PSW — healthcare
35 weeks Tuition $6,250 NACC certificate
Online classes + real placement at GTA care homes.
Better Jobs Ontario · was Second Career
Get up to $28,000 to train as a PSW or ECA
Ontario can pay your tuition — plus up to $500/week to live on while you train. Free help to apply.
$28,000 max support
$500/wk to live on, up to
Free application help
20 seconds · no personal details needed
Do I qualify for $28,000?
3 quick questions · 20 seconds
1 / 3
Are both statements true for you?
I live in Ontario
I am a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Which best describes your work situation?
EI, Ontario Works, or ODSP? You can still apply.
Is your household income low?
No need to check numbers. An advisor verifies it.
Which training do you want?
Interested in another program? Ask our admissions team — we’ll help match you with training that fits your goals.
Looks good
You may qualify for BJO
Employment Ontario makes the final decision. We get you ready for it — free:
- Free eligibility check with an advisor
- We fill the paperwork with you
- We prep you for the meeting
Needs a check
Maybe — let us check for you, free
Your case needs a closer look. An advisor checks it against the official rules — free, no strings. If BJO doesn't fit, we tell you straight.
Other options
BJO may not fit — you can still train
Most of our students pay monthly instead:
This is a quick guide, not a decision. Better Jobs Ontario decisions are made by the Government of Ontario through Employment Ontario. CanNorth College is registered as a career college under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Ontario.
Heard about the OSAP changes?
From August 1, 2026, career college students elsewhere get provincial OSAP as loans only — money you pay back. CanNorth doesn't use OSAP at all: our students use BJO (if they qualify) or a monthly plan. BJO money is not paid back.
What BJO can pay for
Up to $28,000 total. All of this, combined:
Tuition & books
Tuition, books, supplies.
Money to live on
Up to $500 a week while you train.
Transportation
Getting to and from class.
Extras
Childcare, English training, and more may be added.
Amounts are maximums set by the program; what you receive is decided case by case by the Ministry. Source: ontario.ca/page/better-jobs-ontario
Low tuition = more room for your living allowance
Tuition and living allowance share one $28,000 cap. Our tuition is low, so more fits:
Personal Support Worker (PSW)
BJO class · 35 weeks · NACC certificate
$0$28,000 cap
- Tuition $6,250
- Living allowance, up to (35 wks × $500) $17,500
- Room left for books & transportation ≈ $4,250
Tuition plus a full living allowance fits under the cap — with room to spare.
Early Childhood Assistant (ECA)
38 weeks · 1,000 hours · diploma
$0$28,000 cap
- Tuition $9,250
- Room for living allowance & other supports up to $18,750
Most of the cap stays available for your living supports.
Illustration only. Maximums are set by the program; the amounts you receive are decided case by case by the Ministry through Employment Ontario. Tuition shown matches the program fees published with ServiceOntario.
We help you apply — free
Four steps. We do the hard parts with you.
1
Free eligibility check
An advisor checks your answers against the official rules.
2
We do the paperwork
Every form and document, prepared with you.
3
Meeting prep
You apply through Employment Ontario. We get you ready.
4
Start training
Decision in hand, we walk you to day one.
Pick your training
Both fit BJO. Both under one year.
ECA — childcare
38 weeks Tuition $9,250 Diploma
Train for childcare centres. 480-hour internship in the GTA.
Find out in 20 seconds
3 questions. If BJO fits, we help you apply — free. If not, we show you other options.
Check If I Qualify — FreeOr call us at 905-305-9995
Better Jobs Ontario — your questions, answered
What is Better Jobs Ontario?
An Ontario government program (it used to be called Second Career). It gives eligible people up to $28,000 to retrain for in-demand jobs — tuition, books, transportation, and up to $500 a week to live on.
Who can get Better Jobs Ontario?
Two ways in: (1) you were laid off — even if you now work a temp job to pay bills; or (2) you have had no job for 12+ weeks and your household income is low. Protected persons (approved refugees) may also qualify — ask us. Employment Ontario makes the final decision.
I get EI, Ontario Works, or ODSP. Can I apply?
Yes. These benefits do not stop you from applying.
How does the $28,000 work?
Tuition, books, transportation, and the living allowance all come out of the same $28,000. Our PSW tuition is $6,250, so a full living allowance ($17,500) still fits — $23,750 total, under the cap. Exact amounts are decided by the Ministry.
Can I use BJO at CanNorth College?
Yes. Career colleges are eligible training providers under BJO. Your application includes a comparison of training options — we help you build it.
Can I use OSAP at CanNorth?
No — CanNorth College does not offer OSAP. Our students use Better Jobs Ontario (if they qualify) or a monthly payment plan. For context: from August 1, 2026, provincial OSAP at career colleges that do use it is loans only — no more provincial grants — while federal grants (up to $4,200/year) and loans remain. BJO is a separate program and is not affected.
What if my English isn't strong?
That's OK — BJO can also pay for English training. Your English level never changes your self-check result.
How do I apply?
Through an Employment Ontario office near you — not through the school. We get you ready for it: eligibility check, documents, and meeting prep, all free.
Does CanNorth decide if I get the money?
No. Only the Ministry, through Employment Ontario, decides. Nobody can guarantee approval — be careful with anyone who says they can.
What if I don't qualify?
You can still train. Most of our students pay monthly. Book a free consultation for the fee details.
CanNorth College is registered as a career college under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. The Personal Support Worker and Early Childhood Assistant programs are approved as vocational programs under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.
Better Jobs Ontario is a program of the Government of Ontario. Eligibility and funding decisions are made solely by the Ministry through Employment Ontario service providers. CanNorth College provides free application guidance but cannot guarantee funding approval. CanNorth College is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Ontario. Program information current as of July 2026; see ontario.ca for official program details.