Free PSW Course or Options with Minimal Fees

There are many organizations that provide free courses.

Despite being “free”, there may be some minimal fee involved for books, First aid courses, etc.

Long-term care homes in Canada, especially in the province of Ontario, have been the battleground for COVID-19. As a result, there has been and continues to be an extreme shortage. .

In order to appreciate their hard work, the Government of Ontario recently announced a pay hike for PSWs.

There still remains a severe shortage of PSWs, especially in long-term care homes. In order to address this problem, some colleges are offering free programs.

Each organization that provides such courses has its own eligibility criteria. Additionally, there may also be an entrance test for some programs.

Government Of Ontario’s Programs

The Government of Ontario has introduced many initiatives.

Please note that these are time-sensitive programs. The information is current as of March 02, 2021. These programs may not be available if you’re reading this at a future date.   

Train and Recruit 373 PSWs

There is another provincially funded program of smaller magnitude than the one mentioned above. 

Under this program, 373 students will be able to get free training and subsequent recruitment.

Click here to learn more about this program. 

Resident Support Aide Program

Please note that a Resident Support Aide is not the same as a Personal Support Worker. 

There are key differences between the two. 

The information is included here because it is also a free program with very short training. 

Click here to learn more about the Resident Support Aide program. 

Catholic District School Board

Program cost – less than $1000

Orientation is mandatory and a literacy exam must be taken prior to registration.

Criminal record checks and other medical requirements must also be fulfilled.

For more information, call the Oshawa Campus at 905.438.0570 or the Ajax Campus at 905.683.7713

Click here to visit their website.

Thames Valley District School Board

Program cost: $1000

Information sessions must be attended and meet other prerequisites.

For more information, call the Thames Valley District School Board at 452-2660, ext. 69730.

Find out more by visiting their website.

Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto

Free Dementia Care training for PSW’s in Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Continuing education is a vital part of healthcare professions. Many avenues exist to attend free workshops, conferences and take courses.

One such organization is the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto.

Visit the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto to get more information.

Which Colleges are Offering the Program?

According to Global News, both Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario, and Trios College (which includes 3 of its 8 locations in Ontario) has teamed up with a company called ParaMed Home Health Care. 

Together, they have launched an accelerated 20-week free program.

The course is free for students because it is being funded by ParaMed and by government grants.

Are the Programs Online or in-person?

Programs include a combination of remote learning (virtual), in-person labs, and fieldwork placements at multiple healthcare locations across the region.

How Can One Apply?

Prospective students have to visit the website for each college and apply.

Conestoga College

Click here to view the offering by Conestoga College. Since tuition coverage goes into effect in November 2020 and may not be listed on the webpage yet, email the program contacts on the webpage to discuss the contract with ParaMed Home Health.

Conestoga College is also offering several sign-up incentives such as a $500 entrance award, free CPR and first aid certification, and free uniforms.

If you are reading this information at a future date, please note that these incentives may not be available.

Please also note that the free program may not be available at the time you come across this information.

It is best to check directly with the college.

Trios College

Click here to view free offerings by Trios college.

Please note that intake for the courses may be limited or stopped at any time. Please contact the college to verify if there are still any spots left.

Do Applicants Need to Have a Healthcare Background?

At this time, applicants are not required to have a background in healthcare in order to qualify for program acceptance. 

The government is willing to assist interested persons in any way in completing their certification and solidifying the workforce.

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