Ontario’s Only CACCF-Accredited Post-Graduate Diploma in Addictions & Mental Health
You have the empathy and the drive. We give you the knowledge.
92 weeks | 21 months | 6 Ontario campuses |
Full eligibility for the Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC) designation
Program Overview
Did you know: Mental illness affects about 1 in every 5 Canadians at some point in their lifetime. Now you can fulfill your passion and make a genuine difference in the lives of others.
Oxford College’s Addictions and Mental Health (AMH) diploma program prepares you with the knowledge and skills to advance your career in healthcare or social services.
- Acquire hands-on experience through field placement
- Learn how to deliver effective, culturally relevant and responsive support
- Gain knowledge of counselling based on the “Twelve Core Functions”
Important:
This is a post-graduate program for working professionals ready to advance into clinical counselling.
The only Post-Graduate Diploma
The only career college in Ontario with CACCF- accreditation
$53,040
median annual salary (according to the Government of Canada Job Bank)
400 hrs
supervised field placement at MCU-approved sites
6
Ontario campuses (Barrie, Burlington, Mississauga, Peterborough, Scarborough, Toronto)
1 in 5 Canadians Is Affected by Mental Illness
It could be a colleague, a neighbour, or a family member. It is the person who will sit across from you in a counselling room and ask for help.
Ontario’s mental health spending is projected to grow by 5.4% each year through 2027–28. Since the pandemic, there is a great demand for trained, qualified counsellors.
More people are reaching out. More workplaces and communities are asking for help. The need is real and growing. The people who do this work need more than good intentions. They need clinical training, a recognized credential, and the practical experience to handle what is needed. That is what we are here to provide.
Graduate With Full CCAC Eligibility | Get the Credential That Gives You the Clinical Roles
The Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC) designation is the standard recognized by hospitals, government agencies, mental health centres, and corrections facilities across Ontario. It is what employers look for when hiring clinical counsellors. Our graduates are eligible for full CCAC certification upon graduation.
Shorter programs graduate students at the Associate Addiction Counsellor (AAC) level. AAC holders can apply for support roles. But CCAC-eligible graduates can apply for clinical counsellor positions, with higher pay and recognition.
To earn your CCAC after graduating, you complete your board exam after two years of full-time work, or 4,000 hours over five years. You can only do that if you graduated from a CACCF-accredited institution that covers The 12 Core Functions.
We are the only Career College in Ontario that qualifies. Our 92-week program is built for people who are already working in a related field and want to advance, not for those just starting out.
The 12 Core Functions
- Screening
- Intake
- Orientation
- Assessment
- Treatment Planning
- Counselling
- Case Management
- Crisis Intervention
- Client Education
- Referral
- Report and Record Keeping
- Consultation with Other Professionals
How Oxford Compares
There are several Addiction and Mental Health programs available in Ontario. Private alternatives are entry-level programs that accept Grade 12 graduates.
We are the only Career College offering this program as a post-graduate diploma with CACCF accreditation and full CCAC eligibility.
| FACTOR | Oxford College | Public Colleges | Other Career Colleges |
| Credential | Post-grad diploma | Grad cert (public) | Grad cert (public) |
| CACCF accredited | Yes | Standards aligned | Not surfaced |
| CCAC eligible | Full CCAC | Aligned | Not surfaced |
| Placement hours | 400 | 490 | 280 |
| Campuses | 6 across Ontario | 1-4 | 1-4 |
| Online delivery | Theory online, placement in person | No | Fully online stream |
| Tuition | $27,605 all-in | $5,026 | ~$15,000 |
The median annual salary for this role in Ontario is $53,040 (Government of Canada Job Bank). The total cost of the program is $27,605, which means you earn it back in about 6 months of working full-time.
Most graduates start earning around $45,000. At mid-career, salaries grow to around $53,000. Senior roles and private practice can reach $65,000 or more.
Why Choose Oxford College?
