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Health Sciences

Certificate in Health Services Support

The Certificate in Health Services Support is a KNEC and TVET-CDACC examined programme that trains individuals to provide support services in healthcare facilities including hospitals, clinics, and health centres. The programme is accredited by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA).

Duration
1 year
Next intake January 2027
Private tuition
Ksh 50,500
Ksh 50,500 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 50,500 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of D or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 1 year, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

Trainees develop competencies in patient transport, ward assistance, infection control, waste management, basic patient care support, and facility maintenance. The curriculum combines theoretical instruction with practical clinical attachments in healthcare facilities.

Kenya's healthcare sector requires support personnel to assist nurses and clinical officers in delivering patient care. The programme supports the Ministry of Health's efforts to strengthen healthcare service delivery by training auxiliary health workers.

The course is delivered through classroom sessions and supervised clinical practice. Trainees spend time in hospital wards, outpatient departments, and support service areas gaining hands-on experience in health facility operations.

Graduates can work as health service support staff, ward assistants, patient care assistants, or facility support officers in hospitals, clinics, and health centres. The programme provides a foundation for progression to higher-level health science qualifications.

This programme is suitable for individuals with a KCSE mean grade of D (plain) who have an interest in healthcare. It provides entry-level skills for employment in Kenya's health sector.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Patient Care Support
  • Infection Control
  • Ward Management Support
  • Medical Waste Management
  • Patient Transport
  • Basic First Aid
  • Health Facility Operations
  • Communication Skills

Modules

8 in the programme

  • Introduction to Healthcare Systems

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduces the Kenyan healthcare system, health facility structure, and the role of support staff in healthcare delivery.

  • Patient Care Support

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers basic patient care support skills including patient comfort, mobility assistance, feeding support, and observation.

  • Infection Prevention and Control

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Develops competencies in infection control practices, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and isolation procedures.

  • Medical Waste Management

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Covers classification, segregation, storage, and disposal of medical waste according to Kenyan health regulations.

  • Patient Transport and Handling

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Trainees learn safe patient transport techniques including wheelchair use, stretcher handling, and patient transfer procedures.

  • Ward Management Support

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers ward organisation, bed making, stock management, and support for nursing staff in ward operations.

  • Basic First Aid

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Develops basic first aid skills for responding to common medical emergencies in healthcare facilities.

  • Communication and Ethics

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsElective

    Covers healthcare communication skills, patient confidentiality, and professional ethics for health support staff.

Specialisations

  • Ward Support

    Focuses on ward operations, patient comfort, and nursing support services.

  • Theatre Support

    Specialises in supporting operating theatre operations including setup and cleaning.

  • Waste Management

    Focuses on medical waste handling, segregation, and disposal.

  • Patient Transport

    Specialises in safe patient transport within healthcare facilities.

A day as a student

A typical day includes morning theory on infection control or patient care, followed by afternoon clinical practice in hospital wards where trainees assist with patient transport, ward setup, and basic care support under nursing supervision.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Healthcare sector provides stable employment opportunities.Working in healthcare facilities involves exposure to infectious diseases.
Short training duration enables quick entry into the health sector.Shift work including nights and weekends is common in hospitals.
Foundation for progression to nursing and other health science programmes.—

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses
Private51k to 51k
51k at ICS Technical College51k at ICS Technical College

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Private: ICS 50.5K/9mo (ics.ac.ke). Public: no public TVET/KMTC offers HSS cert.

HELB TVET loans, KUCCPS capitation, and county bursaries are available for eligible students.

Funding options

  • HELB TVET Loan

  • KUCCPS Government Capitation

  • County Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

  • HELB TVET Loan

    LoanKsh 50,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students enrolled in TVET institutions

  • County Bursary

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of the respective county enrolled in TVET programmes

Scholarships you could apply for

1 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
Dminimum entry
Alternative entry

KCSE D- (minus) with a relevant artisan certificate.

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including Bartmore Technical College.

May 20271 institution

Including Bartmore Technical College.

September 20271 institution

Including Bartmore Technical College.

How you are assessed

2 components

  • KNEC Theory Examination

    Written examination70% of the mark

    Written examination covering health services support theory.

  • KNEC Practical Assessment

    Practical assessment30% of the mark

    Practical assessment of clinical support competencies.

Accreditation

  • Kenya National Examinations Council

    AcademicRequired

    KNEC examines and certifies the Certificate in Health Services Support.

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    AcademicRequired

    TVETA accredits institutions offering health services support programmes.

Examined by KNEC and TVET-CDACC. Institutions accredited by TVETA. Health facility practice is overseen by the Ministry of Health.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

  • Health Service Support Staff

    High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 40,000

    Provides support services in hospitals and health centres including patient transport and ward assistance.

  • Ward Assistant

    High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 38,000

    Assists nursing staff with ward operations, patient comfort, and basic care support.

  • Patient Care Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 18,000 to Ksh 35,000

    Supports patient care activities including feeding, mobility, and comfort in healthcare facilities.

  • Facility Support Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 40,000

    Manages facility support services including waste management and infection control in health facilities.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as health service support staff and ward assistants in hospitals, clinics, and health centres.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Health services support is just cleaning.

    The role involves patient transport, ward assistance, infection control, waste management, and basic patient care support.

  • There is no career progression from this certificate.

    Graduates can progress to nursing, community health, and other health science programmes.

  • Health support staff are not important in healthcare.

    Support staff are essential for efficient hospital operations and quality patient care.

  • Anyone can do health support work without training.

    Proper training ensures safe practices in infection control, patient handling, and waste management.

Further reading

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