KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS GAINED
PSW program is designed to train students on the skills and knowledge required for employment as a personal care provider, client care attendant, or personal support worker in long-term care facilities, retirement homes, or in community care settings. The program offers training both in the classroom and on the job.
After three months of in-class training, students are required to take on-job training at designated clinical and community care facilities. This arrangement is made by the college. Hands-on training at these facilities equip the students further with the practical knowledge required to succeed in the field of their study.
CIMT College offers this program in both full time and part time formats. Ask your Admissions Advisor which schedule will best suit your lifestyle.
THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN A HYBRID FORMAT
- Training is delivered through online classes and in person at the campus for practicals and labs.
- Evaluations like quizzes, midterms, exams, and some assignments are conducted through LISA. Watch the video to learn more!
- The practicums are hands-on components which are completed onsite at an approved host facility.
- There are many hands-on components which are completed onsite at the campus.
NEXT PROGRAM START DATES
| S.ID | START DATE | DAY | TIMING | STATUS | REGISTER |
|---|
| 7601 | June 6, 2026 | SAT, SUN | 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7610 | June 29, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT | 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM | | Register Now |
| 7611 | June 29, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI | 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7612 | July 27, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | | Register Now |
| 7613 | July 27, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI | 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7603 | August 15, 2026 | SAT, SUN | 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7614 | August 24, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT | 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM | | Register Now |
| 7615 | August 24, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI | 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7616 | September 28, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | | Register Now |
| 7617 | September 28, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI | 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7618 | October 28, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT | 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM | | Register Now |
| 7628 | October 28, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI | 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM | | Register Now |
| 7629 | November 25, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | | Register Now |
| 7630 | November 25, 2026 | MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI | 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM | | Register Now |
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PROGRAM OUTLINE
Student Success Strategy: Introduces to techniques, skills and concepts to achieve personal, academic and professional success.
Professional Skills: Prepares students with every aspect of their transition into their new career by identifying and teaching essential business and interpersonal skills. Students receive in class lectures, as well as a private one-on-one appointment with a Career Services specialist to perfect their resume package and interviewing skills.
PSW Foundations: Introduces to individuals’ experiences, rights, interests, needs and attitudes.
Safety and Mobility: Introduces various ways PSWs provide assistance in an effective and safe manner, and provide client comfort.
Body systems: Introduces students to the basics of anatomy and physiology.
Assisting with Personal Hygiene: Introduces the knowledge, skills, and sensitivity needed to provide appropriate assistance to individuals, particularly those with disabilities that affect their ability to look after their personal hygiene.
Abuse and Neglect: Introduces students to the concepts of family violence and abuse,its possible signs, as well as appropriate actions to be taken if abuse is suspected, including legal requirements.
Household Management, Nutrition and Hydration: Introduces assisting clients with their nutritional needs, household activities, and household management according to their preferences, comfort, safety, and within employer guidelines
Care Planning, Restorative Care, Electronic Documentation, and Working in the Community: Builds upon the ability to provide sufficient support to assist clients to do what they wish to without inhibiting them. Students will identify the appropriate support required by clients, as well as the significance and need for the support.
Assisting the Family / Growth and Development: Introduces to build upon the foundation for individuals to understand family characteristics in terms of structure, functions, roles, lifestyles, and relationship. It also explores the role of the PSW in providing respite and assistance to families and their children, including those with special needs.
Assisting the Dying Person: Introduces the concept of dying as a part of life and the possible impact of life-threatening illness on people and their families.
Assisting with Medications: Introduces the knowledge of drugs used in the treatment of common diseases and disorders, including drug classification, use, therapeutic effects, side/adverse effects, brand/generic names, dosage forms, routes of administration, and directions for the use of these medications.
Cognitive and Mental Health Issues, and Brain Injuries: Introduces the approaches and techniques to assist clients with these changes or conditions in keeping up with the care/support plan and report observations to the appropriate team member.
Health Conditions: Introduces the effects of disability, disease, or functional condition in order to provide appropriate assistance.
Gentle Persuasive Approaches in Dementia Care: GPA is a multi-disciplinary course designed for people who interacts with older adults in the workplace. Participants learn to fully understand responsive behaviors in order to respond effectively and appropriately in a workplace setting.
Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA®) in Dementia Care is owned and operated and is the copyrighted and trademarked property of Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE) Inc.
For more information on GPA®, please visit www.ageinc.ca
Standard First aid and CPR
This compulsory course provides Personal Support Worker students with essential first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively to medical emergencies in healthcare, community, and long-term care settings. The course emphasizes patient safety, emergency preparedness, infection prevention, and legal responsibilities, enabling students to recognize emergencies, provide immediate care, and seek appropriate assistance until advanced help arrives.
N95 Mask Fit
This compulsory course provides Personal Support Worker students with essential knowledge and practical skills related to the proper selection, use, fit-testing, and maintenance of N95 respirators in healthcare and long-term care settings. Emphasis is placed on infection prevention and control (IPAC), occupational health and safety requirements, and employer compliance obligations. Students will demonstrate correct donning, doffing, seal checking, and documentation related to N95 mask fit testing as required in healthcare environments.
