About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 1 Year Certificate
  • Campus: Welland
  • Code: 0942 P0942
  • Delivery Length: 1 Year
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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.

Highlights
  • Unique interprofessional education course designed to strengthen collaboration skills as a member of the healthcare team.

  • 42 hours of hands-on experience in the simulation lab and over 250 hours of clinical placement experience.

  • Graduate with 2 additional certificates:

    • Managing Food Safety certificate, offering unique culinary curriculum focused on food preparation; and
    • Gentle Persuasive Approach certificate focused on caring for individuals with dementia and other cognitive diseases.
  • Niagara College graduates of this program, or students currently enrolled in their last level, have the opportunity to bridge into term two of NC's Practical Nursing diploma program. This application is open to domestic students only. See – Pathways tab for more information.

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

Term one (2025 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
CLIN1112 Supportive Care 6
COMM1160 Communication in Healthcare I 3
HLTH1020 Introduction to Interprofessional Education and Practice 3
HLTH1137 Community Support and Home Management 3
HLTH1155 Development and Health Promotion Across the Life Span 3
HLTH1160 Human Body Structure and Function 3
HLTH1305 Role of the Personal Support Worker 3
Term two (2026 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
CLIN1079 Long Term Care Institutional Placement 4
HLTH1168 Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health 3
HLTH1304 Alterations in Body Structure and Function 3
HLTH1310 End of Life Care 2
PRAC1177 Personal Support Worker Consolidation 5
Learning Outcomes Term: 1254
  1. Work within the personal support worker role in various care settings in accordance with all applicable legislation, standards, employer job descriptions, policies, procedures and guidelines.

  2. Practice professionally, and be accountable for one's own actions by applying problem-solving, self-awareness, time management and critical thinking to the provision of care as a personal support worker, whether working independently or as a member of a team.

  3. Practice as an engaged member of the interprofessional team to maintain collaborative working relationships for the provision of supportive, safe, responsive and competent client-centred care within care settings.

  4. Provide person-centred care, based on ethical principles, sensitive to diverse personal and family values, beliefs, cultural practices and other needs, which follows the plan of care.

  5. Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients and their families using effective communication skills to build a genuine, trusting, and respectful partnership, in accordance with professional boundaries, employer policies, confidentiality, and privacy legislation.

  6. Identify relevant client information within the roles and responsibilities of the personal support worker using observation, critical thinking, and effective communication skills to report and document findings.

  7. Create, promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others by implementing current infection prevention and control measures, emergency and first aid procedures, and best practices in pandemic planning that are in keeping with the plan of care, all applicable legislation, and employer policies and procedures.

  8. Assist clients across the lifespan with activities of daily living by applying fundamental knowledge of growth and development, psychological concepts, common alterations in functioning, health promotion, disease prevention, rehabilitation and restorative care, and holistic health care.

  9. Assist the client with medication following the client's plan of care, and if a delegated act, under the supervision of a regulated health professional or done by exception under the most accountable person and in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer policies.

  10. Assist with household management services and instrumental activities of daily living in accordance with the plan of care and considering the preferences, comfort, safety and autonomy of clients, families and significant others.

  11. Assist and support clients who are caregivers, considering individual and family choices, professional boundaries and the direction of the plan of care.

  12. Identify, respond to and report potential, alleged, suspected or witnessed situations of abuse, and/or neglect, as required by all applicable legislation, including the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 and the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, and as required within the employers' job description for the personal support workers.

  13. Assist with the provision of holistic health care and advocacy for culturally safe and spiritually sensitive palliative and end-of-life care to clients and to their families and significant others from diagnosis through to death and bereavement, and in accordance with clients’ choices and the plan of care.

  14. Provide client-centered and client-directed care to individuals experiencing various mental health illness and challenges, cognitive and intellectual impairments, and/or responsive behaviours by using supportive approaches and evidence-based practices to promote positive and safe behaviours in clients*.

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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
  • Biology – Grade 11 (C) or (U) or Grade 12 (U)
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
Government Mandates

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 with Vulnerable Sector Screening (CRC-VSS) 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.
  • Students will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) in order to be cleared for placement/clinical. Please note, in order to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), students must be 18 years of age or older. If a student is not 18 years of age or older at the start of this program, they will experience delays in progression through the program.

  • 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-VSS, but merely facilitates the paper work. It is the Placement Agency that adjudicates the clearance.

Communicable Disease Surveillance
  • The confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS) Form must be completed and submitted to Student Health Services prior to the start of the program or prior to the term which includes field placement, co-op or clinical opportunities.
  • Please view the CDS Form and Checklist for health requirements at niagaracollege.ca/cdsform/.
  • This process must be maintained annually.
  • This process may take up to 10 weeks or more and requires a visit to your personal physician and/or a Public Health Department.
  • If the CDS process is not completed your placement, clinic or co-op opportunity will be denied.
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 Standard First Aid and CPR at Level HCP/BLS. (This program is designed for those with specific healthcare responsibilities).

Student Dress Code
  • A student dress code is in effect for clinical courses.
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

Domestic Applicants Apply
International 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

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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Pathways

Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Personal Support Worker program below.

Did you know?

Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.

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Tuition

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ConfideNCe Program:

Helping Nursing, Personal Support Worker, and Paramedic Students Achieve Success and Wellbeing

Supported by the McCall MacBain Foundation

This innovative program takes place during students' transitional first-year, and helps to identify and address root causes of anxiety early on.

What's ConfideNCe?
  • ConfideNCe, supported by the McCall MacBain Foundation, is here to help you navigate the challenges of being a healthcare student in college. ConfideNCe will help you manage feelings of overwhelm or anxiety, build your resilience, and increase your social comfort so you are empowered and ready to succeed in your program.
  • ConfideNCe provides support to first year students in the Practical Nursing, Paramedic, Personal Support Worker and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
  • Students have access to a dedicated ConfideNCe program team that will provide 1:1 guidance and individualized support throughout their first year. Through the ConfideNCe Homeroom, students in these programs can access a resource hub of academic and wellbeing supports and connect with their peers throughout NC's healthcare programs.
  • Other features include industry expert tutors who provide academic skills support, as well as guest speakers who will offer insight into the healthcare field.

We are here to support students and to inspire confideNCe so they can succeed and thrive during their academic studies and into their healthcare career!

Visit the ConfideNCe Website

As a recent graduate from Niagara Colleges’ PSW program, I believe my experience at Niagara College has left me with a great sense of knowledge and pride as a PSW. In the beginning my dreams were set on becoming a RPN and unfortunately that program did not work out for me. I was devastated and turned to the PSW program because I still wanted to pursue a career in healthcare.

To be honest at first I was not happy with being a PSW because my dreams were set on becoming a nurse. After a couple weeks of classes, my attitude changed and I found the teachers in the PSW program to be very supportive and very knowledgeable. My negative attitude shifted to being a positive one and being able to turn my short-comings into a positive experience.

Hollie Kankowski, program graduate
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