- Level
- 2-Year UG Diploma
- CIP code
- 19.0708
- Duration
- 24 Months
- Field
- Early Childhood and Primary Education
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A two year diploma preparing graduates to support children and young people in difficulty, covering developmental theory, trauma informed practice, counselling skills, group work, safeguarding and supervised field placements.
Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor carries additional screening beyond marks: a Police Information Check and an Intervention Record Check are required, and the September 2026 intake is recorded as open only to onshore students already holding a study permit.
Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor is delivered by Medicine Hat College, a designated learning institution in Alberta. Because Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor is a two year diploma rather than a degree, the Canadian field of study requirement applies, which means the Post-Graduation Work Permit depends on this programme sitting inside an eligible field at the moment you apply. The source records Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor as PGWP eligible, but that list is revised, so confirm it in writing before you pay a deposit. A Provincial Attestation Letter is also required.
Admission to Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor requires Grade 12 or Class 12 with 65 percent. Grade 12 English Language Arts is required at 70 percent, higher than the overall bar. The English requirement is IELTS 7.0 with no band below 7.0, and tuition for Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor is recorded at CAD 16,855 a year with a CAD 125 application fee. No scholarship is recorded. The only entry point listed is September 2027. Apply Study Visa manages the Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor application, the deposit, the letter of acceptance and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 or Class 12 at 65 percent or above, with Grade 12 English Language Arts at 70 percent or higher.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 7.0 with no band below 7.0; TOEFL iBT 5.0 with no band below 4.5 on the scale in force from 21 January 2026, or 92 with 23 in each section on the earlier scale; or the Duolingo English Test at 120. PTE Academic 64 is accepted ONLY alongside a second exam that carries a spoken language requirement, so PTE on its own is not enough for this programme. CAEL is not accepted at this level. TOEFL scoring changed on 21 January 2026. Scores from tests taken on or after that date are read on the new scale; a result from an earlier test is read on the old one.
- Application and deposit: An application fee of CAD 125 applies. The cross check source records an initial deposit of CAD 15,000, which is far larger than the deposit most Canadian colleges ask for and should be confirmed in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded for this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Additional requirement: A Police Information Check and an Intervention Record Check are required. The September 2026 intake is recorded as open only to onshore students holding a valid study permit.
- Work permit: Diploma in Child and Youth Care Counsellor is a two year diploma, not a degree, so the field of study test applies and PGWP eligibility must be confirmed in writing for your intake before you commit. A Provincial Attestation Letter is required. No spousal open work permit arises from this programme.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa handles the provincial attestation letter, the study permit application and the biometrics appointment with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Child and Youth Care Worker: residential and community programmes
- Youth Justice Worker: provincial services
- School Support Worker: behaviour and wellbeing teams
- Group Home Worker: residential care
- Family Support Worker: child welfare agencies
- Further Study: social work degree completion
Reality check: roles in this field require police and child welfare record checks that are assessed on Canadian records, and applicants with any relevant history should raise it before applying rather than at placement stage.
About Medicine Hat College
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- World rank
- #18392
- Reference No.
- O18795445892
