Certificate

Personal Support Worker (PSW) – Fast Track (6 months)

A Personal Support Worker improves quality of life for clients and families through safe, compassionate care. NACPT’s PSW program prepares you to provide long-term and palliative care in private homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community settings.

Program code:

Credential:

Certificate

Duration:

1 Year (37 Weeks)

Delivery Mode:

Start Date(s):

Program Overview – Personal Support Worker (PSW)

A Personal Support Worker improves quality of life for clients and families through safe, compassionate care. NACPT’s PSW program prepares you to provide long-term and palliative care in private homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community settings.

Career Opportunities

  • Personal Support Worker
  • Healthcare/Community Support Aide
  • Home Support Worker
  • Long-Term Care Attendant
  • Hospice/Palliative Care Aide

Key Skills

  • Assist with daily living: bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting
  • Safe transfers and mobility support
  • Infection control & maintaining a safe environment
  • Therapeutic communication & documentation
  • Following individualized care plans
  • Understanding body systems & common health conditions
  • Support for cognitive/mental health and end-of-life care

Why NACPT?

  • Ministry-approved curriculum (NACC)
  • Experienced RN/RPN instructors
  • Small classes with hands-on labs
  • Clinical placements in community and facility settings
  • Optional job assistance: resume & interview coaching, networking

Practicum

Mandatory clinical placements in community and facility settings (typically 100 + 100 hours) under instructor/preceptor supervision.

Program Details

  • Duration: 1 Year (37 Weeks)
  • Mode of Delivery: In Person
  • Start Dates: January, May, September
  • Credential: NACC Certificate (Certificate III)
  • Program Code: NACPTPSWP

Program Overview

A Personal Support Worker improves the quality of life of an individual and their immediate family members through their expertise in health and palliative care. NACPT’s Personal Support Worker program will prepare you with the skills and proficiency essential to provide long-term care to individuals with extensive conditions. The program will qualify you to provide personal care at the individuals’ private residence, hospitals, long-term facilities, community centres, and schools and look after their personal, physical, psychological and emotional needs.

Some of the responsibilities a personal support worker’s role holds will include:

  • Consistently observing the individual for their behavioural, physical, and cognitive changes
  • Organizing their living space to avoid any potential hazards or harm
  • Assisting them in their daily living activities (ADL), including feeding, personal hygiene, lifts and transfers
  • Understanding of their dietary constraints to prepare meal plans accordingly
  • Light housekeeping to keep the individual’s surroundings clean through mopping and disinfecting, meal preparation, and other palliative cares.

A trained Personal Support Worker might be required to be a part of a healthcare team working under a Registered Health Professional (RHP). This program will cover the Regulated Health Professions Act needed to perform tasks designated by an RHP, including administering medicines prescribed for the individual.

The PSW program will meet all industry standards through theory and practicum conducted under the guidance of qualified instructors with extensive industry experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).

Please be advised*: Students of the Personal Support Worker program will be required to complete the mandatory community and facility placement hours in a long-term care facility affiliated with NACPT Pharma College, to graduate.

Prerequisite Program

English as a Second Language (ESL) International program – Level 5, Prerequisite program for enrolling into an academic vocational diploma program

Duration: 8 Weeks, Mode of Delivery: In person

ESL – Level 5 is the prerequisite program to enroll into any academic program for temporary residence students in Canada. Integrate intermediate grammar to advanced level of speaking, writing, listening and written communication.

More information about Prerequisite Program (Click Here)

JOB ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (OPTIONAL)

NACPT offers its unique Job Assistance Program for all graduates. Being a part of the program will allow the graduates to work with an industry professional, individually, to obtain the maximum job opportunities in the Healthcare industry. As part of this program, a career development team will help each NACPT graduate tailor their resume, prepare for specific job positions, conduct mock interviews, connect with industry experts, and have exclusive access to the job market. Every qualified student will receive references on particular projects completed under this program. You will also have the opportunity to network with NACPT alumni working in healthcare or related sectors.

NACPT has designed this Job Development Program to help the students prepare a career plan knowing the industry better through expert advice. Please note that this program is optional and is not mandatory for graduation. Learn More.

  This program is Approved as a vocational program under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005

Skills Acquired

The graduates of this program will have the following career skills:

  • Ability to perform patient care and understanding of emergency procedures
  • Ability to create reports of the individual’s progress
  • Meal preparation and dietary plans
  • Housekeeping
  • Clear, precise and concise communications standards in the written, spoken and visual form for effective communication
  • Critical thinking and Problem Solving
  • Information Management
  • Assisting Family, Growth and Development
  • Assisting a Dying Person
  • Assisting with Medications
  • Cognitive and mental health issues and brain injuries
Semester 1
  • PSW01 – PSW Foundations
  • PSW02 – Safety and Mobility
  • PSW03 – Body Systems
  • PSW04 – Assisting with Personal Hygiene
  • PSW05 – Abuse and Neglect
  • PSW06 – Household Management, Nutrition and Hydration
  • PSW07 – Care Planning / Restorative Care / Documentation / Working in the Community
Semester 2
  • PSW08 – Assisting the Family, Growth and Development
  • PSW09 – Assisting the Dying Person
  • PSW10 – Assisting with Medications
  • PSW11 – Cognitive and Mental Health Issues and Brain Injuries
Semester 3
  • PSW12 – Health Conditions
  • PSW13 – Clinical Placement (Community)
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Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent; or
  • Mature Students or at least 18 years of age and pass the Wonderlic SLE with a minimum score of 11
  • Signed Vulnerable Sector Disclaimer
  • Signed Medical Disclaimer
  • Clear Criminal Record Check, including Vulnerable Sector, within 45 days of commencement of study
  • Medical Report within 45 days of commencement of study

International Students

Attach a copy of your academic record in your native language and in official/certified English translation.

Students from countries where first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency:

  • IELTS Academic: An overall minimum score of 6.0 (no single test score below 5.0)
  • TOEFL: 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 88 (internet based)
  • CAEL: Overall band score of 60

Students without an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent must write the Wonderlic Assessment Test.

Students who are or above 18 years of age should pass the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test. (The assessment will help measure the cognitive ability and problem-solving aptitude of prospective employees for a range of occupations.)

Submit your application with required documents to info@nacptpharmacollege.com

Domestic Students

Attach a copy of your academic record in your native language and in official/certified English translation.

Students without an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent must write the Wonderlic Assessment Test.

Students who are or above 18 years of age should pass the Wonderlic Contemporary Cognitive Ability Test. (The assessment will help measure the cognitive ability and problem-solving aptitude of prospective employees for a range of occupations.)

Submit your application with required documents to info@nacptpharmacollege.com

Job Opportunities

Graduates of the PSW program will qualify for the following job verticals in Canada:

  • Perioperative Support Assistant (PSA)
  • Attendant Services Worker
  • Personal Care Attendant
  • Senior Care Provider
  • Resident Assistant
  • Home Health And Personal Care Advisor
  • Support Services Attendant
  • Community Support Worker
  • Respite Worker
  • Home Support Worker
  • Patient Care Assistant
  • Health Care Assistant
  • Continuing Care Assistant
  • Health Care Aide