Personal Support Worker (PSW)

Our Personal Support Worker Program is an accredited program taught by teachers with nursing backgrounds.  Student placements are supervised by RPNs or RNs.  Learn more by clicking here

Acceptance subject to completion of a literacy requirement and personal interview.

Read more about how to become a personal support worker by clicking here.

Our Mission and Vision

Mission

To be an inclusive learning community that inspires every student to reach their full potential through education and training.

Vision

By fostering positive relationships between school and community, students in the PSW program will learn and work in an environment where every person is: 

  • Safe and welcomed 
  • Accepted and valued 
  • Heard and engaged 
  • Supported and prepared 

Registration

To begin the registration process, you must sign up for an orientation session (below).  The orientation begins with a literacy test.  

Orientation is mandatory less than one year prior to course start date. You MUST complete the orientation process by successfully passing the literacy assessment and interview.  Successful candidates will be provided with the link for registration and will be required to upload Photo ID (Health Card or Driver Licence), Birth Certificate and/or Permanent Resident or Citizenship Card with the registration.  Candidates who are not successful may re-take the orientation and literacy assessment after one year.

Literacy Assessment/Orientation Sessions for January 2025

 Ajax Day School Program - FULL for January 2025
 

January 2025 Program:

 

Orientation/Literacy Assessment Dates for

Day Program - Ajax

 

October 2, November 6

12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

 

Location: Ajax Campus - 458 Fairall St., Unit 7

 

There will be no orientation for December as the Ajax program is now full.

 

 Oshawa Day School Program
 

January 2025 Program:

 

Orientation/Literacy Assessment for Dates for

Day Program - Oshawa

 

December 4

1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

 

 

Location: Oshawa Campus - 

700 Stevenson Road North (South East corner of Monsignor Paul Dwyer CHS)
Entrance is off Rossland Road 

Orientation registration for December 4 is now closed as the orientation is full.       

 

 PSW North (Port Perry) Day Program
 

January 2025 Program:

 

Orientation/Literacy Assessment Dates for Day Program - Port Perry

December 4

1:15 - 3:15 p.m.                                

 

 

Location: Good Shepherd CS - 1650 Reach St. Port Perry

 

Orientation registration for December 4 is now closed as the orientation is full.

 

 

2024-25 School Year Schedule 

Oshawa Classes

Sessions  Dates Day Times

Semester 1

Sept. 9, 2024 - March 6, 2025

Monday to Friday

8:30 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. (Classroom)
Placement 8 hours/day (am or pm) including weekends
Semester 2 Jan. 6, 2025 - June 24, 2025 Monday to Friday  8:30 a.m. - 1:50 p.m.
(Classroom)
Placement 8 hours/day (am or pm) including weekends
Ajax Classes  

Sessions  Dates Day Times

Semester 1

Sept. 9, 2024 - March 6, 2025

Monday to Friday

8:30 a.m. - 1:50 p.m.(Classroom)

Placement 8 hours/day (am or pm) including weekends

Semester 2 Jan. 6, 2025 - June 24, 2025 Monday to Friday

8:30 a.m. - 1:50 p.m.(Classroom)

Placement 8 hours/day (am or pm) including weekends

Port Perry Classes  

Sessions  Dates Day Times

Semester 1

Sept. 9, 2024 - March 6, 2025

Monday to Friday

8:30 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. (Classroom - 2 days/week in-person and 3 days/week online)

Placement 8 hours/day (am or pm) including weekends

Semester 2

Jan. 6, 2025 - June 24, 2025 

Monday to Friday

8:30 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. (Classroom - 2 days/week in-person and 3 days/week online)

Placement 8 hours/day (am or pm) including weekends

Tuition: No cost  
Materials Fee: No cost. Click here for more details.

 

Covers workshops, First Aid/CPR-C, name badge and certificates in food handling, feeding, Alzheimer's and GPA. 

Admission Requirements:
  • 18 years of age or older;
  • written medical clearance from your doctor;
  • Two Step TB Test;
  • Flu Vaccination;
  • clear Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector Check*;
  • a minimum score of 80 per cent on the Literacy Test;
  • successful personal interview;
  • proof of Canadian citizenship/permanent residency. 

*For the PSW North program (Port Perry), students must have the clear Criminal Record, Vulnerable Sector check complete prior to the start of the program and must be 6 months recent.

 

Pre-PSW Program

The Pre-PSW program provides opportunities for students to strengthen their literacy skills and prepare for success in the Personal Support Worker Program.  This program is available at Ajax, Oshawa and Port Perry locations for students who have been accepted to the PSW program. 

Adult Upgrading

Students register for the PSW literacy preparation through the Adult Upgrading Program.  Adult upgrading is continuous intake.  Visit the Adult Upgrading webpage for details about how to register.

Pre-PSW Program

Date: TBD

Format: Program will be run online with regular in-person support available.

Registration: Students will receive an invitation to the Pre-PSW program after their acceptance.

Student Testimonial

My name is Erin and I’m currently working as a Personal Support Worker as I graduated from the PSW program at Archbishop Anthony Meagher CCEC. Here’s my experience:

I first started out in the Personal Support Worker program at College. I did not like the environment that I was in, so I had resigned.  A year later I decided to take the Personal Support Worker program at the Durham Catholic  District School Board and man, did I ever make a good choice. Despite such a difficult and at times stressful year due to covid, my teacher was with us the whole time, supporting us and ensuring that we were doing our best at all times, which definitely helped the year go by a lot smoother.  To anyone who plans to become a Personal Support Worker in the future and likes an environment with lots of supportive teachers, Principals, and a supportive school overall, I HIGHLY recommend you take the program at Archbishop Anthony Meagher.  Trust me, you won’t regret it! 

Currently, I am very happily working as a Part Time Personal Support Worker in a Long Term Care Home and without the help of my amazing teacher and the amazing staff at the Durham Catholic School Board all year long, this wouldn’t be possible! 

Erin, former PSW student


Continuing Education reserves the right to revise or modify programming due to Covid-19 measures.

For more information, contact the Oshawa Campus at credit.reg@dcdsb.ca or the Ajax Campus at cont.ed@dcdsb.ca