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28 Weeks

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Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Information Kit

Student Testimonials

Readiness Quiz

Certificate Summary

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Ontario are an integral part of Canada’s health care system. Jobs in this field are consistently in high demand. Graduates with a Personal Support Worker Certificate in Toronto can use their skills in various jobs including long-term care homes, palliative care, and more.

ABM College’s Personal Support Worker program extensively covers the roles of multiple health care workers like health care aides, home support workers, and attendants/respite workers. The course includes 400 hours of in-class theory, practice, and testing, plus 300 hours of clinical placement (200 in a care facility and 100 in community homes). This PSW Certificate Program ensures you succeed not just in class, but in your future career.

The Personal Support Worker program was developed as part of the Ontario government’s plan to add 19,000 more health care workers to the Ontario health workforce, which includes nurses and personal support workers.

Personal Support Worker

Certificate Highlights

Participate in 16 weeks of in-class learning at our Toronto campus followed by a comprehensive 12-week clinical work placement in long-term care homes and community based homes.

Comprehensive course that provides necessary skills such as medical administration, palliative care, support procedures and more.

Prepares students to care for individuals needing assistance with their routine activities, including identifying potential risks, infection control, body mechanics, and proper positioning.

Gives the ability to work in a variety of settings including homes, assisted living facilities, long term care, and more.

Career Opportunities

Personal Support Worker

Nursing Assistant

Caregiver/Companion

Residential Care Aide

Health Care Attendant

Salary Range

Personal Support Worker Course Curriculum

The introductory module provides an overview of the scope of responsibilities of PSWs in a variety of settings. Students will learn about client-centered versus client-directed care; and emphasizing the individuality of the client and his/her relationship with family, friends and others. Key topics include work relationships, stress and time management, interpersonal skills and communications, including conflict resolution and problem solving, and applicable legislation.

The second module covers safety as it relates to both the client and the worker. One of the fundamental activities of the PSW is that of assisting the client with routine activities of living. Students will learn about risks of unsafe equipment or settings and appropriate actions to take when unsafe situations are identified. Topics include infection control methods, body mechanics, and transferring and lifting techniques using equipment to increase safety and reduce client anxiety.

This module will introduce the student to the basics of anatomy and physiology. Students will gain an understanding of human body systems in order to apply that knowledge in their daily work as a Personal Support Worker. These body systems are: the musculoskeletal, digestive, urinary, integumentary, reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine. Common disorders and age-related changes for each body system will also be covered.

PSW’s assist clients with all activities or routines of daily living. Students will learn how to care for the ill, disabled, injured and/or confused client. Frailness, dignity and levels of dependence will be considered. Personal hygiene includes oral care, perineal care, bathing, grooming, dressing, bed making, shaving, hair care, and skin care. It includes mobility considerations and involves personal safety, self-esteem and dignity. The foundation of this module is humanistic health care.

This module introduces students to the concepts of violence and abuse, including its possible signs, and the appropriate actions and legal requirements if abuse is suspected. Personal beliefs and attitudes about family violence and abuse are examined, as is the concept of worker abuse of the client and, abuse of the worker. PSW will learn to recognize both indicators and causes, and the requirements of legislation, employer policy, and provisions of the service contract or support plan.

Students will learn to assist the client with their nutritional needs, household activities, and household management according to client preferences, comfort and safety within employer guidelines as required. Nutritional needs include planning balanced menus, preparing shopping lists and shopping, safe handling of food, and storage and specific cooking techniques. The special dietary needs of certain clients and their cultural and religious preferences will all be addressed.

This module identifies the support provided through the care plan or service contract to the client to relearn or regain routine abilities. They will understand its significance, and the rights of the client as a receiver of support and the purpose, methods, and persons involved in its creation. Student will also be introduced to working in the community health care environment, providing support to patients and families in communities, conducted in accordance with employer guidelines.

Students learn to understand family characteristics in terms of structure, functions, roles, lifestyles and relationships. The influence of cultural values, practices, religious beliefs as well as the effects of illness, stress, and disability on family relationships will be emphasized as central to the PSW’s ability to provide effective support. This module also explores the stages of growth and development throughout the life cycle and the role of the PSW in providing respite to families.

In this module students learn about hospice, palliative and end-of-life care, the integration of a palliative approach to care, ways of being, communication and practical strategies to provide psychosocial support and physical comfort care for both the person and their family. This module addresses provincial palliative care competencies (2018-2020) including competencies for caring for First Nation, Inuit, Metis and urban Indigenous peoples.

