Willis College
Addictions & Community Services Worker
Turn your compassion into a career that changes lives.
Program Length:
48 weeks
Credential:
- ON Diploma
Program Hours:
1080
Cost per Credit:
$
Online Learning:
Available
Start Dates
May 25, 2026
July 13, 2026
August 31, 2026
Job-Ready
May 7, 2027
June 25, 2027
August 13, 2027
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Turn your compassion into a career that changes lives.
The Addictions & Community Service Worker diploma program at Willis College provides the hands-on training and certifications you need to support individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction and social challenges.
In just 48 weeks, you’ll build practical skills in counseling, communication, conflict resolution, and case management. You’ll learn to identify at-risk populations, understand mental health and addiction treatment models, and apply recovery and harm-reduction strategies that make a real impact.
Recognized by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF), this program ensures you meet national standards in addictions counselling and community support.
Graduates also earn industry-recognized certifications in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), LivingWorks Start, and CPR/First Aid — qualifications employers value.
Graduate with Practical Experience for your Résumé
A practicum placement with a community agency gives you real-world experience and confidence to step into meaningful roles across social service organizations, treatment centers, mental health facilities, and shelters.
If you’re ready to make a difference, Willis College will help you turn your empathy and drive into a rewarding, people-first career.
$25.00
Average Wage/HR$35.00
High Wage/HRNational Occupation Classification (NOC) for this program: 4212/42201
Source: noc.esdc.gc.ca & www.jobbank.gc.ca
Want to see if Online Learning is right for you?
Join us every other Tuesday at 6:30 pm EST to discover the possibilities of our flexible online schedule at Willis College. Our interactive sessions are designed to address any questions you may have, helping you determine if online learning aligns with your goals and preferences. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the benefits of our online programs.
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Program Outline
Please click on the course title to see the course description.
This course will help students develop the communication skills necessary to function in a professional business setting. There will be a review of grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation as they apply to business communication. Students will complete various exercises with an emphasis on improving basic skills in grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, and apply these skills to writing assignments and tasks.
Our Career Management program will introduce and enable students to apply the most effective strategies to achieve employment in the career of their choice. Students will learn effective job search strategies, cover letter and strategic resume writing, effective interviewing skills, and interview preparation to ensure their success in the career search process.
This course introduces students to the nature of conflict and the methods to resolve conflict, with an emphasis on collaborative problem solving and mediation.
This course focuses on counseling theories and techniques to facilitate change in client behavior, enhance the client's coping skills, promote client decision-making processes, and facilitate client potential and development.
This course focuses on how family function and dysfunction can have an impact on an individual, as well as the worker’s ability to address those issues with the client.
This course presents models of addiction, screening and assessment methods and tools, treatment planning and intervention strategies, and the most common problems encountered during addiction treatment. Students will explore specific populations, focusing on women, children, adolescents, ethnic minorities, the elderly, the disabled, and those suffering from mental illness.
This course provides an overall introduction to the study of psychology. Students will learn the biology of the brain, consciousness, sensation and perception, learning and memory, intelligence, thought, creativity, and motivation.
This course provides an introductory view of the role of society in the development of individuals, social groups, and society as a whole. Students will examine the concepts of socialization, social structure, inequality, and agents of socialization.
This course examines the laws and regulations applicable to workers in community-based employment. Students will focus on the rights, protections, and obligations of the profession.
This course is designed to introduce students to mental health disorders, including in-depth examinations of psychological theories, disorders, and treatments.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have achieved a basic level of competency the Microsoft PowerPoint application. Topics include creating slides, formatting slides, transitions, animations, and delivery.
This course provides students with the skills needed to work with the Microsoft Office operating system and Microsoft Windows. Students will learn to use the tools and options available in the Windows operating system, manage folders and files, and work with some of the built-in applications. The Microsoft Outlook portion will provide students with the skills to compose and send emails, schedule appointments and meetings, manage contact information, and schedule tasks.
Students will be introduced to word processing using Microsoft Word. Topics include creating, saving, printing, opening documents, using reveal codes, formatting, mail merge, file management, and tables.
Three Industry Certifications that employers demand: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), LivingWorks Start Certification, and First Aid/CPR Level C.
This course will enable students to identify populations with specific risk factors, focusing on groups that enforcement officers encounter in routine employment. Students will also gain an understanding of the specific needs, intervention strategies, assessment, and treatment services available.
