Benefits to Registration

Personal Support Workers (PSWs) play an important role in providing supportive care services to recipients in community care and home care settings, and to long-term care and retirement home residents.

For the PSW Registrant:

• No cost to Personal Support Workers throughout 2024 that take action now, to voluntarily apply to register with HSCPOA.
• Only eligible PSWs registered with HSCPOA can proudly use/wear the HSCPOA PSW Registrant ‘visual mark’ provided by HSCPOA, easily recognized by colleagues, employers and recipients receiving PSW services.
• Inspires confidence in care recipients that recognize the visual mark.
• Demonstrates to employers, colleagues, and recipients of supportive care services that as a PSW registrant, you have met newly established registration requirements including education and/or experience, and good character.
• The visual mark is a symbol that:
  • Represents a commitment to quality care
  • Inspires confidence in PSW registrant care recipients;
  • Establishes a professional identity.
• Differentiates a registered PSW from an unregistered PSW care provider. Every registered PSW has a record in our HSCPOA online Public Register. Employers of PSWs and care recipients can use HSCPOA’s Public Register to easily find PSWs who have met the registration requirements and have ongoing accountability for the provision of safe, effective, and ethical care.
• Guidance for registered PSWs as HSCPOA establishes regulations, code of ethics, and other guidance information. 

For Employers, Care Recipients, and the Public:

• Easily identify registered PSWs on the HSCPOA online public register who have met minimum education and/or experience requirements and who are accountable to HSCPOA for the provision of safe, effective, and ethical care using the HSCPOA online register
• Verify if a registrant is in good standing with HSCPOA (New – to follow)
• Access the HSCPOA complaints process if there is a concern about the supportive care services provided by an HSCPOA PSW registrant.

How it Works

The Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority (HSCPOA) qualifies applicants for registration as Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in Ontario.  

Applying for Registration
Increased PSW recognition
Representing trust, quality, compliance.

Access through HSCPOA’s website:

• Registration guide and policies
• Link to an online application portal to submit application and upload supporting documents (e.g., confirmation of education/experience, criminal record check, etc.)

Applicants will receive an acknowledgment that their application has been submitted and will be contacted if additional information or supporting documents are needed.

Once an application is complete and submitted, applicants will receive a decision on registration.