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).

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.

Duration: 1 year
Private, up to: Ksh 50,500
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Certificate

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 favour

Healthcare sector provides stable employment opportunities.
Short training duration enables quick entry into the health sector.
Foundation for progression to nursing and other health science programmes.

Against it

Working in healthcare facilities involves exposure to infectious diseases.
Shift work including nights and weekends is common in hospitals.

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

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D
Alternative entry: KCSE D- (minus) with a relevant artisan certificate.

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

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

Accredited by

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.

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

Industry links

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.