QQI Level 5 Healthcare: Your Route to a Career as a Healthcare Assistant in Ireland
If you are considering a career as a healthcare assistant in Ireland, a QQI Level 5 qualification in Healthcare Support is the most direct and widely recognised route into the profession. Whether you are starting out for the first time, returning to work after a break, or looking to formalise experience you already have, this guide covers everything you need to know about QQI Level 5 Healthcare — what it involves, where to study it, and what doors it opens.
What is QQI?
QQI — Quality and Qualifications Ireland — is the state agency responsible for awarding and quality assuring further education and training qualifications in Ireland. QQI qualifications are recognised by employers across the public, private, and voluntary sectors, and a QQI Level 5 certificate is the standard entry-level qualification for healthcare assistant roles across HSE hospitals, community services, private healthcare facilities, and care settings nationwide.
QQI qualifications are awarded on the National Framework of Qualifications — NFQ — which runs from Level 1 to Level 10. Level 5 sits at the same level as the Leaving Certificate and represents a full further education certificate in a specialist subject area.
What is QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support?
QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support sometimes referred to as FETAC Level 5 Healthcare Support, following the former name of the awarding body, is a further education certificate designed specifically for people who want to work in a healthcare or care setting. The programme covers the knowledge, skills, and practical competencies required to work as a healthcare assistant across a range of clinical and care environments.
The QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support programme typically includes modules covering:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Care Skills; personal care, patient hygiene, moving and handling
- Care Support; communicating with patients, supporting wellbeing
- Safety and Health at Work
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Healthcare Support; practical skills in a clinical environment
- Work Experience; placement in a healthcare or care setting
The full Level 5 certificate consists of eight modules, each worth 15 credits, giving a total of 120 credits on completion. Individual modules can also be taken as standalone minor awards, though most employers prefer candidates who hold the full certificate.
What Other QQI Level 5 Qualifications Are Relevant for HCA Work?
While QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support is the most directly relevant qualification for healthcare assistant roles, a number of related QQI Level 5 programmes are also recognised by employers, depending on the setting you want to work in:
- QQI Level 5 in Care of the Older Person: particularly relevant for nursing home and community care settings
- QQI Level 5 in Social Care Work: relevant for care assistant roles in disability and social care settings, and for candidates considering a Support Worker career pathway
- QQI Level 5 in Childcare: relevant for HCA or care assistant roles in paediatric and childcare settings
- QQI Level 5 in Community Development: relevant for community healthcare assistant roles
Where Can I Study QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support in Ireland?
QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support programmes are offered at Further Education and Training colleges — ETBs — across Ireland, as well as through a number of private colleges and online providers. Courses are available as full-time programmes, part-time evening courses, and increasingly as blended or online learning options, making them accessible for candidates who are working or have other commitments.
Key providers include:
- Education and Training Boards (ETBs) — available at ETB colleges across every county in Ireland. Courses are typically free or heavily subsidised for eligible candidates through SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority
- Private colleges — a number of private further education colleges across Ireland offer QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support programmes on a fee-paying basis, with more flexible scheduling options
- Online and blended learning — several providers now offer QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support fully online or in a blended format, suitable for candidates who cannot attend in person
For the most current list of approved QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support providers in your area, visit qqi.ie or fetchcourses.ie — the national database of further education and training courses in Ireland.
How Long Does QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support Take?
The duration of a QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support programme varies depending on the provider and the mode of study:
- Full-time: Most full-time programmes run for one academic year, typically September to May or June
- Part-time: Part-time programmes typically run over two years, with classes in the evenings or at weekends
- Blended or online: Duration varies by provider but typically mirrors the full-time or part-time timeline
Work placement is a mandatory component of most QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support programmes. Placement is typically arranged by the college or independently by the student and gives candidates practical, hands-on experience in a real healthcare or care setting before they graduate.
Do I Need a QQI Level 5 to Work as an HCA in Ireland?
A QQI Level 5 qualification is the standard requirement for most healthcare assistant roles in Ireland, particularly in HSE hospitals, acute care settings, and private healthcare facilities. However, the picture is more nuanced depending on the specific role and setting:
- HSE acute hospital HCA roles: A QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support or an equivalent qualification is typically required
- Community and home care HCA roles: Some roles in community and home care settings are open to candidates without a formal qualification, where relevant experience and a genuine commitment to patient care are valued. However, candidates who hold a QQI Level 5 are generally prioritised
- Private healthcare settings: Requirements vary by employer but most private hospitals and facilities follow similar standards to the HSE
If you do not yet hold a QQI Level 5 but have substantial relevant care experience, TTM's consultants can advise on whether your background is sufficient for specific roles and what steps you might take to formalise your qualifications while working.
What Jobs Can I Get with a QQI Level 5 in Healthcare?
A QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support opens the door to a wide range of healthcare assistant and care roles across Ireland, including:
- Agency healthcare assistant jobs in HSE hospitals
- Community healthcare assistant roles
- Healthcare assistant jobs in private hospitals and clinics
- Nursing home care assistant roles
- Disability services healthcare assistant positions
- Home care assistant roles
With TTM, a QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support also opens the possibility of working across both HCA and Support Worker roles in your area — if you meet the criteria for both disciplines, our Quality and Standards team will support you to get cleared for both, giving you the widest possible range of shifts and the maximum earning potential from your qualification. Find out more about working across both disciplines here.
QQI Level 5 and Career Progression
A QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support is not just an entry point, it is the foundation of a healthcare career that can develop in a number of directions:
- Senior HCA and Healthcare Assistant Team Leader roles: With experience, HCAs can progress to senior and team leader positions within HSE and private healthcare settings
- Nursing: Many nurses begin their careers as healthcare assistants. A QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support, combined with work experience, strengthens an application to nursing degree programmes at Irish universities and institutes of technology
- Social Care: A QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support or Social Care Work can be a stepping stone toward a degree in Social Care, opening up Social Care Worker and Social Care Leader career pathways
- Specialist care roles: Experience as an HCA combined with additional QQI or CPD qualifications can open up specialist roles in areas such as dementia care, palliative care, or disability services
TTM supports HCAs at every stage of this journey — from placing newly qualified Level 5 graduates into their first agency shifts, to supporting experienced HCAs into more senior or specialist positions as their careers develop.
How TTM Supports QQI Level 5 Graduates into HCA Work
When you register with TTM as a newly qualified or experienced healthcare assistant, our dedicated compliance and recruitment teams work with you to get you fully cleared and ready to work as quickly as possible. Our Quality and Standards team will support you through registration with documentation requirements, Garda vetting, and training requirements so you can focus on finding the right shifts and getting started in your career.
As an HSE Tier 1 approved agency, TTM HCAs have access to the widest range of HSE shifts available in Ireland meaning your QQI Level 5 qualification opens doors to more opportunities with TTM than with most other agencies. And if you meet the criteria for both HCA and Support Worker roles, we can support you to get cleared for both giving you the maximum flexibility and earning potential from your qualification.
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Last updated: July 2026. Course availability and entry requirements are subject to change — always check with your chosen provider for the most current information.
