Seeking Advice - CNA

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Hello all,

I would like to work as a nursing assistant / aide in Ontario, Canada. Could you please tell me if a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certified from USA is allowed to work in Ontario, Canada?

Please advice.

Thanks much already :)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

What's probably more important is will someone who wants to emigrate to Canada as a CNA be given a work permit. That's unlikely, since CNAs/PSWs aren't considered skilled workers and there are no visas available these days for that type of worker. Even if you were to come to Canada as a dependent child or spouse of someone with a work permit, that doesn't automatically qualify you for one.

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Hi NotReady4PrimeTime,

Thanks much for your response.

I am a permanent resident of Canada. I am thinking of doing this course from USA because there is is 6-8 weeks vis a vis 6 months to 1 year in Ontario. I am a high school student and would like to do it over my summer holidays of 2015.

Please advice.

Thanks

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Doubt that it would be recognized in Ontario. There is a reason our NA courses are longer than American.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Ah, I see. I wouldn't recommend that plan. It's possible that someone who had been working as a CNA (certified nurse assistant) for several years in the US already might possibly be considered for hire by a Canadian employer. But I think employers might take a dim view of someone who just took the training there for expedience. As well, there is legislation in Ontario that covers the required education for personal support workers.

Qualifications of personal support workers 47. (1)Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that on and after the first anniversary of the coming into force of this section, every person hired by the licensee as a personal support worker or to provide personal support services, regardless of title, has successfully completed a personal support worker program that meets the requirements in subsection (2).

(2) The personal support worker program,

(a) must meet,

(i) the vocational standards established by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities,

(ii) the standards established by the National Association of Career Colleges, or

(iii) the standards established by the Ontario Community Support Association; and

(b) must be a minimum of 600 hours in duration, counting both class time and practical experience time.

You can read the rest of the information here.

At the facility where I work in Alberta, all health care aides (same job, different terminology) have to complete an educational program through community college. They didn't grandfather any of the already-employed HCAs, they had to take the classes in addition to working their regular hours. A friend of mine works for a private long-term care home and she too had to complete the program.

You would be much better off getting your training in Ontario.

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I very much doubt they would accept it. Throughout Canada all of our programs are pretty similar, PSW-HHA-CCA-SCA but each province does not recognize the other provincial training. I went to school in SK to be a CCA with some people who already took the PSW course in ON. There is a reason our course is so much longer. In my course we took classes on bereavement, communication, special needs, nutrition, it wasn't just how to take a bp and move people around.

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Thank you so much for your valuable input NotReady4PrimeTime and Mewsin. This is the guidance and advise I came looking for when I signed in to this website. Thanks much.

The thing is I am in an accelerated academic programme in high school (IB Programme) which in itself is very demanding. To cover another course for a year, seems to be quite a challenge, hence the thought of doing it over summer holidays. That way I would use my summer holidays meaningfully and also get myself a vocational training that will hold me in good stead for furthering my career in the health care. I don’t plan to work full time as I am keen to complete my education first. But then I need some part time job to support myself. I am thinking of maybe working weekends; as weekdays are very tight with my regular high school studies. I sincerely seek your support to figure this out. How do I go about this? Please help me.

Thanks once again.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

A 6 week CNA program will not be accepted in Ontario. You will need to complete the PSW program which is about 8 months long now.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
Thank you so much for your valuable input NotReady4PrimeTime and Mewsin. This is the guidance and advise I came looking for when I signed in to this website. Thanks much.

The thing is I am in an accelerated academic programme in high school (IB Programme) which in itself is very demanding. To cover another course for a year, seems to be quite a challenge, hence the thought of doing it over summer holidays. That way I would use my summer holidays meaningfully and also get myself a vocational training that will hold me in good stead for furthering my career in the health care. I don’t plan to work full time as I am keen to complete my education first. But then I need some part time job to support myself. I am thinking of maybe working weekends; as weekdays are very tight with my regular high school studies. I sincerely seek your support to figure this out. How do I go about this? Please help me.

Thanks once again.

One of my children has an IB diploma. And a BSc, an MSc and a PhD - 15 years of post-secondary education, all paid for without any help from us. Held a part time job all the way through both high school and the first two degrees. It can be done. See if you can find a PSW training program that starts soon after you graduate so you can get on it right away. If all goes well, you should be finished with that by the time the winter session of university classes begins and you'll only be one term behind on your long-term plans. Best of luck to you.

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Thank you once again. I am in my 10th standard and 15 years old. So if I wait to do my course after I graduate I will be at least 2 years behind my plan. Next year I will be 16 and can legally hold a part time job. So instead of working in part time jobs elsewhere, I thought I might work in an industry where I am planning my long term career. I want to be a doctor. Pediatrician actually. I was told that there is tough competition out there so this is an attempt to prepare myself.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You have to be at least 19 years old to even enter the training in Ontario. Despite the lack of a license for PSWs, there is still a great deal of responsibility in the job. I would guess that employers would be very reluctant to hire anyone under 19 as a PSW. Competition is tough and sadly there are no shortcuts. I think you'll have to develop a new plan.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I didn't return to school until I was 30, and then I took a year of prerequisites while living on my own and working full time. After that, I went through the degree program, moved and took three post RN certifications while working full time.

I'm nothing special. Yes, it was exhausting and many people do it. You're young and if you want to reach your goals, you'll do what it takes.

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