Ontario is investing in the future of healthcare by launching new Personal Support Worker (PSW) incentives in 2025. These funding opportunities are designed to attract students and graduates into long-term care homes and home and community care sectors, while also encouraging more PSWs to work in rural and northern communities.
With stipends for students and bonuses for graduates, eligible individuals could access up to $30,000 in funding. Here’s a complete breakdown.
PSW Incentives Available in Ontario
The government has introduced three main types of financial supports:
1. Clinical Placement Stipend – Up to $5,440
PSW students can receive a stipend of up to $5,440 while completing their clinical placement in long-term care or community care organizations.
Highlights:
- Must be enrolled in an approved Ontario PSW training program.
- Clinical placement must begin on or after April 1, 2025.
2. Recruitment Incentive – $10,000
Graduates who commit to full-time employment for 12 months may qualify for a $10,000 recruitment bonus.
Highlights:
- Must complete an approved PSW program on or after April 1, 2023.
- Begin employment between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
- Also available to previously trained PSWs who have not worked in direct care for the past 12 months.
3. Rural, Remote and Northern Incentives – Up to $20,000 Extra
To encourage PSWs to support underserved communities, additional funding is available:
- Relocation Support: $10,000 for moving 100 km or more for employment.
- Rural, Remote and Northern Community Incentive: $10,000 for working in a community with a Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO) score of 40 or higher.
Eligible PSWs can combine these incentives with the $10,000 recruitment bonus — creating a possible total of $30,000 in support.
Who is Eligible (Students & Graduates)
For Students:
- Must be enrolled in a PSW program at a publicly assisted college, private career college, district school board, or Indigenous Institute.
- Placement must be with a participating employer.
- Placement must start on or after April 1, 2025.
For Graduates:
- Must complete an approved PSW program on or after April 1, 2023.
- Must accept employment with a participating employer between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
- Must commit to 12 months of full-time work.
- Graduates willing to relocate or serve in rural/northern communities may be eligible for up to an additional $20,000.
How to Apply / Where to Get Help
For Students
- Confirm that your clinical placement site is a participating employer.
- Your stipend will be processed through the long-term care home or community care agency where you complete your placement.
For Graduates
- Complete the PSW Expression of Interest Form through Ontario Health.
- This connects you with participating employers, job search support, and program updates.
- Once hired, the participating employer coordinates the incentive payment.
Info for Employers
Employers must meet the following criteria to participate:
- Must be a publicly funded long-term care home or home and community care organization in Ontario.
- Must submit an Employer Application Form to Ontario Health, even if previously approved under the PSW Return of Service program.
- Must commit to offering full-time positions to eligible PSWs for at least 12 months.
Employers in northern or rural regions are especially encouraged to apply, as additional funding is available for recruitment in those areas.
FAQs
How much funding can PSWs receive in Ontario in 2025?
PSW students can receive up to $5,440 during clinical placement. Graduates can receive a $10,000 recruitment incentive and may also qualify for up to $20,000 in rural, remote, or northern incentives, for a total of $30,000.
Who is eligible for the $10,000 recruitment bonus?
Graduates who complete an approved PSW training program on or after April 1, 2023, and begin full-time work with a participating employer between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, are eligible.
Can previously trained PSWs apply?
Yes. If you have not worked in a direct care role for at least the past 12 months, you may still qualify for the $10,000 recruitment bonus.
How do I know if my community qualifies for the rural/northern incentive?
Communities with a Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO) score of 40 or higher qualify. Employers can confirm eligibility through Ontario Health.