Personal Support Worker

 

Certificate Program                            CESBA LOGO

The PSW program is accredited by the Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA), a provincial, non-profit professional association that represents, advocates for, and supports adult and continuing education programs in many school boards across Ontario.  Applications for the Quad 2 November session is now at capacity and closed.  

A virtual Information Session is offered on Wednesday January 8th, 2025 at 9 am, please return to this site at that time for access to the portal link. 

The PSW application portal for Quad 3 will open at 11:00 am on the same day and will close when applications reach capacity. For successful applicants, the Quad 3 begins February 4, 2025.

 

 

Admissions Requirements;

PSW training in Ontario is a post-secondary, college-level certificate, and prospective students must undergo an entry assessment to ensure they can meet the program requirements and possess the necessary qualities for the role.

Residency:

Must be an Ontario resident.

 

Citizenship:

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), or successful admission through the school board’s process for international students.

 

Age:

Must be 19 years of age or older (with or without an Ontario Secondary School Diploma [OSSD]), or if 18 years or younger, must be registered and attending the day school offering the PSW program.

 

Information Session:

Attendance at an information session is required.

 

Personal Interview:

Completion of a personal interview with the program instructor.

 

Entrance Prerequisite:

Must complete an Ontario Secondary School grade 11 English credit with a minimum grade of 70%.

 

Placement Documentation: Candidates must be able to attain the following:

Clear vulnerable sector check.

Medical documentation, including:

  • Immunization record and/or blood titres.
  • Influenza vaccination.
  • COVID vaccination.
  • Two-step TB test.

 

Logistics:

Ability to attend class and placement, considering transportation and childcare needs.

 

Capable of performing the essential duties of a Personal Support Worker, which include, but are not limited to:

  • Bending and lifting patients
  • Squatting and moving in various positions
  • Observing and responding to medical situations, including seeing blood
  • Supporting individuals at end-of-life stages
  • Managing and assisting with bodily fluids, including feces and urine
  • Interacting with patients who may exhibit verbally aggressive behavior, particularly those with dementia.

 

Priority Considerations for Candidates:

Professional Reference Letters: Candidates who provide one or more professional reference letters will be prioritized.

Volunteer Experience: Candidates who have completed a volunteer placement in a healthcare setting (e.g., long-term care home, community agency, hospital) will receive priority. Please submit a certificate or provide contact information for a supervisor/reference.

Academic Credentials: Candidates with Ontario Secondary School credits in math, biology, and/or chemistry (grade 10, 11, or 12 at a C or U level) will also be prioritized.

 

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.  

 

Start times, course codes and class schedules

Part 1 in school theory (9 weeks)              TPJ3C1, TPJ2O1  

Part 2 in school theory (9 weeks)              TOJ4C1, TPJ4E1

Part 3 in placement (9 weeks)                   TOJ4CC, 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 months of July or August. 

Classes go from 8:25 am - 3:15 pm daily in the school and in the PSW Lab; all classes are in person.  Students would the placement portion of the program in Long Term Care facilities from 7 am - 3 pm.  

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

 

The Personal Support Worker Program is ideal 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  

 

A Personal Support Worker works in a variety of healthcare settings:

  • Private Homes
  • Nursing Homes
  • Hospitals
  • Homes For Older Adults
  • Hospices And Hospitals
  • Community Centers
  • 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);   
  •  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

PSW Program prepares students to enter the healthcare field.  

In 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
  • Earn 9 credits towards your Ontario Secondary School Diploma

 

Continuing Education Options are available for Certified PSW graduates 

3 opportunities are listed below.  Please note it takes time to prepare the required documentation.   Contact the TDSB Central Transcript Office for a copy of your transcript

 

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.

 

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 long over 3 quads.

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. 

For further information or enquiries please leave us a MESSAGE. 

Or email to:

CityAdultSpecialtyPrograms@TDSB.on.ca