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Community Service Worker with Addictions Worker Specialty

About the Program

The Community Service Worker with Addictions Worker Specialty diploma program equips you to administer social assistance programs while specializing in addictions counselling and support. In 45 weeks, you'll combine comprehensive CSW training with specialized Addictions Worker Levels 1, 2, and 3 certification, plus clinical placement experience to work in rehabilitation centres, addictions clinics, mental health agencies, and community service settings across BC.

This specialized program goes beyond general community services to provide advanced training in mental health and addictions support. Academy of Learning provides financial aid guidance for qualified students and job placement assistance to help you succeed from enrollment through employment. You'll master case management, counselling techniques, and evidence-based practices for working with individuals facing substance abuse, concurrent disorders, and complex mental health challenges—while gaining the foundational CSW competencies in psychology, sociology, criminology, and working with at-risk populations.

Specialized Training, Higher Earning Potential

Complete Addictions Worker Levels 1, 2, and 3 certification alongside CSW training—specialized credentials that open doors to higher-paying positions in growing sectors addressing substance abuse, mental health, and community rehabilitation needs.

What You'll Learn

Specialized addictions training - Complete Addictions Worker Levels 1, 2, and 3 certification plus introduction to mental health and addictions, advanced case management techniques, specialized counselling approaches, ethics in addictions work, and strategies for working with at-risk populations
CSW clinical foundations - Psychology fundamentals, sociology and family life in Canada, life-span development, criminology and at-risk populations, business communication and report writing, and comprehensive understanding of government and social services systems
Professional certifications - Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer (Level C) CPR certification, Microsoft Office Suite proficiency (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook), professional development strategies, and comprehensive job search techniques
Clinical placement experience - Hands-on preceptorship at an approved addictions or mental health facility, available at 6 BC campus locations: Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, Vancouver Broadway Station, and Victoria Westshore

Career Opportunities

Addictions Workers and specialized Community Service Workers fill critical roles in rehabilitation centres, mental health facilities, and community support organizations.

Career paths include:

Addictions Worker - Provide specialized support in public/private addictions counselling clinics and substance abuse centres
Mental Health Support Worker - Work in mental health centres, rehabilitation centres, and hospitals supporting individuals with concurrent disorders
Community Rehabilitation Specialist - Support youth protection services, correctional facilities, community housing programs, and emergency relief services

Salary Range: $33,677 – $71,111 annually (Information from PayScale Canada)

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Provincial Funding

Looking for student aid options offered by your local province? Choose your province of residence below to check out provincial funding options such as grants, loans, scholarships, and bursaries.

*All student funding, whether made available privately or through various government branches, is only approved to those who qualify, by the original source of funding. There are many criteria that each candidate must meet to be approved. Schools can only inform you of what may be available.