LPN to personal care assistant?

[sdg13]

I am licensed in New York as a licensed practical nurse, but it seems like Ontario is not going to accept me to sit for the RPN licensing exam. Would I be able to work as a personal care assistant instead? What do I need to do to get a certification? I'm applying to university currently to get my BScN, so I don't want to do any more courses for a PCA or RPN. Would my practical nursing education be enough to get me a PCA certification? Who do I contact?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Not all of the Personal Support Workers in Ontario have certificates and they are not always required in order to work in long term care, homecare, agency, attendant care services.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Look for PSW job opportunities with home health care agencies such as; VON, VHA, Red Cross, March of Dimes, Saint Elizabeth.

[sdg13]

Ok, great, thanks! Most of my nursing experience has been in long-term care, so I'd be just fine doing that. So 'Personal Support Worker' is the official job title, eh? I get so confused. In the US, they are all called 'Certified Nurse's Aides.' To be honest, coming from Arkansas, the rate of pay I'd be receiving as a PSW here will likely be way more than I got as an LPN. :)

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Personal support worker is a common title in many, but not all Ontario health care facilities. When you search job postings, under qualifications, personal support worker certificiate required is often mentioned, but since your base education from your lpn program surpassed the base education of a PSW program, you may be considered a potential candidate. There are quite a few IENs who are working as PSWs in Ontario.

The pay varies depending on whether or not the workplace is unionized.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

When writing a resume for PSW positions, do not put LPN designation beside your name as you are not legally entitiled to the designation unless you are licensed in Ontario. List your education, US licenses and past LPN experiences, along with an explanation of your interest in working as a PSW.

[loriangel14, RN]

Most employers will require a PSW certificate.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Most employers will require certification, but because she has LPN experience, they may not. In AB we will hire someone who has nursing experience in an HCA/PSW role.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Most employers will require certification, but because she has LPN experience, they may not. In AB we will hire someone who has nursing experience in an HCA/PSW role.

Same in Ontario, there are many IENs working as PSWs.

[xokw, BSN, RN]

Same in Ontario, there are many IENs working as PSWs.

Yeah it is very common. I worked in LTC with a couple IENs who were working as PSWs. Same with nursing students, they can often get hired with a semester or two completed, that is what I did for experience.