Health Sciences

Diploma in Healthcare Support Service

The Diploma in Healthcare Support Service is a TVET-CDACC examined programme that trains healthcare support professionals for hospitals, clinics, and care facilities. The course covers patient care, infection prevention and control, first aid, hospital housekeeping, medical terminology, common diseases, health facility organisation, and mortuary techniques across progressive modules.

Students develop competencies in patient hygiene assistance, vital signs monitoring, infection control, ward preparation, equipment handling, patient mobility and safety, documentation, and outpatient and inpatient support services. The programme also covers hospital catering, supportive store procedures, and medical-legal ethics.

Kenya faces a growing shortage of healthcare workers, with hospitals and clinics across the country experiencing staff gaps as patient numbers rise. This has created urgent demand for trained healthcare support personnel who can assist nurses and doctors, monitor patients, and ensure efficient healthcare facility operations.

The programme combines classroom theory with simulation laboratory practicals and clinical attachments. Students practice patient care techniques, infection control procedures, and emergency response in supervised healthcare settings. An industrial attachment in a hospital or healthcare facility provides hands-on clinical experience.

Graduates work as healthcare support assistants, patient attendants, ward assistants, and health records assistants in public and private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centres. Some graduates also qualify for international caregiving opportunities.

This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- (minus) who are compassionate and interested in healthcare support roles. It provides a direct pathway into Kenya's healthcare sector with opportunities for further specialisation in nursing or clinical medicine.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Research Methods
Communication Skills
Information Technology
Project Management
Entrepreneurship
Statistics

Modules

10 in the programme

Patient Care and Support
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Basic patient care and assistance techniques for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Infection Prevention and Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Infection control practices in healthcare for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Health and Safety in Healthcare
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Occupational safety in healthcare settings for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Healthcare Support Principles
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of healthcare support services for professional practice and competency development in the field.
First Aid and Emergency Response
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
First aid techniques and emergency procedures for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Medical Equipment Handling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Handling and maintenance of basic medical equipment for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Health Records Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Patient records and health information systems for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Health Systems Support Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of healthcare support operations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Communication Skills
Year 3Semester 12 creditsCore
Healthcare communication and patient relations for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Patient Care Support
Direct patient care including hygiene, feeding, mobility assistance, and vital signs monitoring, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Infection Prevention and Control
Implementing infection control protocols and hygiene standards in healthcare facilities, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Health Facility Support
Support services including housekeeping, catering, stores management, and mortuary operations, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Health Facility Administration
Focus on health facility administrative operations, patient flow management, supplies coordination, and support service management within Kenyan healthcare facilities.

A day as a student

Students attend morning theory classes and spend afternoons in practical sessions, workshops, or laboratory work applying concepts learned in class.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's healthcare worker shortage creates strong demand for trained support personnel.
International caregiving certification opens opportunities for global employment.

Against it

Healthcare support work is emotionally demanding, involving exposure to illness and patient suffering.
Entry-level salaries are modest compared to nursing and clinical medicine qualifications.

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

Public67k to 67k

67k at Bondo Technical Training Institute67k at Public TVET College (standardised rate)

Private100k to 150k

100k at WICHS University150k at Lanista Training Institute

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

TVET 67,189/yr public. WICHS 100K, Lanista 150K/yr private (bondotti.ac.ke, wichs).

Students can access HELB TVET loans, county government bursaries, and NG-CDF bursaries to support their studies.

Funding options

HELB loan

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed or accredited diploma programmes at recognised TVET institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries provided by county governments for needy students from their respective counties.
NG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Constituency Development Fund bursaries for needy students from the respective constituency.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Health Services Support Certificate Level 5 from an accredited TVET institution.

English or Kiswahili
Biology

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester CATs covering theory and practical components.
KNEC Module Examinations
Exam60% of the mark
National examinations administered by KNEC at the end of each module.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practicum10% of the mark
Supervised industrial attachment report and employer assessment.

Accreditation

Programmes accredited by TVETA and examined by KNEC, NITA, or CDACC in Kenya.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for TVET institutions offering this diploma programme.
Kenya National Examinations Council
Examination bodyRequired
Administers national examinations for the diploma programme at each module level.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Healthcare Support Assistant
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000
Provides direct patient care support including hygiene assistance, vital signs monitoring, and patient mobility in hospitals.
Ward Assistant
High demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 40,000
Supports ward operations including bed making, patient feeding, equipment preparation, and maintaining ward cleanliness.
Patient Attendant
Medium demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 38,000
Attends to patient needs including comfort, safety, and basic care support in hospitals and home care settings.
Health Records Assistant
Medium demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 42,000
Manages patient records, files documentation, and supports health information management in healthcare facilities.
Health Facility Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 75,000
Manages health facility support services including patient flow, supplies, maintenance, and administrative operations for hospitals and health centres.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates of the Healthcare Support Service programme work in relevant industries across Kenya, with opportunities in both public and private sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Patient Management Software
Healthcare softwarePrimary
Software for managing patient records and appointments
First Aid Equipment
Medical equipmentPrimary
First aid kits and basic medical supplies for healthcare support
Microsoft Office
Productivity suite
Office suite for healthcare documentation
Hospital Information System
Healthcare software
Information system for managing hospital support services

Certifications

Industry links

Ministry of Health

Common misconceptions

The Healthcare Support Service diploma is just theory with no practical value.
The programme emphasises hands-on practical training in workshops, laboratories, and industrial attachment, ensuring graduates are job-ready.
Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.
Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.