NACC Personal Support Worker

About this Program
In downtown Toronto, develop the skills required for personal support worker (PSW) positions within Canada’s health-care sector, including long-term care homes, hospitals, retirement homes and community organizations. This PSW certificate program prepares you to provide supportive care and assistance with activities of daily living to individuals, including patients experiencing cognitive impairment, physical disability and mental health challenges. The National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) Personal Support Worker (PSW) Certificate program is based on the Ontario Personal Support Worker Training Standard released in January 2022. The program curriculum, standards and guidelines, combined with the clinical component of the program, provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in this field.
Fees
*Note that the fees shown on this page are (1) in Canadian dollars, (2), subject to change and (3) for Canadian permanent residents and citizens. International students will be charged an additional $2,000 CAD. Book costs vary and are not included in your tuition fees.


The Personal Support Worker Program is approved as a vocational program under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 and meets the standards of the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC).
Career Opportunities
Prepare to work for trusted care providers, such as:
- Long-term care facilities
- Group homes
- Private homes
- Hospitals
- Retirement homes
- Adult day centres
- Home care agencies
- Supportive housing

Program Highlights
By the end of the program, you will be able to:
- Work within the personal support worker role in various care settings, aligning with employer job descriptions, standards and guidelines.
- Practise professionally 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 an engaged team member.
- Provide client-centered and client-directed care, based on ethical principles and sensitive to diverse personal and family values, 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.
- Maintain therapeutic relationships with clients and their families using effective communication skills to build a genuine, trusting and respectful partnership within professional boundaries and policies .
- 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.
- Create, promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others.
- Assist clients with activities of daily living along with household management services by applying fundamental knowledge of growth and development, psychological concepts, common alterations in functioning, disease prevention, rehabilitation and restorative care and holistic health care.
- 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 legislation and employer policies.
- Identify, respond to and report potential, alleged, suspected or witnessed situations of abuse and/or neglect, as required by legislation and the employers' job description for personal support workers.
- 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 their families and significant others, in accordance with clients’ choices and the plan of care.
Admissions
Academic requirements:
To be eligible for this personal support worker program, you must:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent; or be at least 19 years of age or older and pass an entry test.
- Equivalent: foreign credentials must be translated in English and assessed for Grade 12 equivalency by a recognized organization such as WES (World Education Service).
Non-academic requirements:
In addition to the academic requirements, you are also required to provide:
- A signed Vulnerable Sector Disclaimer completed and returned to the college within at least 45 days of the commencement of study.
- A signed Medical Disclaimer completed and returned to the college within at least 45 days of the commencement of study.
*For information on admission requirements, practicum and placement components, please reach out to admissions@trebas.gus.global.
English Proficiency Requirements
If English is not a student’s first language, they must provide proof of English competency.
This must be demonstrated through one of the following options:
- IELTS – International English Language Testing Services – Minimum average score of 5.5 with no subject test score lower than 5.5
- Equivalent Recognized Official Proficiency Test (see Admissions Requirements page for more information)
- NACC Written Entrance Exam (passing score of 60)
- Evidence of successful completion of 2 consecutive years of full-time equivalent post-secondary study in English at a Canadian institution.
- Evidence of successful completion of 2 consecutive years of full-time equivalent post-secondary study in English at an institution outside of Canada.
Courses
- Term 1
- Term 2
Please note that Trebas Institute reserves the right to modify the content of this program.