most universities, colleges, and institutes offer an introductory accounting course. Recommended courses that you can take in BC (in-class or by distance education) include: FMGT1100 (BCIT) or ACCT1211 (Thompson Rivers University). Generally, bookkeeping experience and use of Microsoft Excel is not sufficient to meet the HMGT 5640 prerequisite. [top]

How do I write my exam? Do I need to identify a proctor or to come to the BCIT campus?

No. Some of our courses include final exams, but these exams are not conducted in the traditional format. In our courses, you complete exams at your own schedule. Generally, an exam is released to students at a specific date, and students have a period of time (usually a few days to one week) to complete the exam and submit it to the instructor electronically. Your exam responses are done "open-book" in essay-style, much like your assignments are to be done in the course. There is no need to arrange for a proctor, or to visit the BCIT campus. Only a few of the courses in the Health Care Management department use exams - the remainder of courses use other forms of evaluation, such as final projects, group projects, or term papers. [top]

How much time do I need to complete a course? What is the workload like?

A single course requires about 9 hours per week, over a 12-week period. Courses are designed so you can complete your learning activities, including collaboration and discussion, without having to be online at any specific time. However, you have the ability to interact in "real-time" with classmates if you choose to do so, through online chat, regular telephone conversation, or teleconference. In contrast to the course activities, coursework deliverables (i.e., assignments) are due at specific times in a course. Submitting coursework late can result in marks deducted from your work. It is best to submit work on time, and if you foresee schedule conflicts, let your instructor know so the both of you can select a suitable due date. [top]

How much time do I have to complete the entire program?

You should complete the program within 3 years. On average, a health care professional who is working full-time and taking our courses on a part-time basis can complete 1 or 2 courses per term. Typically, you should expect to complete the program in about 2.5 years. [top]

I want to obtain a Bachelor degree. How can I take courses from the Health Care Management department, and then apply these towards a bachelor degree?

It is recommended that you get in touch with the bachelor degree program(s) you are interested in, explain that you are studying Health Care Management and explain your intentions to apply transfer credits into a bachelor degree. Then, depending on your educational goals, short/term needs, your work/life schedule, and the possibility of transferring course credits, you should develop a personal educational plan that will take you towards your educational goal.  You can use a similar approach if you are considering a Master's degree. [top]

I want to obtain a Master's degree. Does BCIT have plans to offer a Master's degree?

Contact the program head for details. [top]

Where are BCIT's official policies defined?

Official policies are available from the BCIT policy webpage. Policies 3501 - Responsible Use of Information Technology at BCIT [PDF] and 5101 - BCIT Student Regulations Policy [PDF] are of particular importance.

What level of English Language Proficiency do I need to have before I take your courses or program?

You need to have completed British Columbia English 12 (B), or equivalent in Canada, or you have demonstrated equivalent level of English-language proficiency. [top]

What is the "Application for Program Approval"? If I have already taken courses from this department, does that mean I am in the program?

No. Anyone who meets the entrance requirements of our courses can take courses from this department. To be in a program, you need to complete the Application for Program Approval which acknowledges your intent to complete a specific set of courses as part of a BCIT credential program. To learn more about this form, see the registration and program completion checklist. [top]

After I declare my program and receive program approval, can I switch to a different program?

You can always switch to another program, but you many not be able to apply all your course credits to the new program. You should consult with your program head to determine how to maximize your course credits and how to keep your options open. [top]

I have previously taken a course at BCIT, or at another institution, that I believe is equivalent to one of the courses in the program. How do I apply for a transfer credit?

You need to apply for course credit through the student records office. See our registration & program completion checklist to download the appropriate form. Normally the process takes between 2 and 4 weeks until you receive notification from student records that the credit has been granted. It is also important that you provide course descriptions and your transcript in support of the application - failure to do so will significantly delay processing. To expedite processing, contact the Program Head to determine the likelihood that the course credit will be granted. Please note that BCIT policy limits the number of course credits you can transfer into a program.  For more information, see BCIT Policy #5003 Section 13 Academic Residency Requirements.  [top]

Do I need to come to campus to do these courses?

No. Distance education students rarely come to campus, as most of them are working full-time during business hours. All the processes, services, people, and course materials you need access to, as an BCIT online student, can be obtained through the BCIT website, telephone, or email. [top]

I just completed a course in the program. Do I receive a "certificate of completion?" How do I show (my employer, for example) that I have completed the course?

We do not provide printed "certificates of completion" for completion of individual courses. BCIT does provide:

  • formal academic certificates (e.g., the HCM, Level 1 or 2 Certificate, HCQM Advanced Specialty Certificates, etc.) upon completion of a set of designated courses in a program
  • informal or formal academic transcripts, that students can request electronically request through myBCIT
  • BCIT official Verification Letters to acknowledge that the student is enrolled in or have completed a course (often used to obtain tuition reimbursement from employer) [top]

How do I graduate from BCIT? How do I attend convocation?

Convocation is the formal academic ceremony to celebrate students' graduation and achievement of a BCIT credential. Attendance at convocation is optional, and you will still obtain your credential even if you do not attend. If you are thinking of attending convocation and would like a program representative to be there as well, please let the program know. To obtain your credential, see the registration and program completion checklist. [top]

How do I write my credential after my name?

There a few standards for displaying a BCIT credential, depending on where it is being shown:

  • Abbreviated format such as on your business card: The first letter of each word is capitalized and periods are not used. For an Advanced Specialty Certificate, the abbreviation is ASC. For a Certificate, the abbreviation is Cert. If you achieved an honors standing, you can present it in braces, e.g., ASC (Hon)
  • Abbreviated and showing the area of specialization: ASC (Hon) Health Care Quality Management
  • In full, such as in your resume: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Advanced Specialty Certificate (Honours) Health Care Quality Management [top]

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