Updated December 2023
The healthcare field is growing fast. And you don’t need a university degree to become part of it.
With short, streamlined training at the college level, you can qualify for several healthcare careers with promising outlooks across Ontario.
For instance, you could become a community services worker, medical office assistant, or personal support worker. All of those careers are generating new opportunities—and require only a college diploma to get started.
Read on to learn more about each role and see which one may be a good choice for you.
HEALTHCARE CAREER #1: COMMUNITY SERVICES WORKER (CSW)
Community services workers help people who are struggling with addiction, homelessness, abuse, poor mental health, unemployment, and other issues.
They assess each person’s needs and connect them with the resources and supports they need to overcome their challenges. The goal is to help vulnerable people move toward a safer, healthier, and more independent life.
Career Outlook
The Government of Canada Job Bank gives community service workers four stars for outlook and growth in Ontario. That's the Job Bank's second-highest rating.
And the Ontario government estimates that there could be as many as 15,000 openings for CSWs throughout the province between 2023 and 2027.
Training Requirements
A CSW diploma at a healthcare college takes about a year to complete.
Courses typically cover:
- The social programs and resources that are available locally
- The fundamentals of psychology, sociology, and criminology
- Common mental health issues and treatments
- Interviewing and counselling
- Supporting individuals and families in crisis
Herzing graduate Sarah Laham says the program gave her valuable skills. "I developed a broader mindset when approaching people from vulnerable sectors. I found that the family dynamics course was very good at opening my mind to that. I consider myself a pretty empathetic person, but the program definitely opened up a lot more empathy and understanding," she says.
"It was an eye-opening experience when we did the interview course. We had to reach out to different organizations to do a mock interview to see how their organization runs. I was looking up so many different organizations that I didn’t even know existed in my own city."
HEALTHCARE CAREER #2: MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT (MOA)
Medical office assistants are the people behind the counter who greet patients arriving at a healthcare facility.
They handle a wide range of administrative tasks that help doctors and nurses deliver effective patient care. That includes answering phones, booking appointments, updating patient charts, ordering supplies, processing billing, and stocking exam rooms.
Career Outlook
The provincial government says jobs for medical administrative assistants are expected to increase by 13 per cent over the period from 2023 to 2027. That means as many as 4,000 jobs for MOAs could become available.
Training Requirements
College-level training in medical office administration can be completed in well under a year. In Herzing's program, you can expect to learn how to:
- Understand medical terminology
- Use standard medical office software
- Prepare patient charts and reports
- Manage a reception desk
- Process billing and insurance
Herzing graduate Priscilla Grant says the training matched her goals perfectly. “I chose the medical office administrator program because I love helping people, but I am scared of needles and not fond of bodily fluids. So becoming a nurse or doctor wasn’t right for me," she explains.
"I had a very good experience in the MOA program. We did a lot of hands-on, practical assignments. It really helped me get a better understanding of the material.”
HEALTHCARE CAREER #3: PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER (PSW)
Personal support workers assist with essential tasks like moving around, bathing, eating, using the toilet, and taking medications. They also help with housekeeping, running errands, and getting to appointments.
PSWs typically work with seniors, but their clients can include people of any age who struggle due to illness, injury, or disability.
Career Outlook
There’s a huge need for personal support workers all across Ontario. The provincial government expects employment in this occupation to grow by 13 per cent through 2027, with as many as 3,000 PSW jobs opening up.
Training Requirements
You can be fully trained in a matter of months. Herzing’s PSW program is less than a year long.
Your courses will show you how to:
- Understand anatomy and physiology
- Lift and transfer patients safely
- Help patients with grooming and personal hygiene
- Recognize and document changes in a client’s health
- Support patients who are dying
Graduate Pauline Hughes-Derome says Herzing’s program included valuable hands-on training. “We had mannequins and hospital beds, so we could practise our techniques. We learned how to move people who are paralyzed, how to make beds, bathe clients, and the importance of hygiene," she told us.
"We even went to a place that sells patient lifts so we could practise on the real equipment they use in hospitals and care homes.”
TAKE A SHORT ROUTE TO AN IN-DEMAND HEALTHCARE CAREER
At Herzing College, we offer a range of diploma programs that can help you qualify for growing healthcare careers.
All of our healthcare programs are led by experienced instructors and include internships in local clinics, hospitals, care homes, or community organizations.
Click below to learn more about our programs and chat live with an admissions advisor. We’re here to help!
