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Personal Support Worker

Two students in the personal support worker program is working with a mock patient laid down in a classroom clinic setting. The students are both wearing burgundy coloured scrubs.

Help with personal care can mean the difference between people living independently and giving up their homes. The demand for personal support workers is greater than ever, make a difference every day by helping people live with independence and dignity.

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Home / Learn / Programs List / Personal Support Worker
Credential
Ontario College Certificate
Duration
Two semesters
Start Date(s)
January (Winter)
May (Spring)
September (Fall)
Locations
Belleville
Open to
International Students
Domestic Students
CIP Code
51.2602

Find your career

A personal support worker (PSW) provides supportive care to clients who are experiencing physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges. PSWs work under the direction of both the client and regulated health care professionals such as registered nurses and registered practical nurses. 

  • Opportunities to work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, retirement homes, community agencies providing support in the client’s home and self-employment. 
  • Graduates are ready for employment in less than one year with no further qualifying exam or certification required.

Our grads get great jobs

  • Personal Support Worker, Hastings Centennial Manor 
  • Personal Support Worker, Canadian Red Cross 
  • Personal Support Worker, Crown Ridge Health Care Services Inc. 
  • Personal Support Worker, Saint Elizabeth Health Care 
  • Personal Support Worker, VON 
  • Quinte Health Care

Is it for you?

Personal support workers are caring professionals. People who thrive in this career: 

  • Really like interaction with people, talking and listening 
  • Are comfortable working as part of a team 
  • Come from a variety of backgrounds 
  • Enjoy helping others

Placement is the best experience I have ever had because it is so much easier to learn hands-on. I’m learning how to face challenges with every different resident!

Jessica, Personal Support Worker

How you'll learn

Experiential learning 

In this hands-on program, you will learn to effectively support clients in their day-to-day activities, emphasizing trust, respect and individual choice: 

  • Learn in small clinical and lab groups under the guidance of experienced faculty. 
  • Practise monitoring and recording changes to clients’ conditions in Loyalist’s Human Simulation Lab with manikins simulating realistic scenarios. 
  • Learn from guest speakers about a wide variety of topics pertinent to supporting residents in long-term care and clients in their own homes. 
  • Learn how to shop for clients and provide nutritious meals on a balanced budget. 
  • Learn and practise skills in a virtual learning environment (VLE) as an avatar. 
  • Learning combines theory, laboratory practice and clinical placement all in the same week so students can apply what they’ve learned in a real-life setting. 
  • Students have completed placements with Belmont Long-Term Care Facility, Moira Place, Hastings Manor, EJ McQuigge Lodge, Trent Valley Lodge Nursing Home, Pine Meadow Nursing Home, Hastings Centennial Manor, Helen Henderson Care Centre Lodge, the Victorian Order of Nurses, Canadian Red Cross, ParaMed, Quinte Health Care, and St. Elizabeth’s Belleville. 

 Outstanding faculty make the difference 

  • Teachers are registered nurses with extensive experience working with all members of the healthcare team in hospital, long-term care and community settings. 
  • Professors participate in ongoing professional development, and many continue to work in their field, keeping their skills up-to-the-minute. 

Courses

PSWP1012 Human Body in Health & Illness

This course will focus on gaining a basic knowledge of the structure and function of the human body as well as supporting individuals and families experiencing alterations in their health across the lifespan, including culturally relevant palliative and end-of-life care.

PSWP1015 Role of the Personal Support Worker

This course will focus on the role of the PSW working within an interdisciplinary team providing holistic health care to individuals and families across the lifespan. Trends and issues related to the delivery of health care in Ontario and Canada including ethical and legal issues will be covered.

PSWP1014 Safe & Comfortable Environment

This course will focus on gaining knowledge of supporting and promoting a safe and comfortable environment for individuals and their families across the lifespan.

