- Level
- 1-Year Graduate Certificate
- CIP code
- 51.1599
- Duration
- 1 year graduate certificate
- Field
- Health and Medical Sciences
- Institution
- Public College
- Offer speed
- Superfast Offer Speed2–3 days
Program overview
A one year graduate certificate in mental health practice, covering addiction and concurrent disorders, assessment, harm reduction, crisis response and supervised applied practice.
This asks 70 percent rather than the 50 that most Brantford programmes require, reflecting the clinical judgement the work demands.
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Substance Use is taught at Conestoga College Brantford campus, a public Ontario college. The mental health and substance use certificate sits below degree level, so a work permit depends on its field of study. Conestoga records the mental health and substance use certificate under CIP 51.1599 and lists it among its PGWP-aligned programmes, which supports a permit of up to one year. IRCC alone decides, so verify 51.1599 against the current eligible list before paying for the mental health and substance use certificate. Ontario also requires a provincial attestation letter before the mental health and substance use certificate can support a study permit.
Applicants to Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Substance Use need a completed undergraduate diploma or equivalent with a minimum of 70 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, and tuition for the mental health and substance use certificate is recorded at CAD 15,844. Conestoga charges a CAD 100 application fee, and no scholarship is recorded against the mental health and substance use certificate. The mental health and substance use certificate lists four entry windows across the three annual starts. Apply Study Visa manages your the mental health and substance use certificate application, the deposit, the offer, the attestation letter 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: A completed undergraduate diploma or equivalent, at the percentage stated.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 88 with 22 in every section; PTE Academic 58 with no component below 10; or the Duolingo English Test at 120.
- Application and deposit: Conestoga charges a CAD 100 application fee. Confirm the tuition deposit and its refundability in writing before any money is transferred.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded against this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Additional requirement: A vulnerable sector police check applies to placements. Regulated counselling and psychotherapy titles in Ontario require separate registration with the applicable college.
- Work rights: Conestoga lists the mental health and substance use certificate as PGWP-aligned under CIP 51.1599, supporting a work permit of up to one year. Verify the code against the IRCC list before paying. A PGWP also requires a language test at CLB 5 in all four abilities for college credentials, taken within two years of applying. This is separate from the English test you need for admission. No dependant work permit.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa prepares the attestation letter request, the financial evidence and the Canadian study permit submission with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- Bachelor's degree marksheets & final certificate
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
- Updated CV / resume
- 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:
- Mental Health Worker: community and residential services
- Addictions Counsellor: treatment programmes
- Crisis Support Worker: crisis services
- Case Manager: health and social agencies
- Harm Reduction Worker: outreach programmes
- Program Coordinator: after experience
Reality check: this work carries real emotional demand and modest pay, so consider honestly whether the setting suits you before committing.
About Conestoga College - Brantford
- Type
- College
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.7
- Established
- 1967
- Reference No.
- O19376158572