Here is what Oxford College brings to your training:
Career-Focused Education
Every diploma program is designed for long-term careers in high-growth fields
Experienced instructors
Faculty with real industry backgrounds who are focused on getting you workforce-ready
Easy campus access
All six campuses are located along transit hubs
Flexible start dates
Monthly intakes so you can begin when you are ready
Smaller class sizes
More engagement, more time with your instructor
Financial aid support
Dedicated advisors to help you find a funding plan that works
Where Our Graduates Work
Our students complete their 400-hour placement with confirmed, esteemed partners across Ontario.
Majestic Minds (Mental Health & Autism Services)
Alpha House
Shining Stars Support Services
Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration
SACHSS
Counselling and Rehabilitation Services Inc.
Hearts and Mind
Open Minds
National Overdose Response Service (NORS)
Testimonial
“Joining Oxford College was one of the greatest decisions I have made. I feel so fortunate to be one of your students. The style and method of teaching tells me that I am on the right track towards my career in addictions and mental health counselling.”
Abdelgadir Gadam
Oxford College Graduate
Accreditations and Affiliations
Accredited by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF)
Graduates eligible for the Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor (CCAC) designation
Registered under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005
Affiliated with GC Tactical
Member, Career Colleges Ontario (CCO)
Field placement sites approved by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU)
Curriculum designed by subject matter mental health experts across Canada
Accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Affiliated with Enriched Academy
Member, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
Our students train for CPR in this program
How Does The Program Work?
The program is delivered over 92 weeks to give students the time needed to build strong counselling skills and gain meaningful experience across all 12 Core Functions recognized within the addiction and mental health field. Throughout the program students complete 400 hours of supervised field placement while working toward the educational and placement requirements associated with the CACC (Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification) designation.
Built for flexibility the program is delivered primarily online through live instructor-led classes. Students attend four hours of scheduled online learning each day. Morning sessions afternoon sessions and evening sessions are available so students can fit their studies around work family responsibilities and other commitments. The only in-person requirements are an eight-hour CPR and First Aid certification course and a 12-week supervised field placement completed near the end of the program. The field placement experience gives students the opportunity to put their learning into practice in a real workplace setting.
During placement students complete approximately 30 hours per week at an approved community partner site while continuing with 20 hours of online coursework. This combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience helps graduates develop the confidence skills and practical knowledge valued throughout the addiction and mental health sector.
Program Snapshot
- 92 weeks total (approximately 21 months)
- 4 hours of live online classes daily
- Morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend sessions available (subject to campus)
- All 12 Core Functions covered
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training included
- 400-hour field placement
- 30 hrs on-site + 20 hrs online weekly
- One in-person day: CPR/First Aid (8 hours)
- 6 Ontario campuses (all located along transit hubs)
- Smaller class sizes for higher engagement
- Monthly start dates (no wait list)
Key Learning Areas
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
- Basic Counselling Skills
- Substance and Behavioural Addictions
- Therapeutic Approaches I and II
- Group Counselling Practices
- Youth and Family Counselling
- Counselling Diverse Populations
- Psychopharmacology
- Brain Stimulation Therapies
- Motivational Interviewing and Relapse Prevention
- Ethics and Professional Issues
- Case Management Principles and Practices
Full Course Listing
| COURSE | FOCUS AREA |
|---|---|
| GEES 106 | Essential Skills I: Communication Skills |
| GEES 107 | Essential Skills II: Financial Skills |
| GEES 108 | Essential Skills III: Career Skills |
| BABC 101 | Effective Communication Strategies |
| GEFA 106 | First Aid & CPR |
| GENV 107 | Non-Violent Crisis Intervention |
| AMHD 101 | Human Development Across the Lifespan |
| AMHC 103 | Introduction to Mental Health and Addiction in Canada |
| AMHB 103 | Basic Counselling Skills |
| ADDS 107 | Substance Addictions |
| ADDB 107 | Behavioural Addictions |
| MHAD 206 | Assessment and Diagnosis |
| MHSA 206 | Substance-Related & Addictive Disorders |
| MHAT 206 | Anxiety and Trauma/Stressor-Related Disorders |
| MHMD 206 | Mood Disorders |
| MHPD 206 | Personality Disorders |
| MHDD 206 | Psychotic and Dissociative Disorders |
| COURSE | FOCUS AREA |
|---|---|
| MHND 206 | Neurodevelopmental & Neurocognitive Disorders |
| MHED 206 | Eating and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders |
| FCTA 301 | Therapeutic Approaches I |
| FCTA 302 | Therapeutic Approaches II |
| FCGP 306 | Group Counselling Practices |
| FCYF 306 | Youth and Family Counselling |
| FCDP 306 | Counselling Diverse Populations |
| FCEP 306 | Ethics & Professional Issues |
| TPSY 406 | Psychopharmacology |
| TBST 406 | Brain Stimulation Therapies |
| TTSF 406 | 12-Step Facilitation |
| TMRP 406 | Motivational Interviewing and Relapse Prevention |
| TEIP 406 | Early Intervention & Prevention |
| TCMP 406 | Case Management Principles and Practices |
| THPO 406 | Health Promotion and Resources in Ontario |
| AMHP 500 | Addictions & Mental Health Field Placement |
Admission Requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) or diploma in a relevant field (social work, psychology, nursing, or related)
from an accredited college or university
WES, CES, or ICAS verified international degree or diploma is also accepted
Clear Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (CPIC with VSS) required before placement
Current immunization records required before placement
Not sure if you qualify? Contact our admissions team. We will walk you through your options at no obligation.
