PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER
PERSONAL SUPPORT
WORKER
Locations
Multiple
Delivery
In Person
Duration
770 Hours
Credentials Earned
PSW Certificate
Requirements
- All students must be 18 years of age or older.
- All students must meet ID Requirements.
- No high school diploma (Ontario Secondary School Diploma – OSSD) required.
- Students who wish to earn secondary school credits and previously attended or are currently attending ESL/LINC classes must provide completion verification of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. If English is not your first language, please bring your CLB assessment documents from class or from the YMCA Language Assessment Centre to the PSW intake.
Additional Requirements
- Must successfully complete PSW literacy test, attend an intake session and interview.
- Must be physically and mentally fit to participate in classes and complete clinical placements (including lifting). Medical assessment completed by a physician/Nurse Practitioner is required.
- A complete and up- to-date immunization record including: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Hepatitis B, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), Polio, Varicella, Covid 19 as required by placements.
- TB Testing: Evidence of current 2-step or previous 2-step + current 1-step if more than one year has passed since 2-step testing. If positive result documentation of a recent chest X ray showing no active TB present is required.
- Vulnerable sector check (VSC) must be completed in Canada and be clear of any unpardoned criminal offences. Must show no charges, convictions, withdrawals, or discharges.
- Must provide proof of annual flu shot (when available).
Fees
Tuition fees have always been paid from Ministry of Education funding. The St. Louis PSW Program offered in the current and upcoming school year continue to be funded by the Ministry of Education with free tuition for Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents and Refugee Claimants accepted into the program.
International Students must pay full tuition (approximately $13,000+$2000 PSW Program course materials fee).
*PSW Program course materials fee is WAIVED for students accepted into the 2026-2027 program.
Personal Support Worker Registration
Pre-Registration will re-open for the St. Louis PSW Certificate Programs at:
- St. Louis Main Campus (downtown Kitchener)
- Parkwood Seniors Community (Waterloo)
- Fairview Mennonite Home (Cambridge)
- Sunnyside Home (Kitchener)
On August 24, 2026.
Once pre-registration is completed, you will be contacted when a space becomes available to take the St. Louis PSW Literacy Test and BEFORE being invited to a PSW Intake.
If you are contacted from our waiting list, you will be asked to complete a Literacy Test. If successful, you will then be invited to attend an Information / Intake Sessions for full-time, part-time day or or evening classes. Only students who have pre-registered and successfully completed the literacy assessment will be invited to attend the next PSW Intakes.
