OSAP Pause at Ontario Career Colleges: What PSW Students Need to Know

Updated November 1, 2026

Ontario has paused OSAP payments to students at private career colleges, and the pause is expected to last until at least the new year. If you were planning to start a Personal Support Worker (PSW) program, you can still go ahead. You’ll just need to plan how to pay for it differently for now. Here’s what happened, who it affects and what your options are.

What happened to OSAP for career colleges?

The Ontario government is reviewing how OSAP has been used at private career colleges. Here’s the timeline so far:

• August 2026: The province hired KPMG to audit OSAP use at career colleges.
• October 6, 2026: Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn said OSAP payments would not go out to career college students while the audit continues. The province also referred some concerns to provincial police.
• October 20, 2026: The minister said the pause will stay in place until a new OSAP approval process for private institutions is ready, which isn’t expected before the new year. Ministry investigators have started in-person inspections at eight career colleges.
• Late October 2026: Career Colleges Ontario reported that some Better Jobs Ontario (formerly Second Career) funding for career college students has also been paused. The province has not publicly confirmed this.

The government says preliminary audit findings raised serious concerns at some schools. For example, seven career colleges received about $385 million in OSAP grants in 2024–25, about the same as all of Ontario’s public colleges combined.

Who is affected?

The pause applies to OSAP payments for students at all private career colleges in Ontario, not only the schools under investigation. It does not apply to public colleges such as Sheridan, Humber or Seneca.

The province has also said it plans to make online-only programs at private career colleges ineligible for OSAP again. Programs with in-person learning, such as hybrid PSW programs with clinical placements, are not the focus of that change. Details will depend on the final legislation.

Some students have been hit hard. One career college has suspended classes, and many students are cutting back to part-time or working more hours while they wait.

I want to become a PSW. What should I do now?

You don’t need to put your plans on hold. Ontario still needs tens of thousands more PSWs, and training now means you’ll be ready to work sooner. Here are your options:

1. Ask about payment plans. Many career colleges let you pay tuition in monthly installments.
2. Look at a bank student line of credit. Most major banks offer student lines of credit. The province has also said it is working on third-party bank loans for affected students.
3. Check with your employer. Some long-term care homes and home care agencies help pay for PSW training for staff who commit to working for them.
4. Talk to Employment Ontario. If you were applying for Better Jobs Ontario, ask your case worker for an update on your file before you change your plans.
5. Compare your choices. Public college PSW programs still accept OSAP, but they usually take longer and have fixed intake dates. Compare cost, length, schedule and start date before you decide.

Is a PSW career still worth it?

Yes. Government data reported by The Canadian Press shows Ontario expects to be short about 49,000 PSWs by 2027 and nearly 51,000 by 2032. PSWs work in long-term care, retirement homes, hospitals and home care across the province.

Ontario Health also offers new PSW graduates a recruitment incentive of up to $10,000 for committing to 12 months of full-time work with a participating employer. The current round covers jobs starting between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027, so check with Ontario Health for future rounds before counting on it.

How Toronto Academy can help

Our NACC Personal Support Worker program takes 24 weeks and includes 700 hours of training, with 300 hours of clinical placement in facility and community settings. Classes are hybrid, with morning and evening options, at our Mississauga campus.

• Next PSW intake: November 16, 2026
• Curriculum: NACC PSW DE 2022

Not sure how the OSAP pause affects you? Book a free call with our admissions team and we’ll go through your options, start dates and costs with you.

Frequently asked questions

Is OSAP cancelled for career colleges? No. It’s paused, not cancelled. The province says the pause will last until a new approval process for private institutions is ready, which is expected in the new year.

Can I still enrol in a PSW program at a career college? Yes. Career colleges are still enrolling students. You’ll need another way to pay, such as a payment plan, a student line of credit or employer support, until OSAP resumes.

Does the OSAP pause affect public colleges? No. The pause applies to private career colleges only.

Is Better Jobs Ontario funding also paused? Career Colleges Ontario says some Better Jobs Ontario funding for career college students has been paused, but the province hasn’t officially confirmed it. Ask your Employment Ontario case worker about your file.

How long does it take to become a PSW? At Toronto Academy, the PSW program takes 24 weeks, including 300 hours of clinical placement. Public college programs usually take about 8 months.