Personal Support Worker (PSW)

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The Personal Support Worker Program was developed as part of the Ontario government’s plan to reform long-term care and support services which are to people in long-term care facilities or living at home in the community. It is a single training program that replaces and consolidates Health Care Aide and Home Support training. This program standardizes training and provides a solid educational base for workers who provide long-term care and support services both institutional and community settings.

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Personal Support Workers assist with the tasks of daily living. Services are provided in nursing homes, retirement homes, hospice care, hospitals, homes and apartments in the community, congregate house settings and day programs. Personal Support Workers must develop not only for the comfort, safety, and well being of their clients/residents but also demonstrate sensitivity and respect for those in their care. The attitude, abilities and approach of the worker are critical to the well-being and health people they support.

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Employment Opportunities

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Personal Support Workers assist with the tasks of daily living. Services are provided in nursing homes, retirement homes, hospice care, hospitals, homes and apartments in the community, congregate house settings and day programs. Personal Support Workers must develop not only for the comfort, safety, and well being of their clients/residents but also demonstrate sensitivity and respect for those in their care. The attitude, abilities and approach of the worker are critical to the well-being and health people they support.

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Admission Requirements

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• Grade 12 or Equivalent or Mature Student (19 years of age or older and out for 1 year or more)

• Entrance testing required for all students not possessing a Grade 12 diploma at the general level

• Fluency in English, demonstrated skill in written and oral communication and comprehension sufficient to meet the demands of the program as assessed by personal interview and student questionnaire or literacy examination

• Fitness to complete the clinical placement. Immunization status must be up to date. Students must free of communicable disease. Hepatitis B Immunization is required

• Police Check of Criminal Record must be produced within 30 days of starting school. Individuals who have a criminal record are not able to participate in the clinical placement and therefore will not able to graduate from the program

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Graduation Requirements

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• Achieve a minimum mark of 70% in all of Section 1, Section 2, and the additional 8 modules

• Pass the three skills performance demonstrations

• Achieve satisfactory rating in each of the required abilities listed in the PSW skills passbook

• Current First Aide/CPR Certificates

• Have fulfilled all the practicum (clinical placement) hour requirements

• Pass the PSW Final Standardized Examination administered by the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC)

 

Practicum Requirements 

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• Fitness to complete the clinical placement

• Immunization status must be update. Students must be free of communicable diseases, Hepatitis B is required;

• Police check of Criminal Record must be produced within 30 days of starting school. Individuals who have criminal record are  not able to participate in the clinical placement and therefore will not graduate the program

• Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer CPR prior to starting the Clinical Placement

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Program Lengths

Full-Time International 910 Hours (45.5 Weeks)

Full-Time/Part-Time National - 700 Hours (35 and 38.9 Weeks )

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In-school Theory and Practice (includes testing) National 390 International 600 hours

Clinical Placement (Community) 110 hours

Clinical Placement (Facility) 200 hours

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