About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 1 Year Certificate
  • Campus: Off-Campus
  • Code: 0946 P0946
  • Delivery Length: 20 Weeks
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Overview

Are you committed to positively impacting the quality of life of others?

As a Personal Support Worker, you are a skilled and compassionate healthcare provider who assists clients with physical and psychosocial challenges during all life stages.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the needs of our long-term care homes, Niagara College is pleased to announce the introduction of a new accelerated Personal Support Worker program.

Highlights

  • This program is sponsored by the Province of Ontario, and the government funding fully covers the costs of all students' tuition and ancillary fees. There will also be funding support for students to cover other expenses like books, uniforms, transit, and immunizations. Note that students in the PSW – Accelerated program are still OSAP eligible. Our Financial Aid Office will ensure that any funding supports received for this program will be entered into your OSAP application for re-assessment before OSAP funds are released.

  • Offers paid placements.

  • Delivered off-campus and offers 2 different start dates: May 10, 2021 (0946) and June 14, 2021 (0947).

  • 300 hours of hands-on experience including clinical placement.

  • Graduate with 2 additional certificates: Managing Food Safety certificate focused on safe food preparation; and Gentle Persuasive Approach certificate focused on caring for individuals with dementia and other cognitive diseases.

  • Features an accelerated Personal Support Worker program delivery – graduate in 20 weeks.

Career Opportunities
  • Acute-care hospital
  • Adult day program
  • Group home
  • Home-care agency
  • Hospice or palliative care service
  • Long-term care facility
  • Seniors' residence
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Courses

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The curriculum for this program and plan is unavailable at this time. If this problem persists please contact the website administrator [email protected].

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Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Mathematics – any Grade 11 (C), (U), or (M), or equivalent
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Program Requirements
Ontario Hospitals Act and Ontario Long Term Care Homes Act

All students who participate in clinical placements are, without exception, required to meet the expectations mandated by the Ontario Hospitals Act and the Ontario Long Term Care Homes Act. These nonacademic requirements include: Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen and the Confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS). Detailed requirements are below.

All requirements must be met and remain current for the student’s duration of the program subject to the Placement Agency’s requirements. If any documentation expires before the end of the term and the student’s last day of clinical placement, the student will not be able to register for that term’s clinical course or its co-requisites.

Criminal Record Check
  • A Criminal Record Check which is less than 6 months old is required by the start of week 12 of Term 1.
  • Students with criminal charges or convictions will be severely limited in placement, clinical, and/or employment opportunities in this field.

  • The CRC-VSS must be provided to the Placement Agency on the first day of the clinical placement, or as required by the Placement Agency. Niagara College does not adjudicate the CRC, but merely facilitates the paper work. It is the Placement Agency that adjudicates the clearance.

Communicable Disease Surveillance
  • The confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS) process must be completed and proof of clearance from Student Health Services must be submitted by the start of week 12 of Term 1.
  • Please view the CDS Form and Checklist for health requirements at niagaracollege.ca/cdsform/.
First Aid and CPR
  • Current Standard First Aid certification and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/AED) Level BLS (Basic Life Support) / HCP (Health Care Provider) is required.
  • CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/AED) Level BLS (Basic Life Support) / HCP (Health Care Provider) must be renewed annually.
  • All certifications must be met and remain current or placement/clinical will be denied and/or the student will be withdrawn from their current placement/clinical.

  • During the first week of Term 1, the Field Placement Coordinator will provide information regarding the First Aid and CPR requirement. Students are required to provide copies of their certification for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at Level HCP (Health Care Provider), Adult/Child/Infant one and two rescuer CPR with AED and first aid for choking including artificial resuscitation using both pocket mask and bag-valve mask. (This program is designed for those with specific healthcare responsibilities).

Transportation
  • Students are responsible for their own transportation in order to complete program requirements which may not be readily accessible by public transportation.
  • Program requirements could include co-ops, placements, volunteer requirements, practical labs, field projects, assignments, clinicals, or any other off-campus visits required as part of the program’s curriculum.
Computer Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows-based desktop or laptop that meets or exceeds the following general requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop running on an updated Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows 11 recommended).
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory (note that 16 GB memory is strongly recommended).
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone, and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities. A minimum download speed of 10 – 50 Mbps is recommended.

Niagara College may not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications as provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: We do not provide support for Chromebooks or Apple products. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.

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Availability

Two Start Dates Available

The PSW – Accelerated program offers 2 start dates for the May (Spring) 2021 intake – May 10, 2021 (#0946 P0946) and June 14, 2021 (#0947 P0947).

Domestic Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

International Applicants

Sorry, international applications are not accepted for this program.

The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.

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Tuition

This program is sponsored by the Province of Ontario, and the government funding fully covers the costs of all students’ tuition and ancillary fees. There will also be funding support for students to cover other expenses like books, uniforms, transit, and immunizations. Note that students in the PSW – Accelerated program are still OSAP eligible. Our Financial Aid Office will ensure that any funding supports received for this program will be entered into your OSAP application for re-assessment before OSAP funds are released.

The below is a tuition fees estimate ( what's this?) for the indicated start term. Tuition fees are set in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities fee guidelines.

Tuition information is currently unavailable.TIP: Fees for other terms may be available through the Advanced Tuition Tool.

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Advanced Tuition Tool

The tuition amounts provided are an estimate only ( what's this? ).

To generate a detailed fees calculation, which includes tuition, ancillary, and material fees for this or a different start term, please access the Advanced Tuition Tool.

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Sorry, international applications are not accepted for this program.

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