Calendar Description

This five-course certificate program provides interdisciplinary learners who are working in the substance use field or those interested in this area with an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and competencies necessary to work in a variety of substance use treatment settings within facilities, agencies and community. This substance use program will integrate theoretical constructs from best practices in the substance use field with the technical and behavioural competencies developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

Elective Courses

Students may take HLTH 4511 and HLTH 4521 as elective credits without applying for admission into the certificate program upon approval of he Associate Dean and/or designate. To complete the remaining courses, students must apply for admission in the certificate program.

Admission Requirements

One of the following:

• Current employment in a health care, criminal justice, social services or treatment facility setting OR
• Graduation from a certificate, diploma or bachelor’s degree program in health and human services OR
• Permission of the associate dean or a designate
• Fourth-year standing in TRU's Nursing program or permission from the School of Nursing
• Eligibility to take a 4000-level course

Additional Requirements

• Official transcript should be sent to oladmissions@tru.ca
• After program admission and prior to enrolment in the practicum course, a completed Consent to a Criminal Record Check (CRC) form

Residency Requirements

A minimum of six TRU credits (online courses only; this program is not offered on campus)

Certificate Requirements

• HLTH 4511, Introduction to Problematic Substance Use (3)
• HLTH 4521, Assessment and Intervention Approaches to Problematic Substance Use (3)
• HLTH 4531, Assessment and Intervention Approaches in Concurrent Disorders (3)
• HLTH 4541, Population-Based Prevention and Intervention
• HLTH 4551, Directed Studies Practicum in Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders (3)

Prior to registering in HLTH 4541, you must complete all theory courses, with a GPA of 2.00 (a grade of C) or higher.

The program coordinator, with your input, arranges an appropriate practicum. This directed practicum is based on availability and resources in the community that you select. The practicum consists of a total of 96 hours and can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. To complete the practicum, you may need to relocate at your expense if suitable service agencies are unavailable near where you live. Acceptance into this program does not guarantee a practicum placement.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of all theory courses and the practicum with a GPA of 2.00 or higher over all courses required for this credential.

Acknowledgement
The funding to develop this program was received from the Interior Health Authority (IHA) in recognition of the need to address the strategic priorities addressed in the BC Ministry of Health's Setting Priorities for the B.C. Health System.