Challenge your potential, while making a difference, with a rewarding career in the healthcare sector. Take advantage of our small class sizes to get the attention and guidance you need from our highly-skilled instructors.
This 47-week diploma program will help you develop group-facilitation skills as well as entry-level skills in 1-to-1 counselling. Aside from classes on addiction, pharmacology, treatment planning, and counselling, you will also take courses on digital literacy, student success strategies, and career planning. Cap off your program with an 8-week internship to earn valuable hands-on experience that employers seek.
This Addiction Worker program is offered online through live, instructor-led sessions that combine the flexibility of online learning with real-time interaction and support from experienced instructors. During the course of the program, students can access campus support at several locations, including Toronto, London, Mississauga, Brampton, Kitchener, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Windsor, ensuring they receive the assistance they need.
Career Opportunities
As an Addiction Worker graduate, you will qualify for positions such as: Addiction Worker, Distress Centre Support Worker, Group Home Worker, and Outreach Worker.
Note that some career options may require advanced degrees, further training or experience.
Employers Who Have Hired triOS Grads
YMCA
Canadian Centre for Addictions
Social Services
Toronto Community Housing
McMaster Children’s Hospital
United Way Toronto
Goodwill Toronto
HIV/AIDS Connection
Salary
93%
Employment Rate
$26
Average Wage/HR**
$37
High Wage/HR**
*Employment Rate based on 2023 contactable triOS graduates employed in a related field within 12 months.
Source: workingincanada.gc.ca
NOC Code: 42201 - **Wage data rounded down to the nearest dollar. Average wage doesn't reflect the starting salary but represents the middle value between lowest to highest wages. Local (or regional) income may vary. Last updated in March 2025.
Are you interested in helping victims of substance abuse? Do you want to address issues like addiction and bring forward change in peoples’ lives? If so, then the Addiction Worker program is just what you need to kickstart your career into this rewarding field.
This program is designed to provide you with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills required for employment as an Addiction Worker. You will learn to apply the principles of addiction, pharmacology and structured relapse prevention planning. You will gain practical skills in intake, assessment, motivational interviewing and treatment planning with a strong emphasis on case management and professional ethics. Course coverage includes an in-depth study of family dynamics and addiction as well as special populations: First Nations and other ethnic/cultural groups, youth, sexual minorities, elderly, concurrent disorders, homeless, gender (women), crime, HIV/AIDS and suicidal clients. Principles of communication are explored in great depth and students will explore anger and stress management techniques. A strong focus is given to presentation skills, Microsoft Office applications, documentation and record keeping, the ability to multitask and prioritize, organizational and detail skills, professional telephone manner, confidentiality, interpersonal skills and being a team player.
Students enrolled in the program receive:
Microsoft Office and Windows are included in the tuition costs.
Course Listings
Addiction Worker Career Planning
This overview of the Addiction Worker field of practice will include ethical codes, core competencies, and professional identity. You will review and examine their National Occupation Code, main requirements of employment in substance use modes of treatment, and professional regulatory standards (including the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation credentials). You will consider your place in the social services realm by discussing the general outcomes of working with people who use substances, their family members, and interdisciplinary teams.
Addiction Worker Internship
Upon successful completion of classroom hours of this program, you will be placed in a 12-week, 300-hour internship at an outside organization. You will have the opportunity to apply your new and developed skills within an organization that offers an in-patient recovery program, an outpatient facility/clinic, or with another community partner such as group therapy services or soup kitchens.
Case Management
In this course, you will follow simulated case loads to document client progress over time. Practical deliverables include intake forms, case notes, progress notes, legal forms, medical documentation, and termination notes. You will explore digital case management software and electronic files. The course also reviews the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) Code of Ethics, and reporting requirements. To uphold your ethical obligation to human rights, you will have an opportunity to receive a certification in Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) from the Government of Ontario.
