- Level
- 1-Year Post Secondary Certificate
- CIP code
- 51.2602
- Duration
- 1 year college certificate including a field place
- Open intakes
-
Off-shoreJan 2027, May 2027, Sep 2027
- Field
- Health and Medical Sciences
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Superfast Offer Speed2–3 days
- Next deadline
- 2027-01-01
Program overview
A one year college certificate in personal care, covering personal support skills, safety and infection control, cognitive and mental health support, and supervised clinical placement, with applied practice throughout the programme.
Personal support work is among the most consistently in demand roles in Ontario healthcare, and this route is built specifically for international applicants.
College Certificate in Personal Support Worker, International is taught at Conestoga College Doon campus, a public Ontario college. The personal support worker certificate sits below degree level, so a work permit depends on its field of study. Conestoga records the personal support worker certificate under CIP 51.2602 and lists it among its PGWP-aligned programmes, which supports a permit of up to one year. IRCC alone decides, so verify 51.2602 against the current eligible list before paying for the personal support worker certificate. Ontario also requires a provincial attestation letter before the personal support worker certificate can support a study permit.
Candidates for College Certificate in Personal Support Worker, International present Grade 12 or equivalent at 50 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and tuition for the personal support worker certificate is recorded at CAD 14,588. Conestoga charges a CAD 100 application fee, and no scholarship is recorded against the personal support worker certificate. The personal support worker certificate lists seven entry windows across September, January and May. Apply Study Visa manages your the personal support worker certificate application, the deposit, the offer, the attestation letter and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 or equivalent at the percentage stated for this programme.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5; TOEFL iBT 80 with 20 in every section; PTE Academic 53 with no component below 10; or the Duolingo English Test at 110.
- Application and deposit: Conestoga charges a CAD 100 application fee. Confirm the tuition deposit and its refundability in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded against this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Additional requirement: A vulnerable sector police check, immunisation records and clinical placement clearance apply. Confirm Ontario PSW registry requirements before enrolling.
- Work rights: Conestoga lists the personal support worker certificate as PGWP-aligned under CIP 51.2602, supporting a work permit of up to one year. Verify the code against the IRCC list before paying. A PGWP also requires a language test at CLB 5 in all four abilities for college credentials, taken within two years of applying. This is separate from the English test you need for admission. No dependant work permit.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa prepares the attestation letter request, the financial evidence and the Canadian study permit submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Personal Support Worker: long term care homes
- Home Care Worker: community care agencies
- Health Care Aide: hospitals and clinics
- Residential Care Aide: supported living settings
- Respite Worker: family support services
- Further Study: practical nursing pathways
Reality check: care work is physically and emotionally demanding and modestly paid, so be clear that the demand reflects difficulty retaining staff rather than easy conditions.
About Conestoga College - Doon
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- World rank
- #3421
- Established
- 1967
- Reference No.
- O19376158572
