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Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing (PSW to PN) Pathway

This program is for domestic applicants only. International applicants, please connect with Humber International for alternate program options.

Take the Next Step in Your Health‑Care Career

As a Personal Support Worker, you already play a vital role in Ontario’s health‑care system. You provide hands‑on, compassionate care, support clients and families during vulnerable moments, and make a meaningful difference every day. If you’re ready to build on that experience, expand your scope of practice, and step into a nursing role with greater responsibility, impact, and career mobility, the Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Pathway was designed with you in mind.

This new Nursing Transformation: PSW to PN Pathway recognizes your prior education, real‑world experience, and commitment to care—creating a clearer, more efficient route from PSW to Registered Practical Nurse (RPN).

How to Apply

The PSW-PN Bridge is delivered fully online through Ontario Learn, while the Practical Nursing program is a full-time, in-person offering.

Step 1

Successfully complete the PSW to PN pathway courses through Ontario Learn: The Ontario Colleges’ Nursing Transformation Initiative outlines that students successfully complete all PSW to PN Bridge courses with a minimum passing grade of 60% in each course (80% in Math for Practical Nurses). It is recommended that the program is completed within 24 months from the start of the first course.

Step 2

Apply to Humber’s Practical Nursing Program via ontariocolleges.ca.

Applicants must select Practical Nursing (07041) North Campus advanced standing semester 2. To select the advanced standing semester 2, applicants must declare their post-secondary education on their OCAS application.

After completing the PSW to PN Bridge, students become eligible to apply for the Practical Nursing Program designed for PSW-PN Bridge graduates. The Bridge program covers the equivalent of Semester 1 of the Practical Nursing program, thus the PSW-PN Bridge Practical Nursing program is one semester shorter than the regular PN program.

Admission Requirements

The PSW to Practical Nursing Pathway is intended for experienced Personal Support Workers who are ready to transition into nursing. Admission requirements reflect both provincial standards and Humber’s commitment to student success.

Pathway Eligibility

To be considered for the PSW to PN Pathway, applicants typically must:

  • Be a domestic applicant (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have appropriate authorization to study and practice in Ontario)
  • Have graduated from an Ontario Personal Support Worker (PSW) program that meets provincial program standards (public college, approved private career college, or school board)
  • Have successfully completed the PSW-PN Bridging courses (see Pathways Bridge courses requirements below). The PSW-PN Bridging course are delivered fully through Ontario Learn
  • Meet minimum academic requirements from the PSW program (including a minimum cumulative average, as outlined at time of application)
  • Have recent work experience as a PSW in Ontario, demonstrating readiness for expanded clinical responsibilities

Submission Instructions

To submit your additional requirement(s), please visit the Applicant Portal. You will navigate to Submitted Applications – Actions – View My Applications – View Details.

Note: if you do not meet these criteria and are interested in exploring options for becoming a Practical Nurse, please explore Humber’s School of Nursing.

Pathway (Bridge) Course Requirements

Eligible PSWs must successfully complete the required PSW to PN pathway (bridge) courses prior to admission into Humber’s Practical Nursing program. These courses are designed to prepare you for Semester 2 entry and typically include:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Nursing Theory
  • Health Assessment
  • Nursing Professionalism
  • Math Foundations for Nurses
  • Math for Practical Nurses
  • Transition to Practical Nursing

Minimum passing grades apply for each course (60%), with higher proficiency required in nursing math (80%). Successful completion of all required pathway courses makes you eligible to apply for advanced standing in Humber’s Practical Nursing program.

Completion of pathway courses does not guarantee admission. Admission is competitive and subject to availability of seats.

Post-Admission Requirements

Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you will need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).

Placement Requirements

The pre-requisite requirements must be fulfilled before the commencement of your first placement. Participation in placements will not be allowed if not all the pre-requisite requirements are met. Due to the variety of venues and possible changes in legislation, the requirements are subject to change. Please review the Pre-placement Requirements/Clearance to find detailed information about your program’s placement pre-requisite requirements.

