Ontario Program Training Certificate                              

Accredited by The Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators.  C.E.S.B.A. is a provincial, non-profit professional association that represents, advocates for, and supports adult and continuing education programs in approximately 60 school boards across Ontario.

 

Application for Quad 3 start is at capacity and is now closed. 

On February 26th, 2024, at 9 am, the application portal will open for classes beginning in Quad 4, April 24th, 2024. Please return to this site for access to the link. 

 

An Information Session/question and answer session will be held on Tuesday January 9th, 2024 at 11:00 am; 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 3, February, 2024

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, the theory portion of the program will need to be repeated; candidates should re-apply as a new student, 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) :        TPJ3C2 (double credit), TPJ2O1               

Part 2 in school theory (9 weeks/ 1 Quad) :        TOJ4C2 (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 facilities follow the nurses' rotation of 7 am - 3 pm.  

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

 

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     

© 2022, Queen’s Printer for Ontario

 

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 are available for Certified PSW graduates - 3 opportunities are listed below.  Please know that if you decide to pursue further education, the documentation required to apply to the Colleges takes time, and starts with contacting the TDSB Central Transcript office for a copy of your transcripts:

 

 

#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 arrangements. 

 

CityAdultSpecialtyPrograms@TDSB.on.ca  

In the subject line put PSW and the essence of your question.