Tier 1 — Palliative Care Foundations

6 Weeks | Live Online

Foundational training in supportive, non-medical palliative care for those called to serve at the bedside and within families.

What Tier 1 is

Tier 1 introduces the core relational and communication competencies required to support individuals and families through serious illness, aging, and end-of-life transitions.

Rooted in the lineage of community-based companioning and aligned with modern supportive-care standards, this course prepares you to offer steady, ethical, emotionally grounded presence in non-medical settings.

This is where the professional pathway begins.

Who Tier 1 is For

Tier 1 is appropriate for:

• Individuals drawn to bedside and family support
• Those exploring non-medical palliative roles
• Caregivers seeking structured training
• Wellness and support professionals expanding their scope
• Volunteers preparing for hospice or community work
• Family members wanting deeper understanding of end-of-life care

No clinical background required.

What You Will Learn 

Tier 1 builds foundational competence in:

• Compassionate presence and emotional steadiness
• Communication during difficult conversations
• Understanding the palliative landscape
• Supporting families through uncertainty and change
• Boundaries and ethical non-medical scope
• Recognizing when to refer
• The Adaptive Patient & Family-Centered Care Model (APFCCM)
• The evolution of doula companioning within modern supportive systems

You will develop clarity about your role and confidence in how to show up.

Your Weekly Rhythm

Live online sessions
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM MST
OR
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM MST

Two scheduling options are offered.
You attend one session per week.

Recordings are available for integration and review.

Program Structure 

Duration: 6 Weeks
Session Length: 90 minutes per week
Delivery: Live online

Successful completion of Tier 1 qualifies you to progress to Tier 2.

Tier sequencing applies throughout the pathway.

Certification

Upon completion, you receive:

Certificate: Palliative Care Foundations

Graduates of Tier 1 may use the CSPE role designation:

PCLW — Palliative Care Liaison Worker

This designation reflects completion of defined supportive-care competencies within a non-medical scope.

Admissions & Expectations 

Tier 1 requires:

• Live participation in weekly sessions
• Openness to reflective and relational learning
• Emotional readiness to engage in supportive-care content
• Commitment to practicing within ethical, non-medical boundaries

This program is educational and non-clinical.

Tuition & Payment Options 

Tuition: $1,487 CAD

Payment Plan:
2 equal payments of $743.50
• Payment 1 at registration
• Payment 2 three weeks later

GST included.

Progression

Tier 1 is the prerequisite for Tier 2 — Advanced Supportive Palliative Care Practices.

Progression details are shared within the Tier 1 cohort.