Career Destinations
- Hospitals and mental health centres
- Government facilities and agencies
- Corrections facilities
- School boards
- Child and family services
- Shelters and housing agencies
- Long-term care facilities
- Group care homes
- Community service agencies
Tuition & ROI
What does it cost to study at Oxford College?
Tuition:
$25,495
Books and materials:
$2,110
Total program cost:
$27,605
How we compare to other colleges
| PROGRAM | WHAT YOU GET |
| Oxford College |  POST-GRAD DIPLOMA | Full CCAC eligibility · 400-hr placement · CACCF accredited |
| Leading Public Colleges | Public grad certificate · CCAC-aligned · Single campus (Oshawa) |
| Other Private Colleges | 52-week entry-level diploma · Associate CCAC only |
Return on investment
Return on Investment: Program Cost vs Career Salary. Program cost compared with typical annual earnings at different career stages.
Program Cost:
$27,605
Average Salary (Ontario):
$53,040/year
Senior / Private Practice:
$65,000+/year
Estimated Payback Period:
6 months of full-time work
Based on personal circumstances
The program cost is roughly half of a typical annual salary in the field, allowing many graduates to recover their educational investment within the first year of employment.
We also have financial aid options to help you:
OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program): For eligible students
Second Career: For eligible career changers
Flexible payment plans: Ask an advisor
Why 92 weeks instead of 52?
Shorter programs graduate students at the Associate level. That limits the roles you can apply for. Our extra 40 weeks cover advanced therapy methods, medications and their effects, group counselling, and the full 400-hour placement. You don’t just finish faster with us. You finish at a higher level, with access to clinical roles that Associate-level graduates can’t apply for.
Is it 100% online?
Almost everything is online. You attend 4 hours of live classes each day from wherever you are. The only times you need to be in person are for a one-day CPR course and your 12-week placement at the end of the program. Everything else (classes, assignments, coursework) is fully remote.
Who can enrol?
This is a postgraduate program, so you need to already hold a degree or diploma in a related field such as social work, psychology, or nursing. International credentials are accepted if verified by WES, CES, or ICAS. You also need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected/conventional refugee. We are not currently accepting international students or those on study permits. Before your placement begins, you will also need a clear Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (CPIC with VSS) and current immunization records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Personalized, Lifelong Career Support
At Oxford College, our support does not end when you graduate. Our Career Service Advisors will keep working with you after you earn your diploma, helping you build your career path for the long term.
Refer a friend to Oxford College to help propel their career!
If your friend is interested in following in your footsteps, you could be eligible for a $500 reward.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Important: This is a full-time, in-person program.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. 16 months. Burlington and Barrie campuses. Three intakes per year: September, January, and May.
Fill out the form to receive program details, intake dates, and information on financial aid options. A member of our admissions team will be in touch.
This is a post-graduate program. You must hold a degree or diploma in a relevant field to be eligible. Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons only.
Speak with an advisor now: call 1-866-604-5739