About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 1 Year Certificate
  • Campus: Off-Campus
  • Code: 0945 P0945
  • 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.

Important: Delivery Information

All courses in the PSW Alternative Delivery program will be delivered off-campus at Pleasant Manor, a Long-Term Care Home located in Virgil, Ontario.

The program begins on September 15th, 2025.

Highlights
  • 42 hours of hands-on experience in a living lab and over 250 hours of clinical placement experience at Pleasant Manor.

  • Successful graduates of the PSW-Alternative program delivered at Pleasant Manor are guaranteed fulltime PSW employment at the Pleasant Manor site immediately following their studies.

  • Graduate with additional certificate:

    • 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

Important

Please be advised that the curriculum you have selected is for a past or future term. The remaining information on this website is reflective of the most recent intake term, unless stated otherwise.

Term one (2023 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
CLIN1112 Supportive Care 6
COMM1160 Communication in Healthcare I 3
HLTH1020 Introduction to Interprofessional Education and Practice 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 (2024 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
HLTH1137 Community Support and Home Management 3
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: 1234
  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, 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 (Alternate Delivery) 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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I want to thank you for all of the support you’ve given to international students like me, from organizing the PSW – Alternative Delivery class Tabor Manor location, to allowing us in finishing our consolidation after finishing specific hours at work. The Alternative Delivery class was a success, with your vision of us having the chance to get hired in a wonderful facility. Thank you so much.

Michelle Rafanan, program graduate
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