Pre-Health Sciences

Not sure yet whether nursing, paramedicine or lab science is the right fit for you? Assiniboine’s Pre-Health Sciences certificate is an eight-month programme for exploring a wide range of health care disciplines while strengthening the science and communication skills they all share. It is taught as a cohort at the Victoria Avenue East campus in Brandon, with January and September 2027 starts.

The science core is Introduction to Biology 1, Biology 2, Chemistry 1, Chemistry 2 and Exploring the Human Body, supported by Mathematics 1 and Mathematics 2 for dosage-style calculation and data work. Communications Foundation and Communication in Health build the writing and speaking health teams depend on. Health Care in Canada explains how the system is organised, Health & Wellness in Society looks at the wider causes of illness, and Health Care Professionalism, Safety in Health Care and Health Care Informatics introduce ethics, safe practice and health information systems.

A Health Career Seminar lets you compare professions side by side, so you finish the eight months with a clearer target and a stronger academic record. Assiniboine is direct that this is a stand-alone programme and not a prerequisite to any Assiniboine programme, and it does not grant advanced standing: every health programme keeps its own admission requirements, which you should check before applying. The credits you earn may still transfer through articulation agreements.

Pre-Health Sciences graduates go on to apply for training as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, paramedic, dental hygienist, medical laboratory technologist or comprehensive health care aide, among other health professions. In the meantime the certificate can support entry-level roles such as health unit support worker or clinic assistant. It suits school leavers and career changers who want to rebuild their biology and chemistry before committing to a longer health programme.