Personal Support Worker

Ontario Program Training Certificate

Applications for September, Quad 1 2023 start are now closed.

On September 21st, 2023 the application portal for Quad 2 will open, please return to this site at that time.

An Information Session/question and answer session is available on Thursday June 15th, 2023 at 10am; please click here: Zoom Meeting An Information Session for Continuing Education and RPN Bridging Programs with George Brown College and other Community College, will follow the session.

Admission/Entry Requirements:

Be 19 years old or older at the time of application. Students 18 years old or younger must be registered and attending CALC at the time of their application
An Ontario Secondary School English credit, ENG3C, English grade 11, College level or higher or an equivalent CALC English assessment (appointments for the assessment are offered on the PSW application form, see above)
Status in Canada Documents: Citizenship Card, Birth Certificate, Canadian Passport, Landed Immigrant or PR Card or Convention Refugee Status + Study Permit or proof of application for a study permit. (CALC Settlement Workers are available to assist students) Health card (if available) and Proof of address.
Completion of the mandatory online application form where direction is given to the orientation session, English assessment and individual interview prior to registration offers.
A clear police records check for the vulnerable sector prior to practicum placement (applications are completed in class, guided by the teacher)
A complete immunizations/medical forms. (applications are completed in class, guided by the teacher)

Returning PSW Students for Quad 1, September, 2023

Students may re-enter the program if they are within a maximum of two years from their point of REGISTRATION and have achieved a minimum of one or more credits in the program. If longer than the two-year time period, completion of the program in whole should be done and students should re-apply as new students, see registration above. Registration is contingent on availability in the program. Students will be contacted a week prior to the start of class. Students wishing to attend part 3, the practicum portion of the program, will need to ensure their Police Record Check and Medical Form is within 6 months of issue. Returning Students Please click here.

Employed Part 3 students may be considered to apply their employment towards PSW Certification practicum requirements:

If you are an employed PSW Student in a Long Term Care facility, and have successfully completed Part 1 and Part 2 of the program at CALC you may apply your employment towards your PSW Certification practicum requirements. Candidates and their employers must agree to meet CALC teachers/nurses. Students will be assessed/evaluated on all of the expectations listed in the "Skills Passbook and Record of Learning" throughout the length of the Quad. Space is limited and other conditions may apply.

Program Codes, start times and class expectations

Part 1 in school theory (9 weeks/ 1 quad) : TPJ3C1 (double credit), TPJ2O1

Part 2 in school theory (9 weeks/ 1 quad) : TOJ4C1 (double credit), TPJ4E1

Part 3 placement portion (9 weeks/ 1 quad): TOJ4CC (double credit), TPJ4ES

Part 1 Classes begin 4 times a year either in September Quad 1, November Quad 2, February Quad 3 or April Quad 4. The program is delivered over 3 quads or 27 weeks. CALC is closed for summer break during the month of July or August.

Classes run from 8:25 am - 3:15 pm daily in the school and in the PSW Lab; all classes are in person. Students completing the placement portion of the program in Long Term Care faciliities follow the nurses' rotation of 7 am - 3 pm.

For quad start dates please see CALC's home page.

Program Fees:

Estimated Costs for September 2023 : $1,125.

Registration Fees (This is a Clinical Supervision fees for students completing their practicum at Long Term Care Facilities) $300
Textbook (Mosbys Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker) + accompanying Workbook and eLearning PSW Clinical Skills package, approximately $250.
Food Handlers Certificate, approximately $55.
CPR Training, certification $65
U-First® Suite of Dementia Certificate Program (Alzheimers Society) $85
Gentle Persuasive Approaches GPA Certificate (Alzheimers Society) $80
Immunizations, Medical Letter approximately $120.
Vulnerable Police Record Check starting at $20 ($85 if finger prints are needed
2 sets of clinical uniforms, scrubs approximately $100
Clinical Shoes, closed toe and heel, non-scuff soles approximately $50.

The Personal Support Worker Program is for students who:

Want to make a difference in people’s lives
Dream of joining the growing field of healthcare workers
Want a dynamic career taking care of, and empowering, people of all ages
Enjoy seeing people increase their independence,
Promote self-esteem, dignity and social interaction
Aid clients of varying ages with basic physical needs and personal hygiene
Assist with shopping, meal planning and preparation
Assist with light housekeeping and keeping clients' environment clean, safe and secure.
Contribute to client independence, self-esteem, dignity and social integration
Assist with medication support for clients’ families

As a Personal Support Worker, you may work in a variety of healthcare settings:

Private Homes
Nursing Homes
Hospitals
Homes For Older Adults
Hospices And Hospitals
Community Centres
Public School System
Group Homes
Day care settings for the elderly

Ministry of Colleges and Universities

PSW Program Standard, Vocational Learning Outcomes

Our Program follows Ontario Ministry of Education expectations, Ministry of Colleges and Universities Personal Support Worker Standard, and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care industry standards.

