Overview
From leading oneself, understanding health organizations, budgeting, project management, and managing people, our courses are taught through the health leadership lens, giving you the leadership perspectives and capabilities to advance your career and make a difference as an emerging health leader.
About the program
The Health Leadership advanced certificate program develops emerging health leaders. BCIT has offered advanced level programs to health professionals and mid-career learners for over 20 years. y. Our specialized programs are known across Canada for their flexible online approach designed for adult learners. The Health Leadership program is the only advanced certificate program of its kind in Canada.
- Part-time, advanced certificate program completed over 2 years
- Interactive online learning
- Take courses as you need them or complete the full certificate
- Includes a Capstone project completed in the workplace
Visit Program Details for more information on our Health Leadership program.
Who it’s for
This program is for individuals who work in health professional and related health sector occupations who:
- • Are gainfully employed in the health services sector or in a related industry and intend to transition into healthcare
- Are interested in developing skills to lead high-performing teams
- Enjoy leading others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Are interested in enhancing the patient care experience from organizational and operational perspectives
Discover if BCIT’s Health Leadership program is right for you – see Entrance Requirements for details.
What grads can do
All of our grads are applying their skills to their workplace. See Graduating and Jobs to learn about career opportunities.
Entrance Requirements
Take individual courses as an undeclared major
If you are not formally in a program in our department, you can still register for a limited number of courses as an Undeclared Major student. This is an excellent way for you to attempt some courses before committing yourself to completing a full program of study. As an Undeclared Major student, the following courses are available to you whenever they are offered.
- HLED 7110 Fundamentals for Emerging Leaders in Health Care
- HLED 7120 Canadian Health System
- HLED 7270 Project Leadership in Health Care
For details, see the Annual Course Schedule and the Student Progress Milestones.
Take individual courses through your program at BCIT
Our courses are equivalent in academic rigour to 4th-year courses of a bachelor’s degree program. Several BCIT programs outside of Health Care Management have incorporated our courses into their program requirements. BCIT students who are in a formal program may be able to take some Health Care Management courses as elective credit. Contact your own program for advice, then contact our department for approval.
About Flexible Learning
Flexible Learning offers a variety of courses and programs in different delivery modes and locations to customize your learning at your own pace. You can review course prerequisites on our website and if you meet them, you’ll be able to register for that available course immediately. Some courses may require departmental approval or formal acceptance into the program. BCIT Flexible Learning courses are offered during the Winter (January), Spring/Summer (April), and Fall (September) terms.
Scheduled intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
Students who have been accepted into the program are formed into a learning community in the Winter term and proceed together through the program. Students who are accepted may begin taking courses in January, April, and September.
Application processing
Applications are accepted throughout the year with intake options available during the following periods:
| Intake | Opening (9:00 am) | Deadline (11:59 pm) |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (January) | February 1st* | Domestic students: January 2nd* International students: November 1st* |
| Spring/Summer (April) | May 1st* | Domestic students: April 1st* International students: February 1st* |
| Fall (September) | October 1st* | Domestic students: September 1st* International students: July 2nd* |
*or next business day
Intakes may fill before the deadline. If you are currently registered in a course or planning to start, submit your application early to secure your spot in the program.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first-qualified basis as long as space remains.
- English language proficiency: Category 1 – English Studies 12 (73%) or equivalent
- Post-secondary education: one of the following from a recognized post-secondary institution:
- Health science diploma or
- Bachelor's degree in any discipline
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid status in Canada other than study permit.
Study permit: International applicants accepted into this program are not eligible for a study permit.
Students enrolled in this program must complete the mandatory work component to qualify for graduation.
Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility: This program does not meet the eligible field of study requirement (CIP) and is therefore not eligible for students to apply for a PGWP.
(CIPC: 51.0701)
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
BCIT believes that you should receive credit for what you have accomplished. BCIT has several options for assessing your prior learning and for granting transfer credit. If you qualify for one of these options and satisfy the program entrance requirements, contact the Program Head to discuss your prior learning. Please note that PLAR may not be available for certain courses.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information on domestic and international tuitions.
Books & supplies
The estimated cost per course is $915 tuition plus an average of $100 for reading materials (reading materials range from $40 to $230, depending on the course). The total cost to complete the program, if you complete all 8 courses (24 credits), is approximately $8,157.
