Training

Patient care attendant training: programs, length, bursary

In 2026, only one program trains patient care attendants: DEP 5405, 705 hours. The three-month training is no longer offered. A $12,000 bursary exists.

October 10, 2026 · Lire en français

Training

In 2026, only one training program leads to the patient care attendant trade in the public network: a 705-hour DEP (diploma of vocational studies). The former 870-hour DEP has been withdrawn and the three-month training is no longer offered. Here is what the official sources say.

The current program: DEP 5405

The program is called Soutien aux services d'assistance en établissement de santé et de services sociaux (support for assistance services in health and social services institutions). Its number is 5405, and 5905 in its English version. According to Inforoute FPT, it lasts 705 hours, about 7 months, and has 47 units. It was introduced in 2025.

It prepares students for two trades: patient care attendant (PAB) and health and social services auxiliary (ASSS), who works in people's homes.

What has ended

Program	Length	Status in 2026
DEP 5405, Soutien aux services d'assistance en établissement de santé et de services sociaux	705 hours	Current
DEP 5358, Assistance à la personne en établissement et à domicile	870 hours	Withdrawn, replaced by DEP 5405
AEP 4270, Soutien aux services d'assistance en établissement de santé et de services sociaux	705 hours	Converted into DEP 5405
AEP 4248, short training for CHSLDs and seniors' homes (maisons des aînés)	375 hours	No school organization offers it

Sources for the table: Inforoute FPT, Admission FP and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, 2026-2027 description sheet.

The 2026-2027 description sheet of the MSSS (Quebec's Department of Health and Social Services) puts it this way: AEP 4270 (attestation of vocational studies) is being gradually converted into DEP 5405. This conversion leads to the withdrawal of DEP 5358. Only one program has been offered for this job title since January 2026.

The three-month training

It did exist. According to the department's news release of May 16, 2023, the short training for PABs in CHSLDs (long-term care centres) and seniors' homes lasted 375 hours, spread over about 12 weeks, with a $12,000 bursary. The government had launched it in June 2020.

On October 10, 2026, this program's page on Admission FP carries the note "Aucun organisme scolaire n'offre ce programme présentement" (no school organization currently offers this program). The AEP 4270 page, announced on February 13, 2024 for home support, carries the same note.

Admission requirements

According to Inforoute FPT, you only need to meet one of these conditions:

Hold a secondary school diploma, a recognized equivalent or a higher education diploma
Be at least 16 years old on September 30 of the school year and have the Secondary 3 credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics
Be at least 18 years old when training begins, pass the general development test and have the specific prerequisites in language of instruction

For adults, no prerequisite is required in second language or mathematics.

Where the training is given

The DEP is given in the vocational training centres of the school service centres. Inforoute FPT lists the centres that offer the program, region by region. You apply on Admission FP, where each group shows its dates, schedule and cost.

The group pages consulted advertise daytime training, 30 hours a week. None of the sources consulted mentions online training.

The cost

The cost varies from one centre to another. One example: at CFP Le Tremplin, the group running from September 21, 2026 to March 19, 2027 is listed on Admission FP at about $320, materials included.

The $12,000 bursary

The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux offers 1,150 bursaries of $12,000 each for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, according to its description sheet. They are for DEP 5405 students. According to Québec.ca, students in AEP 4270 and DEP 5358 who began their training on or after July 1, 2025 are also eligible.

To get it, you must:

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and live in Quebec
Be admitted to the program at a school recognized by the Ministère de l'Éducation
Be selected by an eligible institution and obtain a confirmation of hiring
Commit to starting and completing the training within the set time limits

The eligible institutions are those of Santé Québec, subsidized private institutions and non-subsidized private institutions. A candidate cannot apply to more than two institutions at a time.

In return, the bursary holder commits to earning the diploma, then working at least one year in an eligible institution, with availability that meets the local collective agreements. Anyone who does not keep this commitment may have to repay up to $8,000. The $4,000 paid at graduation is not repayable.

The application deadline is set by the health institution or the training centre. See where to apply as an attendant and the attendant's salary.

Recognition of prior learning

A person with experience can obtain the DEP through recognition of prior learning and competencies (RAC). The Centre de services scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin, in its October 2025 sheet, describes a part-time process, with continuous entry, that you can follow while keeping your job.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the training to become a patient care attendant?

DEP 5405 lasts 705 hours, about 7 months according to Inforoute FPT. Daytime groups take 30 hours of classes a week.

What is the new training to become a patient care attendant?

It is DEP 5405, Soutien aux services d'assistance en établissement de santé et de services sociaux, introduced in 2025. It replaces DEP 5358, Assistance à la personne en établissement et à domicile. It trains both patient care attendants and health and social services auxiliaries.

Where can I find a free patient care attendant course?

No official source consulted advertises a free course. The DEP is given in vocational training centres, at a cost that varies from one centre to another. The $12,000 bursary from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux is obtained through a health institution, in exchange for a one-year work commitment.