PSW — Personal Support Worker Ontario (NACC Certification Preparation)

This comprehensive Personal Support Worker (PSW) preparation program is built on the curriculum framework approved by the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) — the certifying authority for over 90 percent of Ontario private-college PSW graduates. The course aligns with the 612 to 700-hour PSW Program Standard (NACC PSW Standard 2014, last revised 2023) and prepares newcomers and career-changers to deliver safe, client-centred personal support in long-term care homes, community settings, retirement homes, hospitals, and private households across Ontario. This course is intended for newcomers to Canada, internationally educated nurses or caregivers seeking Canadian-recognized credentials, career-changers entering the rapidly growing Ontario health-care sector (projected 50 000 additional PSW positions by 2028 according to the Ontario Ministry of Health Long-Term Care Staffing Study), and existing unregulated caregivers wishing to consolidate their practice with a recognized NACC Certificate. No previous health-care training is required. Applicants must have Grade 12 (OSSD) or equivalent and a valid English-language assessment (CLB 6 or higher recommended). At the end of this course, you will be able to describe the role and accountabilities of a Personal Support Worker within Ontario's regulated health care system; apply safe transfer, infection-control, WHMIS, and emergency-response protocols at the bedside; deliver respectful, dignity-based personal care covering Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental ADLs (IADLs); communicate effectively with clients, families, and the interprofessional team — including therapeutic communication for clients with dementia, cognitive impairment, and end-of-life needs; document accurately, maintain professional boundaries, and apply the Ontario PSW Code of Ethics and the Long-Term Care Homes Act resident rights framework; and prepare confidently for the NACC PSW Certification Examination. The NACC PSW Certification Examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions delivered over 3 hours under remote-proctored conditions. It covers the eight content domains of the NACC PSW Program Standard: Foundations of Caregiving (10 percent), Safety, Mobility, and Body Mechanics (15 percent), Client-Centred Care and Communication (15 percent), Cognitive and Mental Health (10 percent), Health Conditions (15 percent), Personal Care Skills (20 percent), Household Management and Restorative Care (5 percent), and Palliative and End-of-Life Care (10 percent). The pass mark is 60 percent. Successful candidates earn the nationally recognized NACC Personal Support Worker Certificate. The course covers approximately 90 instructional hours of theory and self-study, paced over 12 weeks. It is delivered in English, structured around 5 core lessons, 1 mid-program mock exam (25 questions reflecting the NACC blueprint), and 1 final 50-question certification practice exam. Authoritative sources used throughout the curriculum include the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC), the Ontario Ministry of Health, the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care, the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association (OPSWA), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), and the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007.