Courses
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
| Year 1: | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| HLED 7110 | Fundamentals for Emerging Leaders in Health Care | 3.0 | |
| HLED 7120 | Canadian Health System | 3.0 | |
| HLED 7130 | Leading Health Professionals | 3.0 | |
| HLED 7140 | Leading Sustainability in Health Care | 3.0 | |
| Year 2: | Credits | ||
| HLED 7250 | Leading Performance Measurement and Management | 3.0 | |
| HLED 7260 | Leadership Issues in Evidence-based Decision Making | 3.0 | |
| HLED 7270 | Project Leadership in Health Care | 3.0 | |
| HLED 8280 | Leadership Integrative Project | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 24.0 | ||
Check current availability of courses for this program.
BCIT Annual Symposium on Health Leadership
An annual Symposium will be held each year in the Vancouver Lower Mainland area to celebrate students’ academic and professional achievements, and bring together students, faculty, staff, advisory board members, professional associations, and supporters. After completing their first year, students will be awarded a BCIT Statement of Completion. Students in their second year will be invited to present their Integrative Project.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program aim
The aim of the Advanced Certificate in Health Leadership Program is to provide emerging leaders with a foundation for future growth in health leadership.
What is an “emerging health leader”?
At BCIT, we define an emerging health leader as an early-career health professional who is passionate and committed to pursuing a career in health leadership.
Program goals
The goal of the advanced certificate is to produce health care graduates who are acquainted with health care leadership issues and who are able to:
- communicate successfully in the clinical environment
- function as an effective health care team member
- evaluate operational change in the context of evidence-based decision making
- prepare, develop and manage a department budget
- manage projects according to health care standards and constraints
- apply LEADS concepts to performance management
- appreciate complex labour relations of the health care setting
- lead members of the health care team in busy stressful environments
- discuss appropriate professional judgment in the applicable health care settings
- ensure a high standard of patient care to patients and families
- illustrate exemplary ethical decision-making to applicable health care settings
- discuss the application of safe practices in the applicable health care settings
- correlate academic knowledge with health care leadership practice
- demonstrate professional judgment in identifying, documenting and communicating issues in leadership situations
Participants will be required to complete the program over a two year period. The first year focuses on the fundamentals of health leadership, management of resources, sustainability, leading people, and the Canadian health system. At the end of the first year, accomplishments are recognized and celebrated, and participants are awarded a Statement of Completion. In the second year, participants apply their learning to addresses performance management, use of evidence in health leadership decision-making, and project leadership. In the final capstone course, participants complete an Integrative Project in their workplace with the support of an organizational sponsor and a BCIT facilitator. The courses consist of 24-credits at the upper Bachelor-degree level, consistent with BCIT standards. In addition, by incorporating practical and applied learning approaches that BCIT is known for, the participants and their organizations benefit from day one of the program, by tapping into skills and knowledge that can be applied immediately to the workplace.
The Health Leadership program is closely aligned with industry, through its program advisory committee and its adoption of the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework, a leadership capability profile that defines the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a leader needs to exhibit in order to successfully contribute to an effective and efficient Canadian health system. As such, the framework has been adopted by the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and the Canadian Health Leadership Network.
The delivery method is online part-time studies using educational technologies to promote interaction and engagement within the program and cohort, while maintaining flexibility over time and ensuring educational interactions across the province and beyond. The faculty will have a minimum of a Master’s credential with real-life experience at middle and senior levels of leadership in the health system. The key strengths of the program are:
- Curricula that is linked to industry standards, and specifically to the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework
- A cohort and online learning approach that enables inter-professional collaboration, relationship building across the province and beyond, and effective use of time
- Upper-level study that enables potential laddering to further academic credentials
- Gatherings in a health leadership professional setting on an annual basis while in the program to recognize and celebrate accomplishments
- Opportunity to complete an Integrative Project with support and guidance
LEADS in a Caring Environment
With the launch of the new Health Leadership Advanced Certificate program, our department is offering new courses in the area of health leadership. These courses, denoted by the subject code HLED, are underpinned by the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework, a leadership capability profile that reflects the values, knowledge, skills, and attitudes a leader needs to exhibit in order to successfully contribute to an effective and efficient Canadian health system.