NACC PSW Exam Review
This compulsory preparatory course provides Personal Support Worker students with a structured review of key program concepts and competencies required for successful completion of the NACC PSW Final Examination. The course reinforces foundational knowledge, clinical concepts, and exam-writing strategies through guided review sessions, practice questions, and instructor-led discussions. Emphasis is placed on identifying knowledge gaps, strengthening critical thinking, and improving exam readiness. This course does not confer certification and is intended solely as an examination preparation course.
Practicum: Provides the students with an opportunity to practice their skills in a work setting. Students would work both in a long term care facility and a retirement home.
Students complete field placements of 300 hours as a part of the program. CIMT College assigns students to long-term care homes, community clinics, retirement homes, or senior centers to gain hands-on experience before being awarded the PSW certificate.
Students complete field placements of 300 hours as a part of the program. CIMT College assigns students to long-term care homes, community clinics, retirement homes, or senior centers to gain hands-on experience before being awarded the PSW certificate.
WHY THIS PROGRAM?
There are numerous job opportunities for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) at long-term care facilities and retirement homes. Training as a personal support worker opens new opportunities in the healthcare field, be it care for the elderly, developmentally challenged or severely incapacitated clients, in both nursing homes and community-based settings. Skills gained during this Personal Support Worker certificate program equips students with the knowledge and confidence they require to fit into the ever growing job market for personal support workers and allied healthcare opportunities in Canada. Graduates are prepared to provide high-quality care and make a meaningful impact in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and community healthcare environments.
ASSOCIATED NATIONAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (NOC) CODES
After pursuing Personal Support Worker program, you are eligible for positions falling under the following NOC Codes
NOC - 44101 - Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations - Home support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities, and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client's residence, in which the home support worker may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings. Here are some of the available job opportunities listed on the Canada Job Bank.
Common Job Titles which you can apply for include -
Attendant for persons with disabilities – home care, family caregiver, home support worker, housekeeper, live-in caregiver – seniors, personal aide – home support, personal care attendant – home care, respite worker – home support.
JOB FUNCTIONS
Duties of a Personal Support Worker range from providing care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption; administering bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, dressing and undressing; planning and preparing meals and special diets, and feed or assist in feeding clients.
The duties performed by housekeepers include housekeeping and other home management duties under the direction of employer, planning and preparing meals independently or with employer, and may also include serving meals/caring for children.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Completion of a training program in the field of care of the elderly, care of persons with disabilities, convalescent care or in a related field may be required.
First aid certification may be required.
While entry level jobs ask for no experience or one to two years experience, higher positions can be sought for once you gain some practical experience in the workplace.
EMPLOYMENT AREAS & PROSPECTS
There are numerous job opportunities for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) especially in care centres, home care services, long‑term care facilities, hospitals, and community support environments. The demand for PSWs across Canada, particularly in Ontario, is rising dramatically, driven by demographic trends, workforce shortages, and the increasing demand for home and long‑term care. Canada’s aging population further drives this need, with nearly all Canadians aged 45 and older agreeing that PSWs play a critical role in helping seniors maintain independence and dignity at home (Ipsos, 2025).
In 2021, approximately 475,000 Canadians reported unmet home care needs, a figure that has been continuously rising. In Ontario alone, by 2032 the province is projected to require an additional 50,853 PSWs to meet care needs (HRD Canada, 2024). A national study by Ontario Institute of Health and Innovation (OIHI) estimates that there will be around 191,000 new job openings for PSWs in the coming years underscoring long‑term demand (OIHI, 2025).
References:
In Person Labs, Team Campus Days, and Hands-on Training
Many courses require the physical use of handheld devices, hospital beds, scales, and healthcare equipment, even for hybrid students. In this program, there are 8 days of Lectures, Teamwork Activities, Labs and Practicals which are all completed on campus, and which require students to attend in person at the campus where they are registered.
Labs may be arranged to be 4-5 hours per day over 2 days, or one longer 8-9 hour day, at the discretion of the Campus Manager and Instructor. Hybrid Students must be prepared to travel and attend labs in either timing.
FAQs
Theory classes are not pre-recorded. They are live sessions conducted in online classrooms, with the instructor present.
The practicum begins after the completion of all theory modules. You’ll be assigned a placement by the Career Services Department.
The practicum consists of a total of 300 hours in a Long-Term Care Facility (LTC):
- 200 hours - Clinical
- 100 hours - Community
Most PSW placements are unpaid. However, if a facility is participating in the government stipend program, you may receive it, subject to approval by external facilities, i.e. LTCs.
Clinical placement(s) are arranged by the Career Services Department.
The Career Services Department at CIMT College provides job search support, resume building, interview preparation, and networking opportunities with employers.
A CIMT College Clinical Instructor, along with the facility's preceptor or supervisor, oversees your day-to-day activities. CIMT College’s Career Services team monitors your progress and supports you throughout.
There are a total of 3 attempts for the NACC exam.
No, the exam must be taken at the designated campus.
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