- Level
- 2-Year UG Diploma
- CIP code
- 51.1501
- Duration
- 24 Months
- Field
- Mental Health and Counseling
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
Program overview
A two year diploma preparing graduates to support people affected by substance use, covering addiction theory, counselling skills, group facilitation, mental health concurrent disorders, ethics and supervised field placements.
Diploma in Addictions Counselling carries an unusual personal condition. Applicants must not have been abusing alcohol or drugs for at least one year before applying, which reflects the nature of the supervised practice placements and the client groups students work with during them.
Diploma in Addictions Counselling is delivered by Medicine Hat College, a designated learning institution in Alberta. Because Diploma in Addictions Counselling 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 Addictions Counselling 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.
The academic bar for Diploma in Addictions Counselling is Grade 12 or Class 12 at 60 percent. Grade 12 English is required at 65 percent, above the overall bar. The English requirement is IELTS 6.0 with no band below 6.0, and tuition for Diploma in Addictions Counselling is recorded at CAD 16,527 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 Addictions Counselling 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 60 percent or above, with Grade 12 English at 65 percent.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 4.0 with no band below 4.0 on the scale in force from 21 January 2026, or 79 on the earlier scale; PTE Academic 54; or the Duolingo English Test at 105. CAEL 60 with no score below 50 and several Cambridge and Canadian benchmark tests are also accepted. 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: Applicants must not have been abusing alcohol or drugs for at least one year prior to applying. Further conditions apply to field placement.
- Work permit: Diploma in Addictions Counselling 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:
- Addictions Counsellor: community and residential programmes
- Support Worker: harm reduction services
- Case Manager: social service agencies
- Outreach Worker: street and community programmes
- Recovery Coach: private and non profit settings
- Further Study: social work or psychology degree completion
Reality check: this is emotionally demanding frontline work with modest pay, and Canadian employers place heavy weight on lived understanding of local services that takes time to build.
About Medicine Hat College
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- World rank
- #18392
- Reference No.
- O18795445892
