Your career starts here: the Living Classroom advantage
Why just study healthcare when you can live it?
Choosing where to start the journey as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) or Practical Nurse (PN) is a big decision. The Living Classroom (LC) is an innovative educational model that places students directly in long-term care homes from day one. In this program, each student is an integral part of a professional team, developing their skills through mentors and real-world interaction.
How the Living Classroom sets students up for success
The Living Classroom program equips students for a successful and rewarding healthcare career. We’ve moved learning into the heart of long-term care homes to give students an edge that traditional classrooms can’t match:
Developing compassion & leadership
Beyond clinical skills, students learn to cultivate empathy and leadership, preparing them to be change agents in the healthcare sector.
Be workplace-ready from day one
Students graduate with the clinical excellence and confidence that comes from immersive learning and real-world interaction.
Mentorship that matters
Students learn alongside seasoned professionals, residents, and families who share perspectives and are invested in each learner’s success.
Education in your community
Students can learn near where they live and where they want to work. In many cases, local LCs can make access easier, without travelling to a distant campus.
Immersive introductions to LTC employment
Students get to know the home, and the home’s team members get to know them. Many LC students are considered for employment by their host LTC home before they even graduate.
Modern learning environments
Our sites feature specialized skills labs where students can practice and refine their caregiving techniques in a supportive setting.
Wraparound support
To address barriers to accessible learning, some LCs can offer assistance to students who need special arrangements for a variety of obstacles, such as transportation, childcare, or food insecurity, to clear a path to graduation. These vary per LC funding and location.
High job security
There is a critical, growing demand for skilled PSWs and RPNs across Ontario, and the Living Classroom has a high success rate in both graduates and post-graduation job opportunities.
Government-funded excellence
This is a provincial priority program funded by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care. Led by the RIA in partnership with CESBA, ensuring expert oversight.
How to apply
Applications to the Living Classroom program are handled through our partnering education institutions (public colleges, school boards, career colleges, and Indigenous institutes). If you are interested in a Living Classroom education, use the map to find providers near you.
Student FAQ
Is the education provided at a Living Classroom the same quality as at a traditional school site?
Absolutely. The Living Classroom program is funded by the Government of Ontario, and our education partners all adhere to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCURES) education standards. Students receive the same curriculum, but with the added benefit of immediate practical application.
What are the job prospects after graduation?
There is a high demand for skilled healthcare providers in Ontario. Because students learn inside a long-term care home, they are often ideally positioned for hiring opportunities at that location or within the broader sector.
Is long-term care a safe and stable career path?
Yes, the sector is undergoing profound growth and innovation. The LC model is designed to ensure students are not only competent but also highly confident in their ability to provide safe, high-quality care.
How do students apply to a Living Classroom program?
Applications to the program are handled through our partnering educational institutions (Public Colleges, School Boards, Career Colleges, and Indigenous Institutes). Please refer to the current LC Map for details of an LC education provider near you.
Ready to start your career?
Find a Living Classroom near you.