Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Find answers to commonly asked questions about HSCPOA, the benefits of registration and how to apply for registration.
General FAQs
The Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority (HSCPOA) was established under the Ontario government’s new Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority Act, 2021. HSCPOA is an oversight body, independent from Ontario government, that has a mandate to register and provide oversight of personal support workers (PSWs), and other potential classes of registrants, in the interest of public protection.
The Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority Act, 2021, allowed for the creation of HSCPOA. The HSCPOA Act, 2021, outlines HSCPOA’s overarching structure for organizational governance and accountability, committees, registration, the public register, complaint resolution, and discipline and appeals. This new regulatory framework applies a proportionate and risk-informed approach, while being targeted, transparent, accountable, and nimble.
The creation of HSCPOA recognizes the important role that PSWs play in the Ontario healthcare system and strengthens health human resources oversight by ensuring quality care, consistency of education and training of PSWs, and transparency for the public regarding the PSW workforce. HSCPOA also includes a complaints resolution process to ensure public protection.
Registration FAQs
The regulations under the Act come into force on December 1, 2024. An online application form will be available beginning in the fall. PSWs who meet the registration requirements can become registered on December 1, 2024. Please check the HSCPOA website regularly for updates on when HSCPOA will begin accepting applications for registration.
The Ontario Ministry of Health has implemented a new voluntary approach for the oversight of PSWs registered with HSCPOA. Voluntary registration helps build the benefits of being registered with HSCPOA, and the value of being regulated without inadvertently disrupting Ontario’s health care system and/or the supply of PSWs in the province.
Mandatory registration is required in law to practice a profession/occupation within a defined scope of practice and use the profession’s protected title (e.g., registered nurse). This applies to many regulated health professions under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), including nurses, dietitians, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.
While HSCPOA exists for public protection like other RHPA regulatory bodies, the HSCPOA Act, 2021, does not contain a defined scope of practice or require mandatory registration to practise as a PSW in Ontario or use the PSW title. As an alternative to title protection, a HSCPOA Visual Mark for PSW Registrants will assure the public that the PSW is registered and subject to oversight by HSCPOA.
Benefits of Registration FAQs
There are many benefits to registering with HSCPOA:
- It’s free and voluntary. There is currently no cost to become registered and be part of HSCPOA’s Public Register.
- Trust, respect, and recognition. Personal support workers are the largest group of unregulated health care providers. Being registered shows you’ve met qualifications and are committed to protecting the public by being held accountable for safe, quality, ethical care.
- It builds the reputation of PSWs. When you are registered with HSCPOA, it shows you are accountable to provide safe, quality care like other regulated health providers including nurses, dietitians, and physiotherapists.
- It makes you stand out. Being registered differentiates you from unregistered PSWs who are not accountable to an oversight body.
- More employment opportunities. Being on HSCPOA’s Public Register means employer sand the public can easily find you in a list of qualified, registered PSWs. Employers may prefer to hire HSCPOA registered PSWs.
- You can use the HSCPOA Visual Mark. Colleagues, employers, and recipients of your services will immediately recognize you as a PSW registered with HSCPOA.
- Access to resources. HSCPOA will have an established Code of Ethics and guidance documents to support the work of PSWs.
- System partnership. Be a part of HSCPOA’s contribution to Health Human Resource planning by facilitating the sharing of PSW workforce data with relevant system partners (e.g., the government, health system funders, and educators).
How to Apply FAQs
The regulations under the Act come into force on December 1, 2024. An online application form will be available beginning in the fall.
There are four (4) pathways to become registered as a PSW with HSCPOA:
- Path 1: Ontario PSW Education – you are eligible for this registration pathway if you graduated from an Ontario Personal Support Worker (PSW) program that meets the requirements set by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to issue a PSW certificate (a diploma or certificate of completion), on or after July 1, 2014.
- Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario – you may be eligible for this registration pathway if you are currently employed or have been previously employed as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) or equivalent, in Ontario, within the past three years before the date of your application for registration with HSCPOA.
- Path 3: Labour Mobility – you are eligible to apply for registration under the Labour Mobility pathway if you are currently registered with:
- British Columbia Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry
- Alberta Health Care Aide Directory, OR
- Nova Scotia Continuing Care Assistant Registry
- Path 4: Competency Assessment – you are eligible to complete a competency assessment if you do not have Ontario PSW work experience and you are either internationally educated or trained in Canada outside of Ontario and not eligible for registration through the Labour Mobility pathway.
For more details on the registration requirements for each pathway, visit How to become a registrant.
If you completed an Ontario PSW training program on or after July 1, 2014, you are currently eligible for registration with HSCPOA under Path 1: Ontario PSW Education, even if you have not worked as a PSW for three or more years.
Applicants applying for registration under Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario must have worked as a PSW within the past three years.
Applicants applying for registration under Path 3: Labour Mobility, must have worked as a PSW (or equivalent) within the past three years, while being registered in their respective Canadian jurisdiction.
All other applicants can apply under Path 4: Competency Assessment to demonstrate their current PSW knowledge and skills.
Registration Path 2: Employed as a PSW in Ontario, will remain open for three years from the date the regulations come into force, or until December 1, 2027. Once the three-year period has ended, this pathway to registration will close and applicants must apply to HSCPOA under one of the other registration pathways.
All applicants are required to provide the following information:
- Personal information (such as name, address, email, and telephone contact details)
- Language proficiency, if required in policy
- Government-issued identification
- Headshot photo (neck and shoulders) – to confirm identification
- Criminal background check – Criminal Record and Judicial Matters (level 2) check
- Proof of legal name change (if applicable)
Depending on which registration pathway you apply through, you will also need to provide documentation confirming you completed an Ontario PSW education program, you are/were employed as a PSW in Ontario, or you are currently listed on a health care aide/health care assist registry or directory in another Canadian jurisdiction.
For more details on the application process, visit How to Become a Registrant.
Ontario PSW students do not need to register with HSCPOA. Once a student has completed their Ontario PSW training program, they can apply for registration with HSCPOA.
Currently, there is no cost to apply, register, or renew your registration annually with HSCPOA.
Your registration may be refused if you do not currently meet HSCPOA’s requirements for registration. HSCPOA’s registration staff will advise if you are (or will be) eligible for registration via another pathway (e.g., after gaining at least 600 hours of Ontario PSW work experience, or after successfully completing a competency assessment).
If your registration is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal. Your letter will also explain that you have the option to request a written review of your application by the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB). Instructions will be provided on how to make a request for an HPARB review.
HSCPOA’s Online Public Register of PSWs FAQs
The Public Register will contain information for each HSCPOA registrant including, but not limited to:
- Personal information (name, gender)
- Business/employer information for every location in Ontario where a registrant provides PSW services. This will include the facility name, employer name, business address, and contact details
- Registration status (and reason for inactive status if applicable)
- Registration class (e.g., PSW)
- Registration number
- Date of initial registration and history of registration over time
- Information regarding current or previous registration with any other regulatory body in any jurisdiction
- Complaints and investigation information, if applicable
For more information, visit: Information Appearing on our Public Register