The Personal Support Worker Program is a cooperative education program which includes 330 hours of classroom theory and lab instruction followed by 330 hours of on-the-job training in agencies that employ Personal Support Workers.

The on-the-job training involves clinical placement  work experience in a long-term care home. Following the clinical placement, a community placement involves work experience in an assisted living facility, independent living facility, group home, adult day program, hospice, respite care facility for children, community health agency, or a school.

Candidates are eligible to earn six senior credits toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma as well as successful students are certified as a qualified Personal Support Worker.

• Be 18 years or older

• Recommended:  

  • Grade 9 Math

  • Grade 9 Science (applied or academic level)

• English

  • A minimum of Grade 11 English (college or university level)

  • For ESL students we recommend Benchmark 7 in all areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and Grade 11 English.  Proficiency may be reviewed based on prior education

• Complete a brief personal interview with the Department Head or a PSW teacher

• Provide at least two reference forms from a past employer, supervisor, volunteer coordinator, or former teacher (these forms are provided with the application)

• Show proof of Canadian citizenship/immigration status in the form of a Birth Certificate, Passport, Citizenship card or Immigration Papers

• Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical and community placements

• Have a fitness level necessary to complete assigned duties (lifting is required).
• A complete Medical Review Record must be signed by your Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner and submitted by the due date specified. The Medical Review Record form will be provided with the application.
• A clear Police Vulnerable Sector Check which is less than one month old

• In addition to the above, you must possess the following personal attributes:

  • Emotional maturity
  • A sincere interest in helping others
  • A sense of responsibility, reliability, and integrity
  • The ability to work cooperatively under the direction of other health care workers

Email us at psw@tvdsb.ca to begin the registration process. Please include a copy of your transcript or educational documents with your request. We will contact you to determine next steps.

Interviews will be scheduled after full registration package has been received.

The PSW Program is approximately 5 months in length (terms are September to January and January to June).

Classes run: Monday to Friday - 8:00 am to 2:30 pm

*Hours for Clinical placement (in long-term care homes) and community placement (in community-based settings) are site specific and can be anytime between 5:30 am and 11:00 pm.*

Wheable arranges clinical placements and assists students in arranging community placements.

There is a program fee associated with the PSW program. The program fee remains unchanged since 2016-17 at $1750.

For the previous two school years, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Long-Term Care has paid the PSW program fee for students. We have not received any details of whether or not the Ministries will cover the program fee for the 2023-24 school year. Students should be aware they may be required to pay the full program fee for the 2023-24 school year.

Until we receive information from the Ministries, students will be required to pay a $500 deposit upon acceptance into the PSW Program to reserve their place in the program. Students who are clients of OntarioWorks (OW) may not be required to pay this fee and it may be covered by OntarioWorks.

Until we receive direction from the Ministries about program fees there are two potential situations that may arise:

1. If the Ministries pay the program fee, and you attend the program the program in September 2023 a refund will be processed. Communication surrounding the refund process will be shared with you after the program begins in September 2023. If you do not attend the program in September 2023 you will not receive the refund.
2. If the Ministries do not pay the program fee, the student will be required to pay the remaining program fee of $1250 by June 15, 2023 in order to continue to hold a spot in the program starting September 2023.

For more information, please email psw@tvdsb.ca.

The program fee covers the cost of the following items:

• Lab and materials fee
• Textbook and workbook
• Access to online resources
• 2 uniforms and 2 school crests
• Identification badge
• Standard First Aid and Level C Healthcare Provider CPR/AED training
• WHMIS training
• Safe Food Handling Certificate
• Gentle Persuasive Approaches Certificate
• Employability and job search skills related to the PSW field
• PSW certificate and Ontario Student Transcript

Students accepted into the program may be required to supply other items not included in the program fee.

Graduates will receive a Personal Support Worker certificate and transcript once upon successful completion of the program.

Future confirmation of your certificate will be provided via a current copy of your transcript.  Transcripts are the legal document used to verify program completion. Certificates will not be replaced or reproduced.

Confirmation of PSW certificate can be obtained by contacting the Assistant for PSW, Apprenticeship, Co-op and Guidance at 519-452-2000 ext. 69730.

• 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Student Services Office, Room M247, G. A. Wheable Centre, 70 Jacqueline Street, London ON

Phone: 519-452-2000 extension 69730

Email: psw@tvdsb.ca