In order to purchase one of the NACC’s highly regarded programs, the college must be a member of the National Association of Career Colleges.

To purchase the NACC Personal Support Worker Bridging Program a college must be:

– A registered Regulated Career College in Ontario
– Ministry approved to deliver the NACC Personal Support Worker Program 2022
– Have successfully run the NACC Personal Support Worker Program 2022 for at least a year
– Be in good standing with the NACC

The NACC Personal Support Worker Bridging (PSWB) program is based upon the Ontario Personal Support Worker Training Standard released in January 2022. The NACC program content, standards and guidelines, combined with the clinical component of the program, ensure that the graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a Personal Support Worker (PSW). 

The PSW program prepares graduates to provide supportive care to individuals, including clients experiencing cognitive impairment, physical disability, and mental health challenges across their lifespan by assisting them with their activities of daily living.

The NACC program was developed and maintained by a committee consisting of consultants, program design experts, subject-matter experts from both the Regulated College sector, employer groups and NACC staff. The program has been updated to support hybrid learning for colleges with a Learning Management System (LMS).

Graduates may find employment in a variety of care settings including:

• Long-term care facilities
• Home care services giving care to clients living in their own homes in the community
• Supportive housing settings including senior’s apartments and retirement homes
• Group homes
• Hospitals
• Adult day programs
• Educational facilities

The range of services provided by PSWs depend upon the individual needs of each person they support and may include personal care such as dressing, personal hygiene, mobility, and other routine activities of living in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act.  Home management such as shopping, light house cleaning and meal preparation, family responsibilities such as routine care giving to children and assisting with social and recreational activities might also be expected.

As front-line workers, PSWs must develop a broad range of abilities beyond dexterity skills. They must provide not only for the comfort, safety and well-being of their clients, but also demonstrate sensitivity and respect for those in their care. The attitude, abilities and approach of the PSW are critical to the well-being and health of the people they support. The PSW will develop a skill / knowledge level that includes basic care and social service training.

The scope of responsibilities for a PSW is as follows:

• Co-operates with all members of the health team
• Promotes safety and works in a safe manner
• Assists with walking, movement and positioning
• Assists with mechanical and physical lifts and/or transfers
• Assists with personal care, personal hygiene, dressing, including laundry related tasks
• Assists with meal preparation, grocery shopping, feeding, dietary planning, food handling
• Answers call bells
• Checks and records vital signs
• Teaches life skills
• Assists with range of motion exercise and other rehabilitative measures
• Practices universal precautions and maintains a clean working environment
• Provides emotional and social support services to care-receivers and their families
• Is aware of common allergies and related first aid measures
• Works as a supportive care worker for palliative care and hospice patients
• Observes and reports clinical and treatment findings, behavioural changes and changes in ongoing conditions.
• Maintains records, documents procedures

The NACC Personal Support Worker program provides quality education and training for aspiring PSWs through comprehensive theory classes and two practicum placements. 

Why You Should Hire A NACC PSW Graduate

Benefits to potential employers hiring graduates of the NACC Personal Support Worker Program include:

• Assurance that graduates have been trained to meet established learning outcomes and program standards
• Assurance that the graduate has the knowledge required to do the job as verified by third party testing
• Assurance that the skills required to do the job have been verified in clinical settings prior to graduation
• Assurance that graduates receive training from an approved program that produces more than twice as many PSWs per year than all public colleges combined

Admission Requirements:

The PSW Bridging Program can accept the following applicants as long as they meet all admission requirements and have a certificate, diploma and/or degree in the following:

• Health Care Aide – Canadian Graduate
• Home Support Worker – Canadian Graduate
• Personal Support Worker – Canadian Graduate
• Nurse or Registered Nurse – Domestic or Foreign Trained with Degree in Nursing
• Practical Nurse: Registered Practical Nurse (RPN); Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – Domestic or Foreign Trained
• Grade 12 or equivalent admission requirement, in addition to Medical Certificate of Fitness and Immunization Status to complete the program
• Literacy Test to be completed by all applicants
• Clear police records check and Vulnerable Sector Check, Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer CPR prior to starting the Clinical Placement

Program Length:

Total program hours: 350 hours

NACC Final Theory Examination:

The NACC final examination is an on-line examination that evaluates the theory component of the training and determines whether the candidate has the required level of knowledge to do the job safely and effectively. The external setting for the exam and marking provide unbiased and consistent evaluation of adherence to the NACC PSW Program standard. To schedule your final exam, please speak with your college representative.

All students write the NACC final theory examination after completing both placements.

To order curriculum please contact Sarah by email at sriaz@nacc.ca.