Competency Assessment
You are eligible to complete a competency assessment if you have completed a personal support services education program outside of Ontario that was a minimum of 600 hours in duration, including both class time and practical experience time.
This includes applicants who do not have Ontario PSW work experience within the past three years preceding the date of application to HSCPOA, and are:
- Educated internationally as a personal care provider, OR
- Educated as a personal care provider in Canada outside of Ontario and not eligible to apply for registration through the Labour Mobility pathway.
The Competency Assessment process establishes whether an applicant’s previous personal support provider education and training is substantially equivalent to the education and training that meets the standards set by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities for programs designed to prepare an individual to provide personal support services. For more information, refer to HSCPOA’s Competency Assessment Process Policy and the Competency Assessment Substantial Equivalence Evaluation Tool.
If you are an internationally educated nurse or midwife or a Canadian trained nurse or midwife, refer to HSCPOA’s information about Recognition of Nurses and Midwives.
All eligible applicants will proceed through HSCPOA’s Competency Assessment process in two phases:
Phase 1: Competency Assessment substantial equivalence assessment. If deemed substantially equivalent, applicants move to Phase 2.
Phase 2: Applicants must complete the online Orientation to Registered PSW Care in Ontario Course. Instructions on how to access and complete the course will be provided by HSCPOA’s Registration Program staff. Applicants are also required to formerly Apply for PSW registration with HSCPOA.
HSCPOA does NOT recognize Collège Essor, Quebec, Canada, as a legitimate PSW education program. Our analysis shows multiple document discrepancies, incomplete internship evidence, lack of formal documentation, and overall PSW education program credibility issues. HSCPOA will not assess PSW education program documentation from Collège Essor through the Path 4: Competency Assessment, Substantial Equivalence process. An applicant may be eligible to apply under Path 4: Competency Assessment if they have completed additional credible PSW education
Documentation Requirements:
Identification document;
Name change documentation, if applicable;
Certificate of personal support services education program completion;
Transcript of personal support services education program;
Program Curriculumation, including program outcomes and learning objectives;
Course Descriptions, and
Supporting documentation demonstrating you have completed a personal support services education program that was at minimum 600 hours in duration, including both class time and practical training time;
Language proficiency, as required in HSCPOA’s Language Proficiency Policy
Optional documentation may include:
Evidence of completion of other personal care provider professional development, and
Personal care provider employment information such as job descriptions and employment confirmation letters including job responsibilities.
Documentation required for Phase 2:
Criminal Record Check as required in HSCPOA’s Criminal Record Check Policy;
Headshot Photo, and
Letter of Standing from an applicant’s licensing/regulatory body (if applicable and not already submitted to HSCPOA through Phase 1), sent directly to HSCPOA via email.
If you wish to complete the requirements for Phase 2 while your competency assessment is in progress, please contact: registration@hscpoa.com for instructions.
View Instructional Video: HSCPOA’s Path 4 – How To Apply
For more details, please refer to HSCPOA’s Application Guide for PSWs.
