Herzing Blog

Photo: Shannon McGrath in her personal support worker uniform

After working at Tim Hortons for 18 years, Shannon McGrath was ready for a change.

She wanted a job with more meaning. She wanted a career that felt challenging, where she could actually make people's lives better.

So, despite deep fears about returning to school, Shannon took a leap of faith and enrolled in the Personal Support Worker program at Herzing College Ottawa.

She struggled with a learning disability and battled with anxiety, but in the end, Shannon made it through.

In fact, she was so successful, she was offered a PSW job after her internship at Cité Parkway Retirement Residence, where she still works today.

We interviewed Shannon to get her review of the PSW program. We asked about her experience in class and how she feels about her new career.

Read on for the full story.

Photo: Community outreach workers distributing Naloxone kits to homeless people

Updated December 2024

Are you drawn to a career in social services, but don't know what types of jobs are available in this field? Or maybe you’re interested in becoming a community outreach worker, but need to know more about what the position involves.

You've come to the right place.

In this post, we'll break down exactly what a community outreach worker does, including the training, career options, and skills required for this position.

We'll also look at some recent job postings and salaries, so you can explore descriptions, employers, and typical pay for this work.

Get a complete overview of the profession, and see if becoming a community outreach worker is right for you.

Image: Volunteering and hands-on training are core components of a quality CSW course

Updated February 2024

Planning to become a community support worker (CSW)? You're on track to a rewarding career with many different job options.

Community services is a challenging, diverse, and quickly growing field. CSWs work in front-line roles, supporting vulnerable populations and helping people lead healthier more independent lives.

So how do you get started?

Your first step is find a quality community support worker course. There are quite a few colleges across Canada that offer this program. How do you know which one to choose?

While you should certainly take the time to do your own research, there are a few key factors that every good community support worker course should offer.

In this post, we outline all the features you should look for when researching CSW training options.

After reading, you will be much better prepared to find a great program to launch your career.

Updated December 2023

You’ve landed on this page because you’re interested in a career in healthcare. You’re drawn to roles where you can really help people and make a meaningful difference in their lives, but you don’t want to spend years at university earning a degree. 

Community support worker (CSW) and health care aide (HCA) are two excellent alternatives. Both are front-line roles with positive impact. Both are in demand. And you can train for either career in 12 months or less. 

Which path should you choose? Which role suits you best? 

In this post, we’ll walk you through the main differences between community support workers and health care aides. You will learn how training, job responsibilities, skills, and career options vary between these two roles. By the end, you’ll know which path is right for you and exactly how to get started. 

Updated January 2024

Do you look forward to your doctor and dentist appointments? Probably not. In fact, if you’re like most people, you find the whole process pretty stressful.  Let’s face it—the clinic isn’t really our favourite place to be.   

But a skilled and friendly medical office assistant (MOA) can make a huge difference when you're feeling anxious. MOAs are the first person we interact with at our appointments, and they can set the tone for the whole visit.  

They do a lot of important work both up front and behind the scenes to ensure the clinic runs smoothly and feels less stressful.

Your daily routine will vary a bit, depending on where you work (type of clinic, hospital, etc.). But there are certain procedures you will perform on a regular basis no matter where you work. 

Here's a look at a typical day for a medical office assistant. 

Updated December 2024

Many different factors come into play when you’re deciding on a career path. On the one hand, there are practical matters like salary, job description, and career outlook. On the other hand, there’s your interest in the role and whether doing this work will make you truly happy and fulfilled. 

Wondering if medical office administration is a good career choice for you? You need to think it through from all the angles—practical and personal. 

Students practising health care aide techniques at Herzing College Winnipeg

Updated March 2023

Are you considering becoming a health care aide? Chances are, you have probably already started researching health care aide courses in Winnipeg. The city has several colleges that offer this program, so there are many options to choose from.

Most health care aide programs deliver similar courses and teach similar skills. They take the same amount of time to complete, include an internship, and promise good employment opportunities after graduation.

If programs are so similar, how do you know which college offers the best health care aide course?

You need to find the school that goes above and beyond basic requirements. You want the highest quality training delivered by the most experienced instructors.

Most importantly, you want a program that includes additional instruction in cutting-edge skills employers really want.

Over the years, Herzing College has developed a reputation for exceptional health care aide training. That's because we have some very special people developing and teaching this course.

Updated December 2024

It’s hard to imagine how a hospital or clinic could run without skilled medical office administrators (MOAs). 

Whether they’re working behind the scenes as medical transcriptionists or right up front at clinic reception, MOAs bring order and stability to our healthcare system. 

They put anxious patients at ease and help doctors stay on schedule. They prepare medical documents and keep patient records up to date. 

MOAs help “connect the dots” between patients, nurses, doctors, and specialists. That’s why good MOAs are always in demand. 

Considering this career and wondering about employment options? In this post, we compare three very common medical office administration jobs and salaries. 

Find out where medical office administrators work and learn more about how to start a career in this field.

Updated December 2024

Want a career in healthcare that involves working directly with patients but doesn't require a university degree? Looking to work in a professional setting where you can use your excellent organization and people skills?

Medical office administration could be a good fit.

This role combines office management with front-line patient care. You can work at a hospital, private clinic, or nursing home as an important member of the health care team.

But what exactly does this position involve? What will it take to start your career?

Follow these five simple steps to learn more about the field. Find out if becoming a medical office assistant is right for you and how to get started.

Photo: Krizia Mae Macusi at Hillel Lodge where she was hired as a Personal Support Worker after graduating from Herzing last May.