For those who are looking to become a Personal Support Worker (PSW) in Ontario, there are many options to fulfill the necessary requirements before you can start working.
Please note that this profession does not fall under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). This means that unlike Nurses, PSW’s are not regulated and no licensure is required.
However, you do have to obtain a certificate/diploma by completing the PSW course.
PSW Program through District School Board
Out of many options to complete this program, one is through a district school board.
Please note that not all Ontario district school boards offer this program. There are only 24 school boards that collaborate with C.E.S.B.A. to provide such courses.
C.E.S.B.A. is the Ontario Association of Continuing Education of School Board Administrators that works with public and catholic school boards to develop and run programs geared towards skills development employment and continuing education.
Here’s a short video about this:
District school boards in Ontario offer PSW programs through the Ontario Secondary School (OSS) health technology curriculum and under Cooperative Education Guidelines.
Following is the list of Ontario district school board that offers Personal Support Worker programs. Please click on the name of the school board to get more details.
| Name | Address | Contact Info |
|---|---|---|
| Algoma District School Board | 644 Albert St E Sault Ste Marie, ON P6A 2K7 | Phone: (705) 945-7111 Fax: (705) 942-2540 |
| Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board | 151 Dairy Ave Napanee, ON K7R 4B2 | Phone: (613) 354-2255 Fax: (613) 354-0351 |
| Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario | Box 2222 2755 43 Hwy Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 | Phone: (613) 258-7757 Fax: (613) 258-5067 |
| Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (French Board) | 2445 Saint-Laurent boulevard Ottawa, ON K1G 6C3 | Phone: (613) 742-8960 Fax: (613) 747-3810 |
| District School Board of Niagara | 191 Carlton St St Catharines, ON L2R 7P4 | Phone: (905) 641-1550 Fax: (905) 685-8511 |
| Durham District School Board | 400 Taunton Rd E Whitby, ON L1R 2K6 | Phone: (905) 666-5500 Fax: (905) 666-6474 |
| Grand Erie District School Board | 349 Erie Ave Brantford, ON N3T 5V3 | Phone: (519) 756-6301 Fax: (519) 756-9181 |
| Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board | Box 2012 90 Mulberry St Hamilton, ON L8N 3R9 | Phone: (905) 525-2930 Fax: (905) 525-1724 |
| Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board | Box 7190 1994 Fisher Dr Peterborough, ON K9J 7A1 | Phone: (705) 742-9773 Fax: (705) 742-7801 |
| Lambton Kent District School Board | Box 2091 200 Wellington St Sarnia, ON N7T 7L2 | Phone: (519) 336-1500 Fax: (519) 336-0992 |
| Limestone District School Board | Postal Bag 610 220 Portsmouth Ave Kingston, ON K7L 4X4 | Phone: (613) 544-6920 Fax: (613) 544-6804 |
| Niagara Catholic District School Board | 427 Rice Rd Welland, ON L3C 7C1 | Phone: (905) 735-0240 Fax: (905) 734-8828 |
| Ottawa-Carleton District School Board | 133 Greenbank Rd Nepean, ON K2H 6L3 | Phone: (613) 721-1820 Fax: (613) 820-6968 |
| Simcoe County District School Board | 1170 26 Highway Midhurst, ON L0L 1X0 | Phone: (705) 728-7570 Fax: (705) 728-2265 |
| Thames Valley District School Board | Box 5888 1250 Dundas St E London, ON N6A 5L1 | Phone: (519) 452-2000 Fax: (519) 452-2395 |
| Toronto District School Board - City Adult Learning Centre | 344 Bloor Street West, Suite 405 Toronto, Ontario M5S 3A7 | Phone: (416) 961-4013 Fax: (416) 961-8138 |
| Toronto District School Board | 344 Bloor Street West, Suite 405 Toronto, Ontario M5S 3A7 | Phone: (416) 961-4013 Fax: (416) 961-8138 |
| Upper Canada District School Board | Bag Service1120 225 Central Ave W Brockville, ON K6V 5X1 | Phone: (613) 342-0371 Fax: (613) 342-0277 |
| Waterloo Catholic District School Board | A Box 91116 35 Weber Street Kitchener, ON N2G 4G2 | Phone: (519) 578-3660 Fax: (519) 578-5291 |
| York Region District School Board | 60 Wellington St W Aurora, ON L4G 3H2 | Phone: (416) 969-7170 Fax: (905) 727-1931 |
Other options to complete PSW course
Community and private career colleges also offer PSW diploma and certificate programs. Please click here to find out which public community colleges and here to find out which private colleges offer Personal Support Worker Diploma programs.
Programs offered by these colleges may vary in program length, curricula and method of delivery.
PSW course can be completed online as well. Algonquin College provides this option.
Image credit: Used under a Creative Commons Attribution from University of Michigan’s Ford School on Flickr.
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This is one of the best information I have ever received. Thank you!
Choedar, Glad to know the article was helpful.
Let us know if you’d like to know about anything else related to the PSW industry.
I am inquiring about PSW program through the Toronto school board, I live in Scarborough and would like some information on which school provide through the area or outlining area. I would greatly appreciate some information. Thanks
Arleen, Toronto District School Board offers PSW program through the City Adult Learning Centre (CALC).
This course is approximately 7 months long.
For more information, please click here.
Let us know if you decide to pursue your course through CALC or elsewhere.
I am International Educated and Registered Nurse I am having difficulties in finding a job as PSW. Regardless that I am on the process of application of my RN and RPN to CNO. I have the result that I am capable to take exam for RPN but still waiting to get my slots in my bridging program. Anyways my concern was most of companies that I applied are looking for PSW Certificate how to get it and equivalency of it with my degree. Also I got my experience in caring for almost 5+ years for elderly.
i am new intake i live in ottawa i read social work first and second degree i will like to study psw in any government recognised school in ottawa