Counselling and Trauma Informed Care
This course provides an overview of supportive interpersonal techniques that are focused on assisting individuals with specific goals by using effective communication, empathy, and relationship-building with clients. Using a person-centred approach to care, you will explore these techniques, along with motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, and solution-focused therapy modes. Upon completion of this course, you will learn about the importance of empathy in a helping relationship, and address confidentiality, informed consent, and ethical decision-making. You will receive an opportunity to obtain certification in Verbal Intervention Strategies (Crisis Prevention Institute) and Trauma and Violence Informed Care.
Career Planning and Preparation - Level 1
This course will introduce you to and provide practice in using the tools required for a successful job search. The concepts covered in this course will help you maintain a career-focused approach throughout your studies so that you are better prepared to conduct a job search after graduating. Specifically, you will learn how to identify your soft and hard skills and how to articulate your abilities in a clear and concise Elevator Pitch that will appeal to employers and resonate with industry contacts. You will learn about the job search resources available to you including using career websites, creating LinkedIn profiles, accessing the “hidden” job market, and networking. You will examine sample résumés and cover letters and begin the process of creating your own professional résumés and cover letters that align with current conventions for content, organization, and formatting. You will also learn about the role of references, thank you letters, workplace philosophies, and strategies for success including maintaining a professional image and using proper etiquette when communicating with potential employers and industry contacts.
Career Planning and Preparation - Level 2
This module builds on concepts and skills introduced in the Career Planning and Preparation Level 1 module. In this subsequent module, you will update and refine your résumé and LinkedIn Profile. You will continue writing cover letters and learn the value of customizing cover letters to specific job postings. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge as you conduct a job search and write a cover letter tailored to an ideal job post. Through research, you will create a list of top employers and target current industry opportunities. You will learn about current methods for applying to job postings using technology. You will also gain an understanding of the job interview process, typical interview questions and possible responses, and expectations of both the interviewer and interviewee. In addition, you will engage in practical application of the interview process through role-play. Topics such as negotiating salary, self-management, and on-the-job success for placements and post-graduate employment will also be covered.
Standard First Aid/CPR/WHIMIS
This course provides you with comprehensive CPR training. It includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines and meets federal and provincial regulations for Standard First Aid and CPR Level C. The course includes the following topics: preparing to respond; the EMS system; check, call, care; airway emergencies; breathing and circulation emergencies; first aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest; wound care; head and spine injuries; bone, muscle and joint injuries; sudden medical emergencies; environmental emergencies; and poisons. The WHMIS section of this course teaches you the basic elements of WHMIS 2015 and the Global Harmonization System. This covers the safety measures and guidelines to be followed when exposed to or working with hazardous materials.
Addiction, Crim and Psychology
This course examines the complex relationship between addiction and criminal behaviour, providing you with insights into how substance use disorders can influence involvement in criminal activities. You will explore the sociological, psychological, and legal factors that contribute to criminal behaviour in individuals with addictions. The course will cover topics such as the cycle of addiction and crime, the impact of drugs on decision-making and risk behaviours, and the role of the criminal justice system in addressing substance-related offenses. You will learn about various approaches to intervention and rehabilitation, including diversion programs, harm reduction, and community-based support initiatives. You will also delve into the impact of your personal attitudes and biases on your work while employing strategies for managing your personal beliefs in an Addiction Worker context.
Digital Literacy for Professionals
This course introduces essential concepts and principles for navigating and working in a digital environment. Key topics include using devices, managing information, creating and editing content, communicating and collaborating with digital tools, and ensuring online safety and responsibility. You will also apply best practices for folder organization and file naming conventions.
Family Dynamics and Addiction
This course focuses on understanding the impact of substance use within the family system. You will explore the complexities of family dynamics, communication patterns, and the role of support networks in addiction treatment. This course emphasizes the importance of involving families in identification, intervention, and recovery processes.
