Personal Support Worker
Care for seniors and people with disabilities. This is the fastest route to steady work in Ontario health care, and the one most often fully covered by government funding.
- Length
- About 6 months
- Cost to you
- Funding may cover full tuition
- Leads to
- Personal Support Worker, Healthcare Assistant, Home Support Worker
The work itself
Personal Support Workers do the daily work of care: helping people wash, dress, eat, move, and stay comfortable, either in their own home or in a long-term care home. It is physical work and it is personal work. Ontario does not have enough people doing it, which is why this is the program most often covered in full by government funding, and why graduates tend to be hired quickly.
What you study
- Hands-on training in real care settings
- Long-term care and home care work
- Placement support before you finish
Paying for it
PSW is where full tuition coverage is most common, because Ontario funds it directly to address the shortage. Coverage still depends on your status, your income, and how much is left in the program that year. We check your case before you apply anywhere.
What you need to start
The common minimums. The college sets the final bar, and we confirm it with them before you pay an application fee.
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You live in Ontario
Or you are moving here before your start date. Funding is provincial, so where you live decides what you can get.
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You are 18 or older
Most programs take you at 18. A few placements set their own minimum age, and we flag that before you apply.
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You have status in Canada
Citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or a work permit that allows study. We read your specific permit rather than guessing from the category.
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High school, or a mature student assessment
No Ontario diploma is not the end of it. Most colleges run a mature student test instead. It is short, and we tell you what is on it.
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Enough English for the classroom
Some colleges test this, some do not. We tell you which ones test and what the test looks like before you commit to anything.
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A police check for care and childcare work
PSW and Early Childhood Assistant placements need a vulnerable sector check. It takes weeks to come back, so start it early.
Ask about Personal Support Worker
We will check what funding you qualify for and which colleges have seats, then call you back with a straight answer.
Got it. We will call you back.
If you would rather not wait, call (424) 479-7335 and ask for whoever is on funding checks today.
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Questions about funding and colleges
These apply to every program on the site, including this one.
What does 1800 College cost me?
Nothing. Our advice, your application, and the funding paperwork are all free to you. Colleges pay us a commission when a student we refer enrols. That is how we make money, and we think you should know it up front.
Does that commission change which program you recommend?
It should not, and here is how you can check us. Ask what the commission is on any program we suggest. We will tell you. If a cheaper or shorter program is the better fit for you, we will say so, because a student who drops out earns us nothing and costs you a year.
Can you promise me free tuition?
No, and be careful with anyone who does. Government funding depends on your status, your income, and how much money is left in the program that year. What we can promise is a straight answer about your odds before you apply.
Do I need experience or Canadian education?
No. Every program we work with is built for beginners. Most of our students are changing careers or starting over after moving to Canada.
How good does my English need to be?
Enough to follow a class and talk with clients or patients. Some colleges test this, some do not. We will tell you which ones test, and what the test looks like, before you commit.
Is a student loan the same as a grant?
No, and the difference matters. A grant is money you keep. A loan is money you pay back with interest after you finish. OSAP can include both. We break down exactly which part of your offer is which so you know what you are signing.
Are these real colleges?
Yes. We only work with career colleges registered with the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities. You can look up any college we name on the Ministry website, and we encourage you to.
What if I start and it is not right for me?
Talk to us early. Most colleges have a withdrawal window where you owe little or nothing, and funding rules change depending on when you leave. Leaving quietly is the expensive option.
A ten minute call tells you where you stand
We will ask about your status in Canada, your schedule, and the kind of work you want. By the end of it you will know what funding you can realistically get and which programs are open to you.
Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM. Saturday, by appointment.