Alberta leads with health care aide regulation
News release
July 16, 2025 Media inquiries
Alberta will become the first province to regulate health care aides under a health professional regulatory college, ensuring patients get high-quality care from qualified professionals.
Alberta’s 40,000 health care aides play a vital role in the health system, providing hands-on support to Albertans who need a high level of care, including seniors and those with chronic or acute illnesses. Starting Feb. 2, 2026, health care aides in Alberta will be regulated under a professional college – just like many other front-line health professionals.
To practise and use the health care aide title, individuals will need to meet approved education requirements, follow standards of practice, commit to ongoing learning and abide by a professional code of ethics.
“This is a major step forward in strengthening Alberta’s health care system. It gives Albertans confidence that the care they receive is safe and that health care aides have the proper training and oversight.”
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta will become the College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides of Alberta and will be responsible for registering health care aides, setting practice and conduct standards, ensuring continued professional development and responding to complaints. This work builds on the college’s experience regulating licensed practical nurses in Alberta.
“The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta is ready to take on the work of regulating health care aides in a manner that protects the public. We are leveraging our experience as a trusted regulator of licensed practical nurses to prepare health care aides and our partners for this transition. The CLPNA is confident that the interests of Albertans will be served through our oversight of registration, practice, conduct and continuing competence.”
Kurtis Kooiker, president, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta
Health care aides who meet the requirements are eligible for enrolment in the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory. Those enrolled in the directory immediately before regulation comes into force will be transferred to a health care aide register with the college and issued a practice permit.
As of Feb. 2, 2026, individuals who meet the requirements for registration as a health care aide, who intend to provide health care aide services to the public, and who want to use the health care aide title must apply for registration with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides of Alberta. Going forward, only registered health care aides will be allowed to use the health care aide title, and all registered health care aides will be required to renew their practice permits annually.
In the weeks ahead, regulatory changes to support implementation will be finalized. The college will also continue working with health care aides, employers, post-secondary institutions and other partners to support a smooth transition.
Media inquiries
780-220-4874
Press Secretary, Primary and Preventative Health Services