How Employers Can BEGIN

The Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) program is a partnership between WeRPN and the Ontario Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care. BEGIN is designed to improve nurse recruitment and retention, providing nurses with meaningful career opportunities in the Long-Term Care (LTC) and Home and Community Care (HCC) sectors.

What is BEGIN?

BEGIN provides tuition reimbursement grants to eligible students enrolled in PSW-RPN, PSW-RN and RPN-RN programs, eliminating the financial barriers for them to expand their nursing careers and invest in their futures. Students may enroll in an eligible nursing program on a full-time or part-time basis, providing them with the flexibility to continue their employment.

How Does BEGIN Work With Ontario’s LTC and HCC Sectors?

BEGIN is designed to help PSWs and RPNs expand their careers and connect them with employers in Long-Term Care and Home and Community Care. Students who have received BEGIN tuition reimbursement grants commit to working in Ontario’s LTC or HCC sectors after their program is complete. Upon graduation, BEGIN participants will fulfill a contractual employment commitment (Return of Service), working one year for every year they’ve received funding. New graduates are provided with resources and education to support the transition to practice.

How Will BEGIN Benefit My Workplace?

  • Foster career growth and educational development
  • Expand your team’s knowledge and skills
  • Tap into a dedicated pool of candidates committed to working in your sector
  • Support recruitment and retention efforts

How Can I Hire Through BEGIN?

Create a FREE account to start posting your job openings to the BEGIN job board. Your job openings will be shared directly with candidates who have committed to finding employment in Long-Term Care or Home and Community Care upon graduation.

Where Can I Get More Information About BEGIN?

Download this toolkit to get more information on how BEGIN is improving nurse recruitment and retention in Ontario’s LTC and HCC sectors, and learn more about how you can get involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) program?

In partnership with the Government of Ontario, WeRPN’s BEGIN program builds bridges for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) to explore new professional pathways in the Long-Term Care (LTC) and Home and Community Care (HCC) sectors in Ontario. BEGIN provides tuition reimbursements to eligible students enrolled in PSW-RPN and RPN-RN programs, removing the financial barriers for them to invest in their future.

What is covered in the tuition reimbursement?

Direct tuition fees are covered, ancillary fees are not covered.

Get In Touch

Interested in connecting and learning more about BEGIN, or having someone speak with your team?

The BEGIN Program is a partnership between