Within the PSW scope of practice, students learn about medication administration versus assistance. They gain basic knowledge of the drugs used in the treatment of common diseases and disorders including use, classification, effects, and routes of administration. They identify purposes, required instruction, and cautions; and the importance of observation for both desired and undesired outcomes, as well as the procedures to be followed in the event of a concern or problem with medications.

This module introduces students to common psychiatric conditions such as affective disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, cognitive impairment, and brain injury. The possibility of multiple conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression will be discussed along with the role of the family caregiver and the importance of observation, documentation, and reporting in order to recognize changes in behaviour that can be related to psychiatric conditions or an increased risk of suicide.

Students are introduced to ongoing conditions and basic concepts of assistance, as well as the general effects on the person of common disabilities, conditions and diseases. Students will gain skill in the necessary techniques while focusing on the importance of providing support safely, effectively and comfortably. Concepts of maintenance, rehabilitation and restoration are discussed, as is the importance of the support team in providing assistance and training of these additional skills.

Clinical placement provides students with an opportunity to practice their new skills in a work setting. While on placement, students gain experience in a wider range of PSW skills, become more self-confidant and in some cases receive offers of employment from the placement site. In this module the students will spend time working in a community setting under the supervision of a preceptor provided by the host site. The instructor will be available by phone and email at all times during the placement. Students must meet the hour requirements and have a satisfactory rating with no critical deficiencies in all placement activities to pass the program.

Clinical placement provides students with an opportunity to practice their new skills in a work setting. Students gain experience in a wider range of PSW skills, become more self-confidant, and may receive offers of employment from the placement site. They spend time working in a facility setting for 100 hours under the supervision of their instructor and under a preceptor provided by the host site for 100 hours. The instructor will be available by phone and email during the placement.

Admissions Requirements

A Canadian High School Equivalency Diploma (General Education Development Test), OR
Equivalent: Foreign credentials must be translated in English and assessed for Grade 12 equivalency by a recognized organization such as WES (World Education Service) (refer to Section I-4.4) OR
Mature student status may be granted to applicants who are over 19 years of age and do not have a Canadian high school diploma or GED. Wonderlic SLE (or other MCU approved test – Note: CAT and CAST can no longer be used)

English Language Proficiency

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.
TOEFL –Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet based test (IBT) – overall 80, with the minimum of each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20.
CAEL – Overall 60 with no section below 60.
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) with a score of 7 (no section score below 6).
Canadian Language Benchmark Tests with a score of 7 in each strand (not an average of 7).
Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 95.
Pearson PTE Academic with a minimum score of 46.
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.

Signed Vulnerable Sector Disclaimer
Signed Medical Disclaimer

Additional requirements - within one month of start date

Police Check
Medical Report
Standard First Aid/CPR Level C

Personal Support Worker Certificate Information Kit

This kit includes important details on the Personal Support Worker Certificate program at ABM College.

Personal Support Worker Information Kit

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Student Recommendations of ABM College

I loved every minute of going to ABM College, I felt they prepared me so well for my course and for what's to come after graduation. I could not be happier with my education and now my successful career as a Health Care Aide.

Kelly Reis, Alberta
ABM College helped me to pursue my dream job. At first, I was hesitant because I thought doing classes online is not so easy. But they have flexible hours to attend so working students can choose a time to work with your schedule. All instructors are very approachable and staff are very accommodating. A great school that I will not forget.

Bhing Sayson-Cuadra, Saskatchewan
Deborah Cheesman
I studied the Diploma program in Business Administration and graduated May 2022. The teachers I had were all amazing! They are very good at what they do and help us as much as they can. They share their knowledge and experiences and help the students in every way.

Emma Rose Lontoc, Alberta
Erlinda Harn
I studied Medical Office Assistant & Unit Clerk at ABM College. The decision was difficult for me in my 40’s with kids and work, but I had great experience with online lessons. Thanks to my Instructors for always supporting and helping me. A good decision to study at ABM College.

Rafaela Goyena, Alberta
Ian Morales
Being a student of theMedical Office Assistant and Unit Clerkprogram was a great platform to change my career in the medical field. As I finished my studies, a lot of opportunities opened up to me to work as a unit clerk in the Saskatchewan Health Region.

Cheryle Pascua, Saskatchewan
Highly recommend it for professionals who need to upgrade their skills. I took the Digital Marketing Diploma and really liked it. It helped me increase my skills and build up my confidence. Teachers and staff were all very kind and helpful.

Marlene Rados, Alberta