NACC Personal Support Worker Certificate

Prepare for Healthcare and Support Roles Across Multiple Care Settings

Personal Support Worker training can open doors to meaningful employment opportunities in long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals, community support agencies, rehabilitation centers, home care organizations, palliative care settings, and other healthcare environments.

Graduates may pursue entry-level and support roles focused on client care, daily living assistance, mobility support, personal care, and emotional well-being.

Possible Career Paths

Where This Diploma Could Take You

Personal support skills are needed across many healthcare and community care environments. This diploma may support pathways such as:

• Personal Support Worker
• Home Support Worker
• Long-Term Care PSW
• Retirement Home PSW
• Palliative Care Support Worker
• Community Support Worker
• Hospital Support Worker
• Rehabilitation Support Worker
• Mental Health Support Worker
• Client Care Assistant
• Residential Support Worker
• Personal Care Attendant

As a graduate of the Personal Support Worker Diploma program, you will be prepared to support clients with daily care needs while promoting comfort, safety, dignity, and independence.

Your responsibilities may include

• Assisting clients with personal care, hygiene, grooming, and daily living activities.
• Supporting mobility, transfers, positioning, and safe movement techniques.
• Helping clients with nutrition, meal support, and hydration needs.
• Providing companionship, emotional support, and respectful communication.
• Following safety, infection control, and workplace health procedures.
• Supporting clients in long-term care, retirement, home care, hospital, or community settings.
• Observing and reporting changes in a client’s condition to appropriate healthcare team members.
• Supporting clients with restorative care, activity planning, and wellness routines.
• Respecting client privacy, dignity, cultural needs, and personal preferences.
• Working as part of a healthcare team to provide safe and compassionate support.

To succeed as a Personal Support Worker, students should develop a combination of practical care skills, emotional awareness, and professional workplace habits.

These may include

• Compassion, patience, and a genuine desire to help others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work respectfully with seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable clients.
• Understanding of client dignity, privacy, and ethical care.
• Good observation and reporting skills.
• Physical ability to assist with mobility, transfers, and daily care tasks.
• Problem-solving skills in everyday care situations.
• Strong organization and time-management skills.
• Ability to follow safety procedures and infection control practices.
• Teamwork and collaboration with healthcare professionals, families, and support staff.
• Professional attitude, reliability, and responsibility.

Students will develop practical knowledge and workplace-ready skills in areas such as

• Personal Support Skills and Client Care
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Safety and Infection Control
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Mental Health and Wellness
• Mobility and Transfer Techniques
• Nutrition and Meal Support
• Medical Administration, Non-Injectable
• Activity Planning and Restorative Care
• Palliative and End-of-Life Care
• Community Resources and Advocacy
• Professional Practice and Ethics
• Client Dignity and Respectful Care
• Healthcare Workplace Responsibilities
• Support for Vulnerable Individuals

Learn in the Classroom. Apply It in Real Healthcare Settings.

A 300-hour clinical placement gives students valuable hands-on experience before graduation. This placement helps students apply classroom learning in real healthcare environments while building confidence, practical skills, and workplace readiness.

Clinical placement experience allows students to understand the daily responsibilities of a Personal Support Worker and gain exposure to real client care situations under appropriate supervision.

Benefits of the Clinical Placement

• Real-world healthcare experience
• Hands-on client care practice
• Exposure to long-term care and healthcare settings
• Improved confidence before entering the workforce
• Practical understanding of workplace expectations
• Opportunity to apply safety and infection control procedures
• Experience working with clients, teams, and care routines
• Stronger résumé and job readiness

Built Around Real Healthcare Workplace Expectations

This program focuses on practical skills that employers value in healthcare and support environments. Students develop the knowledge, care techniques, communication skills, and professional habits needed to provide safe and respectful client support.

The training is designed to help students become job-ready for roles in long-term care, retirement homes, hospitals, home care, community care, rehabilitation support, palliative care, and related healthcare settings.

What Employers Value

• Compassionate Client Care
• Professional Communication
• Safety and Infection Control Awareness
• Mobility and Transfer Support
• Personal Care Assistance
• Respect for Client Dignity
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Observation and Reporting Skills
• Reliability and Professionalism
• Problem-Solving in Care Settings
• Time Management
• Ethical Practice

Ontario Health PSW Recruitment Incentive – Up to $10,000

Eligible PSW graduates may qualify for up to $10,000 through Ontario Health recruitment incentives.

Payment may include:

• $5,000 after 6 months of employment
• $5,000 after 12 months of employment

Eligibility requirements may include:

• Graduation from an eligible Ontario PSW program
• Full-time employment with participating healthcare employers
• Commitment to 12 months of employment

Rural, Remote & Northern PSW Incentives – Up to $30,000

PSW graduates working in eligible communities may qualify for additional financial incentives, including:

• $10,000 recruitment incentive
• $10,000 rural community incentive
• $10,000 relocation incentive

Potential total:

Up to $30,000

Conditions apply, including relocation distance and employment with participating employers.

Employer-Sponsored PSW Training

Some healthcare employers may support students through:

• Tuition assistance
• Paid training opportunities
• Employment opportunities after graduation
• Uniforms and learning materials

Additional Financial Supports

Eligible learners may explore:

Indigenous Student Supports

• Tuition
• Books
• Transportation
• Childcare
• Living expenses
• Placement support

WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board)

Workers injured on the job who cannot return to their previous occupation may have a PSW program funded through WSIB vocational rehabilitation if it aligns with their return-to-work plan.

Ontario Works (OW)

Some Ontario Works participants may receive assistance for education-related costs through their local municipality when training is part of an approved employment plan.

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Eligible ODSP recipients may receive supports for approved education or training as part of their employment plan, in addition to maintaining eligible benefits.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Some healthcare employers reimburse all or part of PSW tuition in exchange for a work commitment after graduation.

Is this program right for you?

Built for Adult Learners and Career Changers
.

Choosing a program is easier when you can see yourself in it. This diploma may be a strong fit if you recognize your situation below.

• You are exploring new career opportunities
• You want practical training for a career change
• You are interested in business and office environments
• You want to upgrade your professional skills
• You are returning to education after time away

No prior experience is required. The program is designed for people starting fresh in business administration.

Applicants may be required to provide

• Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent Or Wonderlic SLE score of 11
• 18 years of age or older (depending on province-specific ministry requirements)
• NACC Technical Literacy exam with a minimum score of 18 out of a possible 30 marks
• Medical Certificate (Immunization Form)
• Clear Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector Check within 30 business days of starting school
• Signed Disclaimer for Students in programs leading to work with vulnerable sectors
• Adequate level of physical health to fulfill job requirements
• Good command of English

• Career-focused training that employers value
• Small class sizes and personalized support
• Modern campus in downtown London
• Flexible learning and student support services
• Internship placement opportunities
• Career services support from enrollment to employment