Upon successfully completing all academic and financial commitments of the program, the student will be hosted by a community-based support agency. During their Practicum Placement, each student could perform/job shadow a combination of the following activities at the workplace: Effectively use communication, teamwork, and time management skills, perform duties such as maintaining client records and files, perform general office duties, draft correspondence and reports, interact directly with clients.
This course provides an introduction to basic standard forms of community-based employment, including intake forms, incident forms, and client files.
This course presents basic principles of pharmacology and the behavioral effect of a diverse range of psychoactive drugs in today’s society. Students will learn the mechanisms involved in tolerance and dependence, as well as the therapeutic and toxic effects of psychoactive drugs on our minds and bodies and the impact on society as a whole.
This course will present relapse as a natural part of the recovery process. Students will study a range of strategies and techniques to assist in minimizing and preventing the effects of prolonged periods of relapse during the journey of recovery. As well, this course will introduce students to addiction prevention and harm reduction programming.
This course examines the importance of self-care in a helping profession with investigations of stress, burnout, compassion, and fatigue. Students will also learn methods to create supportive and efficiently functioning groups.
This course provides an introduction to the theory and methods of solution-based counselling techniques.
Job Market
Addictions and Community Services Workers and counsellors work in personal support roles with youth and adults in various social settings. Successful graduates of this program may pursue a variety of exciting positions, including:
- Addictions Worker
- Group Home Support Worker
- Community Services Worker
- Women’s Shelter Worker
- Corrections Facility Professional
- Youth Worker
- Women’s Centre Coordinator
Salary Information
Average Wage ($/hr) – $25.00
High Wage ($/hr) – $35.00
National Occupation Classification (NOC) for this program: 4212/42201
Source: noc.esdc.gc.ca & www.jobbank.gc.ca
Admissions Requirements
Academic Admission Requirements:
Canadian High School diploma or equivalent. Willis College’s Admissions Team uses the Wonderlic assessment tool.
For Mature Students (19 years of age or older):
We offer alternative admissions options tailored to your province of residence if you do not hold a High School Diploma. Contact the Admissions Team to explore your eligibility and possible pathways to enrollment.
Please note that at this time, Willis College can only accept students who are Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or Refugees. We are not able to issue the Post-Graduate Work Permits.
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This program is an excellent fit for:
- Compassionate individuals who want to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
- Empathetic problem solvers drawn to supporting clients through addiction, recovery, and mental health challenges.
- Team players who thrive in people-focused environments and want a rewarding, purpose-driven career.
- Career starters or changers seeking a meaningful role in community or social services.
- New Canadians or mature students looking to gain recognized Canadian credentials and experience.
Why choose the Addictions & Community Services Worker program?
- Learn Counselling Techniques: Core counselling, communication, and conflict resolution techniques to support clients through personal and social challenges.
- Gain Practical Knowledge: Learn and put into practice knowledge of addiction, mental health, and recovery strategies across diverse populations.
- Gain Professional Case Management and Documentation Skills: Be introduced to administrative and case management skills used in community-based organizations.
- Learn Helpful Tools & Frameworks: Be introduced to tools for self-care, teamwork, and for building resilience in the helping professions.
- Be Career-Ready: Earn industry-recognized certifications (NVCI, LivingWorks Start, CPR/First Aid) and real-world practicum experience.
Save time & money
- Finish most programs and become job-ready in less than a year!
- Get the skills you need to get hired with programs that cut the extras and give you the skills you need to get hired.
- With career support for life with Willis College, our experts will help find you employment no matter how long ago you graduated
- You don't need three to four years of school to enter the workforce with the skills to start a great paying career!
Exceptional flexibility
- Learn online with instructor-led programs that will prepare you for the career of your dreams.
- On-Campus program availability is also an option for select programs in Ottawa.
- Start school NOW with most program intakes happening every six weeks (no need to wait!)
- No waiting lists, even in our most-popular programs. We'll get you the job training you need to start your career ASAP.
Career-relevant education
- Our programs are programs aligned with real-world, in-demand occupations. We will get you job-ready!
- Most Willis College programs include practicum experience so you can hit the job search running with a great education AND experience.
- Willis College has 160 years of skills training excellence.
- We have real relationships with employers who are waiting to hire qualified Willis College graduates!
Is financing the only thing stopping you from attending school? We can help.
What Our Graduates Are Saying
Online schooling was helpful in working around my schedule. It allowed me to gain the education I needed from the comfort of my own home. Despite online classes, you receive a quick response when help is needed.
Daphne Phillips
Addictions & Community Services Worker