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Ministry-approved title: Personal Support Worker
Every day, Personal Support Workers (PSW) play an essential role on the health care team, providing compassionate, client-centred care that enhances quality of life for individuals who need support with daily living.
In this PSW certificate program, you’ll prepare for a meaningful and in-demand career supporting clients with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and mobility, as well as instrumental activities of daily living including meal preparation, medication support and maintaining a safe environment.
PSWs work across a wide range of settings, including community care, long-term care, retirement homes, hospitals, adult day programs and private homes.
Learning combines classroom instruction, lab simulations and hands-on placement experience. Curriculum is aligned with current professional practice guidelines developed by the Ontario Personal Support Worker Association, ensuring you graduate with skills that reflect today’s standards.
In Semester 2, you’ll complete community and long-term care placements across the GTA, which may include weekday and weekend shifts. Students must be fully available for the entirety of the second semester to work various shifts throughout the two, six week placements.
For more information on international admission requirements for this program, please click here.
This is a two-semester program with three intakes per year, starting in September, January, and May. Students begin in one of these intake months and complete the program over two consecutive semesters (8 months total).
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Please contact the international office.
Personal support workers (PSW) are valued members of the healthcare team. As frontline caregivers, personal support workers provide up to 70% of direct care in long-term care facilities, making them indispensable to Ontario's healthcare system. PSW training in Ontario focuses on developing your abilities to support patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and private homes while maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to applicable legislation.
The Personal Support Worker certificate program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in this caring profession. Graduates develop the enhanced skills required to provide compassionate, client-focused care with daily living activities, including:
Through the PSW program in Oshawa, students learn to provide support that improves the quality of life for individuals requiring assistance. The program develops the skills needed to help ensure patients are comfortable, clean and nourished — daily tasks that make a meaningful difference in a patient’s overall well-being.
What makes our PSW program unique is its emphasis on integrated palliative/end-of-life care, preparing you to function as a leader in this specialized area. The program also addresses important aspects of healthcare, including cultural sensitivity and strategies for managing occupational stress and burnout, which are common challenges faced by healthcare workers.
Upon completion of PSW training in Ontario, graduates are prepared to help seniors with health challenges remain in their homes by providing healthcare support through regular home visits. This is particularly important as Canada’s population ages and care needs become more urgent and complex.
This program is also offered in a flexible weekend delivery format. To learn more, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/PSFL.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Hybrid
The rest of the coursework will be delivered using hybrid, flexible or online formats. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Part of the training includes the opportunity for students to practice what they learn through supervised placements in institutional and community settings. These practical experiences are essential for Personal Support Worker certificate students to apply classroom theory in healthcare environments.
Practicum experiences take place in Semester 2, and students may be assigned to a placement location throughout Durham Region or other areas of the GTA. Students are responsible for arranging transportation to and from their assigned practicum agency and any associated costs.
Placements may take place on weekdays or weekends, and shift times will vary based on the operational needs and schedules of placement partners.
The practicum enables students to:
Through the practicum portion of the PSW program, students have meaningful opportunities to practice skills and receive feedback from experienced supervisors, ensuring training remains relevant to current healthcare practices.
Placements may take place on weekdays or weekends.
Please note: There are costs associated with Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV), immunizations, lab tests and certifications. Be sure to keep all receipts for income tax purposes. These costs include:
It is required that students have completed the ERV with Verified to be eligible for the field placement component of this program. Students must (at their expense) provide:
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Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions.
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how students can transfer credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Access to stable Internet connection (required)
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.
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