The framework defines the professional skills that we expect our students to have when they graduate from the Health Leadership program. The way we interpret and integrate these capabilities throughout the curriculum is evaluated and updated periodically, based on input from industry, our Program Advisory Committee, our faculty and our students.
The LEADS Framework includes 20 health leadership capabilities grouped into 5 domains of capability. The domains are:
- Leads Self
- Engages Others
- Achieves Results
- Develops Coalitions
- Systems Transformation
More information:
Program length
Students are expected to complete the program over a period of 2 years in a cohort model.
Program delivery
Online: This program is delivered fully online.
The delivery method is online flexible learning (part-time studies) using educational technologies to promote interaction and engagement within the program and cohort, while maintaining flexibility over time and ensuring educational interactions across the province and beyond.
Program location
Courses are offered through online learning.Continue your education
Courses are at the level of a 3rd and 4th year bachelor degree program, enabling potential laddering to further academic credentials.
Graduating & Jobs
Our graduates move up
Flexible. Specialized. Skills focused. Our grads are working in the health sector across all areas of the industry. From supervising medical laboratories and imaging departments to leading nursing teams and community health initiatives, our Health Leadership program prepares you from day one.
Career opportunities
Gain the professional development and résumé relevancy employers seek. We give you health leadership and managerial skills that you can apply to any healthcare field.
Health leadership positions start at approximately $50,000 to $74,000 per year. Apply your new skills to your current role or seek out leadership positions in health care, with roles like:
- Program or project leader
- Team leader
- Team or program coordinator
- Regional manager
- Supervisor in an area related to your clinical field
- Director
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2023-2025 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2022-2024 graduates and for Degree 2021-2023 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Professional associations
The program is based on the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework, a leadership capability profile that defines the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a leader needs to exhibit in order to successfully contribute to an effective and efficient Canadian health system. As such, the framework has been adopted by the Canadian College of Health Leaders, the Canadian Health Leadership Network, and the Emerging Health Leaders.
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Shan Satoglu, B.Sc., MBA
Program Head
604-451-6975
shan_satoglu@bcit.ca
Victoria Banham, BA
Program Assistant
604-432-8727
victoria_banham@bcit.ca
Annual Course Schedule
| 2026 Calendar year | 2027 Calendar year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Apr | Sep | Jan | Apr | Sep | ||
| Course | Frequency | Cohort starts | Cohort starts | ||||
| HLED7110* Jan, Apr, Sep | 2026 | Additional | Additional | 2027 | Additional | Additional | |
| HLED7120* Jan, Sep | 2026 | Additional | 2027 | Additional | |||
| HLED7130 Apr | 2026 | 2027 | |||||
| HLED7140 Sep | 2026 | 2027 | |||||
| HLED7250 Jan | 2025** | 2026 | |||||
| HLED7260 Apr | 2025** | 2026 | |||||
| HLED7270* Jan, Apr | 2025** | Additional | 2026 | Additional | |||
| HLED8280*** Sep | Additional | 2025** | Additional | 2026 | |||
Notes:
- * Open to Individuals who have not been accepted into the Health Leadership program
- ** Represents participants in the 2nd year of the Jan 2025 Cohort
- *** HLED8280 is offered in the September (Fall) Term, or as an Additional course offering in the January (Winter) Term.
Students with an undeclared major*
Individuals who have not been accepted into the Health Leadership program or into any other program in the Health Care Management Department, may enrol in HLED7110, HLED7120, and HLED7270 whenever they are offered. This is an excellent way for individuals to attempt some courses before committing themselves to completing a full program of study. It is also a convenient way for students in a program to take some courses earlier than prescribed in the program schedule, or to make up for lost time in the event that their study progress was delayed.
Additional course offerings
Additional course offerings are scheduled to provide additional flexibility to students in the Health Leadership program, and to provide additional access to programming. Further offerings can be scheduled (e.g, for health organizations) by special arrangement.
Notes
The annual course schedule is subject to change without notice. BCIT reserves the right to cancel courses if enrolments are insufficient. BCIT’s cancellation policy will provide two business days’ notice of the cancellation of a course.
Revised: 2025-11-12
Contact Us
Email: healthleadership@bcit.ca
If you are a BCIT student and know your A00 ID number, please include it in all correspondence.
Questions or comments?
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