Employed as a PSW in Ontario
The Ministry of Health’s intention of HSCPOA’s Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario (legacy pathway) is to provide a way for as many Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in the province to become registered. The goal is to minimize any barriers for applicants and any negative impacts on the PSW workforce in Ontario. As commonly done with new regulatory bodies, a legacy pathway is time limited. For HSCPOA, the legacy pathway will close on December 1, 2027.
You are eligible for Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario if:
- You are currently employed as a PSW in Ontario, OR
- You have been previously employed as a PSW or equivalent, in Ontario, within the past three years before the date of your application for registration with HSCPOA.
Your employer must complete a Confirmation of Employment and Personal Support Worker Skills Form and fall under one of the categories of employers listed on the form for you to upload in your application portal.
There are two options under Path 2:
A. Experience Only – On-the-job trained: You have been employed as a PSW (or equivalent) within the past three years and worked a minimum of 600 hours in Ontario (this includes those without formal PSW education), OR
B. Experience plus Education – Completed PSW Education in Ontario before July 1, 2014, or educated outside Ontario: You have been employed as a PSW (or equivalent) within the past three years and worked less than 600 hours in Ontario, and you completed a 600-hour personal support services education program. This includes PSWs who completed their education in Ontario before July 1, 2014, OR you completed your personal care provider education outside Ontario.
While PSW registration with HSCPOA is currently voluntary in Ontario, the Ministry of Health may make registration mandatory in the future.
HSCPOA’s best advice for PSWs who are only eligible through Path 2 is to become registered before December 1, 2027.
After December 1, 2027, once Path 2 has closed, a PSW educated in Ontario before July 1, 2014, would be required to go back to school to qualify for registration with HSCPOA under Path 1: Ontario PSW Education. Those who completed a 600-hour personal support services education program outside Ontario in Canada, not eligible for the Labour Mobility registration pathway, or those internationally educated, can apply to undergo a Competency Assessment.
NOTE: 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 Applicants who submit PSW education program documentation from Collège Essor are NOT eligible to apply for registration under Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario, option B (work experience + education). They may be eligible to apply through Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario, option A (work experience only).
Documentation Requirements:
Confirmation of Employment and Personal Support Worker Skills form from a current employer, or an employer the applicant worked for in the previous three years;
A certificate or diploma demonstrating you have successfully completed a personal support services education program, if applying through option B;
A transcript from your personal support services education program, if applying through option B;
NOTE: If your certificate/diploma or transcript does not confirm your personal support services education program was at least 600 hours long (including both class time and practical experience time), you must submit other supporting documentation;
Proof of language proficiency, if required in the Language Proficiency Policy;
Government-issued Photo ID – a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued photo identification (Canadian provincial health cards are not accepted);
Headshot photo – for confirmation of identification;
Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check;
Name change documentation, if applicable;
Letter of Standing – If you are currently or were previously registered with another profession or occupation inside or outside of Canada (excludes membership in a professional association).
View Instructional Video: HSCPOA’s Path 2 – How To Apply
For more details, please refer to HSCPOA’s Application Guide for PSWs.
