How to Become a Personal Support Worker in Canada?

A PSW or Personal Support Worker plays an important role in the Healthcare sector. Personal Support Workers provide patients with bedside and personal care including getting them dressed, helping them move and taking a bath. PSW is a highly demanding career, especially in Canada. According to Employment Canada, 60 per cent of full-time job positions for Personal Support Workers are available to those students who wish to pursue a career in the health sector. If you wish to build a stable career for yourself then a PSW Course is the right choice for you. 

Course	Personal Support Worker (PSW)
Type	Diploma, Certificate
Mode	Full-time, Part-Time
Duration	6 months, 1-2 Years
Average Fees	CAD 1348 (INR 78,700)
Average Salary	CAD 37,050 (INR 21 Lakhs) per year

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Eligibility Criteria for PSW in Canada

Usually, the candidate is required to have the following as the eligibility criteria for this course:

• The student should be a mature applicant i.e. 18 years or older.
• The student must have obtained a Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required).
• English Language Proficiency
• IELTS: 6.0 with no component less than 5.5
• TOEFL iBT: 80+
• PTE: 51+

*Please note that some colleges may require an overall 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0.

If you haven’t yet prepared for your IELTS exam, which is surely an important factor of studying abroad, join our Leverage Live classes and get trained by experts to get your dream score.

Best Colleges for PSW in Canada

The table below mentions some of the colleges in Canada that offer a PSW Diploma along with their application fee:

College	Application Fee
Algonquin College	CAD 95 (INR 5,856)
Centennial College	CAD 95 (INR 5,856)
Confederation College	CAD 95 (INR 5,856)
Durham College	CAD 95 (INR 5,856)
Georgian College	CAD 95 (INR 5,856)
Humber College	CAD 75 (INR 4,623)
Hamilton College	CAD 60 (INR 3,699)
Mohawk College	No Application Fee
Northern College	CAD 100 (INR 6,165)
Niagara College	CAD 100 (INR 6,165)
Sheridan College	CAD 95 (INR 5,856)
Seneca College	CAD 90 (INR 5,548)

Also Read: Diploma Courses in Canada

PSW Course Fee in Canada

The table below mentions the tuition fees for PSW Courses in the following colleges:

College	Tuition Fees
Seneca College	CAD 15,133 (INR 9.32 Lakh)
Sheridan College	CAD 7,867 (INR 4.85 Lakh)Per Semester
Algonquin College	CAD 4,925 (INR 3.03 Lakh)Per Semester
Centennial College	CAD 15,385 (INR 9.48 Lakh)
Humber College	CAD 16,414 (INR 10.11 Lakh)

How to Apply for PSW Canada?

If you have made up your mind to study in Canada then feel free to call our Leverage Edu experts at 1800 572 000 to find out how the application process can be fast-tracked and streamlined to study in Canada! Here’s an easy 5-step process to complete your application process to pursue a PSW Course in Canada:

• Call our Leverage Edu student counsellors at 1800 572 000 to shortlist your PSW Course with the help of our trusted AI Course Finder. The experts will then commence your application process for multiple colleges through our common dashboard platform.
• The next step is to gather and compile all your documents like SOPs, essays, certificates and LORs and exam scores like IELTS, TOEFL etc. 
• After submitting your application and all the necessary documents, the experts will then start with the application process for accommodation, Canada students visas, and scholarships/student loans. 
• It’s now time to wait for your offer letter which can take around 4-6 weeks or more. After accepting your offer letter, it’s now time to pay your semester fees, get your visa approved, CAS-Letter, pack your bags and fly to Canada.

Check out the Canada student permit

Required Documents for PSW Canada

In order to enrol in this course, the following documents are required by an international student:

• High School Certificate/ Diploma if any
• Statement of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation 
• A Letter of Acceptance
• Language Test Scores: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE
• Proof of Financial Evidence
• Passport
• Visa

Cost of Living in Canada

The table below mentions the average cost of living in Canada for an International Student:

Living Expenses	Cost of Living
Accommodation	CAD 5,000 – CAD 10,000 (INR 3.08 Lakh – 6.16 Lakh) per annum
Travel	CAD 80 – CAD 110 (INR 4K -INR 6K) per month
Entertainment	CAD 750 (INR 43K) monthly
Food	CAD 300- CAD 400 (INR 17K – INR 23K) per month
Total Cost	CAD 6,260 – CAD 11,260 (INR 3.84 Lakh – 6.94 Lakh) per annum

Check out Leverage Edu’s Cost of Living Calculator to find out the cost of living in the top cities of Canada

Skills Taught from PSW Course

Here’s what you may find after graduating from this course:

• Personal care and hygiene assistance
• Household and family management
• Meal preparation 
• Medical assistance
• Palliative and restorative activities

Jobs and Scope after PSW in Canada

Taking the course of personal support workers in Canada may bring you lots of benefits and lucrative opportunities. The career options and areas of employment, along with field placement are mentioned below.

Career Outlook

• Personal Support Worker
• Home Support Worker
• Home Health Care Worker
• Personal Care Attendant 

Areas of Employment

• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• Residential facilities
• Retirement homes
• Community support agencies
• Private duty and home care
• School systems (for behaviorally challenged and developmentally delayed children)

Average Salary

Average Salary	Salary Amount
Entry-Level Position	CAD 34,125 per annum (INR 21.03 Lakhs)
Experienced Workers	CAD 48,312 per annum (INR 29.78 Lakhs)
Average Salary in Canada per annum	CAD 37,050 per annum (INR 22.84 Lakhs)
Average Salary in Canada per hour	CAD 19 per hour (INR 1K)

Field Placement

The PSW Course prepares students with practical experience throughout the duration of the course. Therefore, it prepares students to pursue a career further with a start with field placements by their respective colleges. Students who will meet the eligibility requirements will be considered for field placements. For example, the Field Placements Requirements at Centennial College are mentioned below:

• The student must obtain a clear police check with vulnerable sector screening. 
• Any previous criminal record must be pardoned.
• The student must have a complete immunization (immunization review form); a standard form that is provided by the program coordinator.
• The student should complete and annually renew a recognized course in CPR (HCP-Healthcare Provider level).
• The student must complete a recognized course in standard first aid.
• Students are required to attend mask fit testing provided by Centennial College (shaving off a portion of the face may be required to meet safety standards).

Also Read: Masters in Public Health in Canada

FAQs

If you are planning to pursue this course in Canada and need help with the application process, then our experts at Leverage Edu are ever ready to help you out. For a free consultation call us at 1800-572-000