"The Personal Support Worker Standard applies to all similar programs of instruction offered by Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, Private Career Colleges and District School Boards across the province and include:

• Vocational standard (the vocationally specific learning outcomes which apply to the program of instruction in question),

• Essential employability skills (the essential employability skills learning outcomes which apply to all programs of instruction); and

• General education requirement (the requirement for general education in postsecondary programs"

Vocational Learning Outcomes include but are not limited to:

Individuality, Role and Interpersonal Skills
Assisting the Family
Safety, Abuse and Assisting a Person with Mobility
Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues
Household Management and Meal Preparation
Managing Ongoing Conditions
Providing Optimal Support and Care Planning
Assisting With Medications
Personal Hygiene
Assisting a Person who is Dying

A direct link to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities PSW Standards is available, please click Click Here

CALC’s PSW program was last accredited by PEPA (Personal Support Worker Educational Program Accreditation) and adheres to the PSW Program Standard, Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Our graduates qualify to register with the Michener Institute, University Health Network, PSW Registry of Ontario which was established through the MHLTC, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. In March of 2020, the registry closed. A new accrediting body has been established by CESBA, for School Board Programs in Ontario. Audit and accreditation are scheduled for the spring of 2023.

CALC’s PSW Program enables you to fulfill your dream. In just 27 weeks, you can:

Earn a Personal Support Worker Certificate
Acquire the skills and knowledge to work as a personal support worker
Gain practical experience in a healthcare environment
Be granted 9 credits towards your Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

Continuing Education Options for Certified PSW graduates - 3 opportunities are listed below:

Nurse Image

#1 Ontario Colleges Nursing Transformation: PSW to RPN Pathway (flexible study options)

Ontario colleges are offering a new pathway for working PSWs who wish to continue their studies toward qualifying to practice in Ontario as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN). The courses are designed to offer flexible study options for working PSWs for core components of the pathway to Practical Nursing programs offered at Ontario’s public colleges. Please Click here for information

#2 Registered Practical Nursing Bridging Program for PSW Certified students:

Graduates from CALC’s PSW program are eligible to apply to bridging programs in Community Colleges throughout the province.

The Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (WeRPN) has launched the 1st Intake to the Bridging Educational Grant In Nursing (BEGIN) Program. The Program is part of the Ontario Government’s commitment to recruit nurses to the Long-term Care (LTC) and Home & Community Care (HCC) sectors by supporting PSWs to career ladder to RPN. BEGIN is expected to improve recruitment and retention of nurses in the LTC/HCC sectors and foster a culture of excellence to make these sectors of choice for the nursing profession.

The Program is open to PSWs enrolled in a recognized PSW-RPN bridging program. Successful applicants may be eligible for tuition reimbursement of up to $6,000 per year for up to 3 years to a maximum of $15,000. In addition, they may also be eligible to receive additional financial support of up to $5,000 per year. Applicants will be expected to commit to working in the long-term care or home and community care sectors through a Return of Service Agreement for a period equivalent to the time they receive these funding supports for their education. For more information please click here

#3 University of Guelph, Certificate in Advanced Interpersonal Skills for PSW:

Advanced interpersonal skills are essential to PSW practice—they help to build connection with clients and colleagues, enhance the ability to adapt to new situations, and support personal and professional resiliency.

The Certificate in Advanced Interpersonal Skills for PSW Practice strengthens skills in the following areas to support PSWs in deepening your practice:

Observation and critical thinking
Teamwork and collaboration
Communication
Flexible thinking and problem solving
Empathy and compassion

Through practical application and critical reflection, you will grow your ability to respond proactively and creatively to the complex care needs of your clients and the challenges of a demanding work environment, while developing transferrable skills that are highly desirable to employers in all sectors.

This fully online, asynchronous, instructor-led micro-credential program consists of five courses that are five weeks each in length. Upon the completion of each course, you will earn a digital badge that can be shared with current and future employers to convey the skills that you have developed. By completing all five courses, you will earn a Certificate in Advanced Interpersonal Skills for PSW Practice from the University of Guelph.

Please click here for a link to the University of Guelph's program for PSWs

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: When does the PSW Program start?

A: The PSW programs starts every quad.

Q: How long is the program?

A: The program is 27 weeks in length or 3 quads in total

Q: Does the program have a break during the summer?

A: Yes, the program is on holiday break for the months of July and August.

Q: When do the programs finish?

A: Students beginning the program in September (Quad 1) will finish in April (Quad 3).

Students beginning the program in November (Quad 2) will finish in June (Quad 4).

Students beginning the program in February (Quad 3) will finish in November (Quad 1 of the following year).

Students beginning the program in April (Quad 4) will finish in February (Quad 2 of the following year).

Q: Are classes online or in person?

A: All PSW classes are in person from 8:25 am - 3:15 pm.

Q: Is daycare available through the school?

A: CALC does not offer daycare, students will need to make their own arrangments.

Should you have any questions not answered please email:

City Adult Learning Centre