Introduction to Mental Health for Addiction Workers
In this course, you will focus on the mental health system in Canada, including its history and current delivery model and structure. You will also explore ethical and legal considerations in the mental health system and how to assess and intervene using the Recovery Model. The importance of community treatment, self-determination, and recovery-based, consumer-led programming are the main focus of the course.
Lifespan Psychology for Addictions
Lifespan Psychology explores developmental psychology, the study of age-related changes over the lifespan. Throughout this course, you will focus on critical periods where substance use becomes prominent in people's lives. You will focus on the aspects of prevention, intervention, and recurence of use throughout the lifespan. You will discover the normal and abnormal changes in physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and personality development in order to assess vulnerabilities and resiliencies within those who are affected by the use of drugs.
Pharmacology of Addictions
This course explores how psychoactive substances affect the brain, behaviour, and overall health. You will explore pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and specific drug classes relevant to addiction. You will deepen your understanding of the therapeutic and toxic effects of drugs, including endogenous and exogenous substances. The course also reviews the effects of drugs on the central and peripheral nervous systems. By examining the mechanisms of action, side effects, and interactions, you will gain essential knowledge for effective addiction counselling and harm reduction.
Professional Networking and Addiction Resources
This course provides an opportunity for you to conduct a research study on community agencies that are specific to the field of addictions. Throughout this course, you will discuss multidisciplinary approaches to addiction services, models of addictions, and resource mapping. You will also build a database of available resources in local communities and create a community resource list for addictions treatment.
Priority Populations
In this course you will explore priority populations and social concerns that affect individuals who use substances. Special focus will be on assessing and understanding the many layers of discrimination that create barriers to accessing service. Topics include housing, food security, employment, mental health, human trafficking, and the impact of involvement in the corrections system. You will have the opportunity to complete a certification in Helping Trafficked Persons.
Treatment and Relapse Prevention Planning
This course equips you with essential skills and knowledge for creating effective treatment and relapse prevention plans tailored to individuals who use substances. Emphasizing a client-centered approach, you will explore the stages of recovery, develop strategies for achieving long-term recovery goals, and learn to identify and address the warning signs of relapse. Through interactive lectures and case studies, you will gain practical experience in building comprehensive treatment plans that integrate therapeutic approaches, support networks, and lifestyle evaluation. This course also examines the role of co-occurring disorders, cultural competence, and trauma-informed care in preventing reoccurrence. By the end of this course, you will be prepared to work collaboratively with clients, creating personalized relapse prevention plans that support sustained recovery and overall well-being. You will also apply skills of grant writing to relieve gaps in service and have an opportunity to receive certification in Positive Space Training.
Secondary Traumatic Stress
This course provides an overview of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) from the perspective of the addiction worker and their relationships with clients. Among the topics you will examine are compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma, countertransference, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), supports, and barriers. You will gain a practical understanding of STS and will learn to integrate and apply healthy self-care principles to minimize the effects of STS on addiction workers and their clients.
Student Success Strategies
This course stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic, and career success. The course will address strategies that are important for all adult learners, such as managing finances, maintaining health and wellness, understanding learning styles, setting goals, and honing practical study skills (such as memory, reading, and test-taking techniques). In addition, this course emphasizes strategies needed to succeed in your program, such as navigating technology efficiently, interacting and engaging with peers and facilitators/instructors, and managing learning time and space.
Theories of Addiction
This course is an essential component to the field of addictions. You will explore key trends, analyze statistical data, and examine the societal implications related to substance abuse. The curriculum encompasses theoretical frameworks, evidence-based treatment modalities, and practical strategies for both prevention and intervention, and process addiction. The course also covers an overview of drug classifications and the addictive effects of various drugs. This course invites you to critically examine the relevance of addiction in our society and its profound impact on individuals. You will receive an opportunity to obtain Naloxone Administration training.
Admission Requirements
– High school graduation diploma, or Mature Student Status (for more information please refer to the Program Outline at the top of this page or speak to your Education Consultant)
– Student must provide a clear Vulnerable Sector Check.
Career Quiz
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