Pre-Registration Requirements from the College of Nurses of Ontario

Graduates wishing to be registered will be asked by the College of Nurses of Ontario to sign a declaration of their status regarding:

  • citizenship/permanent residence/immigration
  • any conviction of a criminal offence or an offence under the Narcotic Control Act or the Food and Drug Act
  • being a subject of proceedings with respect to professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity in Ontario in another health profession or in another jurisdiction in nursing or in another health profession
  • any mental or physical disorder, which makes it desirable in the public interest that the person not practice nursing.

These requirements will also apply throughout your program.

Graduates of Humber’s Practical Nursing program are eligible to apply to the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) to write the registration exam and practice as a Registered Practical Nurse.

Your Questions Answered

Why Move from PSW to Practical Nursing?

Many Personal Support Workers reach a point where they want to contribute more to client care—more clinical judgment, more responsibility, and more opportunities for growth. Advancing to the role of a Practical Nurse enables you to:

  • Expand your scope of practice with clinical assessments, medication administration, and direct nursing interventions.
  • Increase your career stability and earning potential in a profession experiencing strong, ongoing demand.
  • Work across a broader range of health‑care settings, including hospitals, long‑term care, rehabilitation, mental health, and community care.
  • Build on your existing strengths—your PSW experience becomes a solid foundation, not something you leave behind.

Ontario continues to face a significant nursing shortage, and practical nurses play a vital role in meeting the province’s health‑care needs. There has never been a more important—or more promising—time to take this next step in your career.

What Is the PSW to PN Pathway?

The PSW to PN Pathway is part of Ontario’s Nursing Transformation initiative, created to reduce barriers and support PSWs in advancing into nursing roles.

Through pathway (bridge) courses completed prior to admission, eligible PSWs can:

  • Strengthen foundations in anatomy and physiology, nursing theory, health assessment, professionalism, and math for nursing
  • Prepare for the academic and clinical expectations of practical nursing
  • Enter Humber’s Practical Nursing program with advanced standing, reducing duplication of learning and time to completion

This pathway is designed to respect your experience while preparing you for the expanded responsibilities of the practical nursing role

Completion of pathway courses does not guarantee admission; students must apply through Ontario Colleges and meet Humber’s admission requirements.

two practical nursing students attending a simulation mannequin

Why Choose Humber for Practical Nursing?

Choosing where to complete your Practical Nursing diploma is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Humber stands apart for its reputation, resources, and commitment to student success.

A Program Built for Real‑World Nursing

Humber’s Practical Nursing program prepares graduates to confidently enter today’s complex health‑care environments. You’ll gain:

  • Approximately 800 hours of supervised clinical practicum experience
  • Hands‑on learning in state‑of‑the‑art simulation labs, bioscience, and anatomy facilities
  • Progressive clinical placements across long‑term care, community, rehabilitation, and acute‑care settings

Humber is also the only English‑speaking college in Ontario with an on‑campus cadaver lab, giving nursing students a rare and powerful opportunity to deepen their understanding of human anatomy.

Practical Nursing Program 

Interprofessional, Supportive, Student‑Focused

At Humber, you don’t learn in isolation. Practical Nursing students participate in Intraprofessional and Interprofessional Education (IPE), learning alongside peers from across the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences. These experiences strengthen teamwork, communication, and collaboration—skills employers expect and patients deserve.

You’ll also benefit from:

  • Small practicum groups with close faculty supervision
  • Faculty who are experienced nurses and clinical experts
  • Strong academic and student supports designed to help you succeed

Your success is a shared priority.

students in PSW training at Humber Heights

instructor assisting nursing student

From Humber Graduate to RPN—and Beyond

Humber’s Practical Nursing program is recognized by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Graduates are eligible to write the registration exam and pursue careers in:

  • Acute‑care hospitals
  • Long‑term care and retirement communities
  • Community and home care
  • Mental health and rehabilitation settings
  • Clinics, schools, and public health environments

Many Humber PN graduates continue their education through Bachelor of Science in Nursing pathways or pursue post‑graduate specialty training in areas such as dialysis, emergency, cardiology, and surgery.

Your Experience Matters. Your Future Starts Here.

You already have the compassion, resilience, and commitment it takes to succeed in nursing. Humber’s PSW to PN Pathway helps you transform that experience into a professional nursing career—without losing momentum.

If you’re ready to advance your practice, expand your impact, and become a Registered Practical Nurse, Humber is ready to support you every step of the way.

How to Apply