PSWP1020 Supportive Care & Activities Laboratory

This course will provide PSW students with opportunities to develop the skills required to provide support for activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) to individuals and families cross the lifespan in a variety of settings and within a multidisciplinary team. Co-requisite: PSWP 1014

COMM1062 Workplace English

This course will focus on the development of communication skills required for the health care workplace. Skills include: writing structure and style according to APA format, reading comprehension, medical terminology, health care documentation, interpersonal/team communications, digital literacy, and portfolio preparation.

PSWP1018 Personal Support Worker Integrative Theory

This course will focus on integrating the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained through completion of the all Semester One PSW courses. PSW students will be provided with information and resources aimed at successfully transitioning from PSW student to PSW graduate in a multidisciplinary health care team in a variety of settings. Prerequisite: COMM 1062, PSWP 1012, PSWP 1014, PSWP 1015

WKPL1024 Personal Support Worker Practicum 1

This course provides the PSW student with the opportunity to develop and implement the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to work within an interdisciplinary team providing support and care to individuals and families across the lifespan in a long-term care facility while under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor. Prerequisite: COMM 1062, PSWP 1012, PSWP 1014, PSWP 1015

WKPL1025 Personal Support Worker Practicum 2

The PSW student will, under the daily guidance of a PSW preceptor and with support from the faculty advisor of the PSW program, be provided with the opportunity to develop and implement the skills required to provide support and care to individuals and families across the lifespan and within an interdisciplinary team in the community setting, including homes and retirement residences. Prerequisite: COMM 1062, PSWP 1012, PSWP 1014, PSWP 1015 Co-requisite: PSWP 1018, PSWP 1019, WKPL 1024

WKPL1007 Personal Support Worker Practicum 3

The PSW student will, under the daily guidance of a PSW preceptor and with support from the faculty advisor of the PSW program, be provided with the opportunity to develop and implement the skills required to provide support and care to individuals and families across the lifespan and within an interdisciplinary team in a long-term care facility. Prerequisite: COMM 1062, PSWP 1012, PSWP 1014, PSWP 1015 Co-requisite: PSWP 1018, PSWP 1019, WKPL 1024

PSWP1019 Supporting Mental Health

This course will focus on gaining a basic knowledge of utilizing identified approaches and best practices to support positive and safe behaviour within an interdisciplinary team to individuals and families across the lifespan who are experiencing an alteration in mental health challenges, and/or cognitive functioning and responsive behaviours.

*Courses subject to change.

A student in the personal support worker program is working with a mock patient in a clinic setting. The student is checking the mock patient's mouth with their hand. Fourteen green graphic circles are in the lower lefthand corner of the image.

Admission requirements

Required academic preparation 

  • OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, AND 
  • Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent 

OR 

 Additional requirements 

  • Standard First Aid, Level “C” CPR certification. 
  • Clear, current Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check. 
  • Written documentation of immunization against certain communicable diseases is required prior to clinical placement. 

Academic upgrading

Are you missing admission requirements? Discover how Career and College Prep at Loyalist can help you get started on your journey.

International students

Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants and how to apply.

 

This program may be PGWP-eligible. Learn more and explore Loyalist’s PGWP-aligned programs.

Costs

Approximate costs (2024 – 25) 

  • Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08 
  • Full-Time Ancillary Fees:* $1,367 
  • Total: $4,089.08 

 Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.   

*Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and fees page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies. 

Paying for college 

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.   

Approximate costs (2024 – 25) 

  • International Tuition: $15,000 
  • Full-Time Ancillary Fees:* $1,367 
  • Mandatory Health Insurance: $659 
  • Total: $17,026 

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.   

*Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and fees page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies. 

Paying for college 

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.   

What employers say

“I feel strongly connected to the Loyalist PSW program. The coordinators and faculty members are excellent to work with and their genuine goal of helping their students be successful is always foremost. The placement opportunities we provide at the Valley Manor Nursing Home are excellent learning opportunities for the students – and helpful to us. Working with the students, we have the opportunity to assess who would be a good fit on our team. From one class alone we hired four new graduates.” 

Gail Yantha
Valley Manor Nursing Home, Barry’s Bay 

 

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