The next class will begin inQuad 4, April 26,2023.
All candidates must attend an Information Session/question and answer session onWednesday February 22nd, 2023 at 10am, .Please return to this site at that time andclick here:Zoom Meeting
On Thursday February 23, 2023 at 9 amthe application portal will be available here. Please sign up at that time. The portal will close once at capacity.
An Information Session for theRPNBridging Programwith George Brown College oranyother Community College, will be hosted, on Wednesday February 22, 2023 following the information session;please click on the Zoom Meeting link above.
The prerequisite* for this program isENG3C or higher. Achallenge assessment is available however preference is given to students with the English Prerequisite. English courses are available free of charge atCALC,to learn more please go to the "Registration" tab on the left for our mainstream program.
Returning PSW Students for Quad 4, April 26th, 2023
Students who began the program in 2020 or afterand wish to re-enterin Q4, April 262023,should complete this form. Itis only for students who have achieved one or morecredits in the program, within a maximum of two years from their point of exit.Registration is contingent on availability in the program. Students will be contacted a week prior to the start of class. Students wishing to attend part 3, the practicum portion of the program, will need to ensure their Police Record Check and Medical Form is within 6 months of issue.Returning Students click here
Employed Part 3 students may be considered to apply their employmenttowardsPSW 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 employmenttowards yourPSW Certification practicum requirements. Please see"Returning Student for Quad 4, 2023" above and complete the linked questionnaire.Candidates and their employers must agree to meetCALC 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.
Program Codes, start times and class expectations (for quad start dates please see CALC's home page):
Part 1 in school theory (9 weeks/ 1 quad) : TPJ3C1 (double credit), TPJ2O1
Part 2 in school theory (9 weeks/ 1 quad) : TOJ4C1 (double credit), TPJ4E1
Part 3 placement portion (9 weeks/ 1 quad): TOJ4CC (double credit), TPJ4ES
Part 1 Classes begin 4 times a year eitherin SeptemberQuad 1, November Quad 2, FebruaryQuad 3 or AprilQuad 4. The program is delivered over 3 quads or 27 weeks.CALC is closed for summer break duringthe month of July or August.
Classes are delivered from 8:25 am - 3:15 pm daily in the school and PSW Lab.Students must be availableto attend in person
Students completing the placement portion of the program in Long Term Care faciliities follow the nurses' rotation of 7 am - 3 pm however hours may vary.
MINISTRY GRANT PROGRAM,extendedtoMarch 31, 2023
Accepted students qualify to recieve a grant that covers mandatory fees. Aswell, on completion of the practicum portion of the program, students are awarded a$5,115 stipendin acknowledgement of the required workplace practicum.
Costs covered include but are not limited tothe following:
- Registration Fees(This is a Clinical Supervision fees for students completing their practicum at Long Term Care Facilities) $300
- Textbook (Mosbys Canadian Textbook for the Support Worker) + accompanying Workbook and eLearning PSW Clinical Skills package, approximately $250.
- Food Handlers Certificate, approximately $55.
- CPR Training, certification $65
- Immunizations, Medical Letter approximately $100.
- Vulnerable Police Record Check starting at $20 ($85 if finger prints are needed
- 2 sets of clinical uniforms, scrubs approximately $100
- Clinical Shoes, closed toe and heel, non-scuff soles approximately $50.
Personal Support Worker programs offer through Ontario School Boards:
The Personal Support Worker Program is 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
As a Personal Support Worker, you may work in a variety of healthcare settings:
- Private Homes
- Nursing Homes
- Homes For Older Adults
- Hospices And Hospitals
- Community Centres
- Public School System
- Group Homes
- Day care settings for the elderly
There are three major in-person components to this program:
Part 1: Theorycourses: Monday-Friday; 8:25a.m. 3:15p.m. for 9 weeks
Part 2: Theory courses: Monday-Friday; 8:25a.m. 3:15p.m. for 9 weeks
Part 3: Out-of-school co-op placement in a healthcare setting: Monday-Friday; 7:00a.m.- 3:00p.m. for 9 weeks (hours may vary)
Our Program is accredited and 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. A few of theVocational Learning Outcomes include:
- 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
CALC’s PSW program was last accredited by PEPA (Personal Support Worker Educational Program Accreditation) and is funded through the Ministry of Education and adheres to the PSW Standard, Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Our graduates qualify to registerwith the Michener Institute, University Health Network, PSW Registry of Ontario which was established through the MHLTC, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. In March of 2020, the registry closed. A new accrediting body has been established by CESBA, for School Board Programs in Ontario. Audit and accreditation are scheduled to start in the spring of 2022, to be completed in 2023.
"The Personal Support Worker Standard applies to all similar programs of instruction offered by Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, Private Career Colleges andDistrict School Boardsacross 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); and
• General education requirement (the requirement for general education in postsecondary programs"
© 2022, Queen’s Printer for Ontario
For a direct link to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities PSW Standardsplease clickClick Here
CALC’s PSW Program enables you to fulfill your dream. In just 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
- Be granted 9 credits towards your secondary school diploma:
Prerequisites for PSW Program:
- Be 21 years old or older at the time of application. Students 18 to 20 years may be considered but will need their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
- An Ontario Secondary SchoolEnglish credit, ENG3C, English grade 11, College level or higher. Candidates submitting asuccessful English Assessment may also be considered however priority is given to those with the English prerequisite.
- Completion of the mandatory online PSW pre-registration applicationand submission of themandatoryonline English Assess/PSW Interview questionnaire (dates for this assessment are offered on the pre-registration application form).
Required prior to completion of the PSW Program:
- Successful interview with a CALC staff member and/or aCommunity Long Term Care Facility supervisor, prior to practicum placement.
- A clear police reference check for the vulnerable sector and immunizations are required. The application process starts in class and is guided by the teacher.
- Status in Canada Documents: 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) Health card, Most recent transcript and Proof of address.
Continuing Education Options for Certified PSW graduates:
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.
Please click here for a link to the University of Guelph's program for PSWs
Registered Practical Nursing Bridging Program for PSW Certified students:
Graduates from CALC’s PSW programare 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
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 in length or 3 quads in total
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 arrangments.
Should you have any questions not answered please email: