Program Length
- 8 Months
Credential
- Certificate
Location Offered
- Online
Prepare for a career in community mental health and addictions
Do you want a career where you can improve quality of life for others while you build a good life for yourself? Community mental health workers (CMHW) advocate for and support people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. It’s a rewarding and well-paid health care job. The VIU CMHW certificate sets you up with skills that will also transfer to many other health care roles, so you have options to grow your career.
Why choose VIU for mental health worker training?
Study online
With the VIU Community Mental Health Worker program, you can study online from anywhere in BC.
Gain valuable hands-on experience
The CMHW program includes an 8-week practicum. You get real-world experience in a community mental health setting like an overdose prevention site or a housing program.
Sign up to learn more
What jobs can I get with a community mental health certificate?
The VIU CMHW certificate qualifies you for roles at Island Health and other health authorities. You will also be qualified for roles with not-for-profit agencies. This includes work in outreach, addictions and supportive housing.
The Community Mental Health Workers can fill a variety of roles including:
- aboriginal support worker
- community living support worker
- mental health support and recovery worker
- addictions & recovery worker
- community support worker
More career options
The VIU CMHW certificate ladders into many health care and mental health care programs, giving you lots of options for your future.
Social work or counselling
You can use CMHW credits towards a Bachelor of Social Work or a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care
Mental health care
Combine the CMHW with the Health Care Assistant (HCA) program and a capstone project to earn a Mental Health Assistant Diploma.
Nursing
Ladder into the Practical Nursing Bridging Diploma and use those credits toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
About the VIU Community Mental Health Worker program
In the CMHW certificate, you gain a foundation in community mental health and addiction support. You build skills based on the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery. Psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery is person-centered, evidence-based care that builds strengths, promotes wellness and supports full community integration.
The focus of the program will be on relationships, rehabilitation and personal care for adults, youth and the elderly. You will learn:
- how to provide emotional support
- how to coordinate resources
- how to support independence and change in others
- advocacy
- health promotion
- harm reduction methods
- crisis prevention and intervention
You also focus on Motivational interviewing. This is a collaborative, client-centered counseling approach that helps individuals find their own motivation for behavior change through empathy, active listening and open-ended questions.
The program also covers:
- communication skills that promote health care worker and client safety
- building trusting relationships with others,
- mental health and addiction challenges
- mental health and addiction signs and symptoms
- common mental health and addiction treatments
When you complete the program you receive a VIU certificate and 21 credits you can use toward other VIU credentials.
Courses and Concentrations
| Semester 1 | Credits |
|---|---|
| CMHW 110 - (Introduction to Practice) | 3 |
| CMHW 111 - (Introduction to Mental Health: Theory and Practice) | 3 |
| CMHW 115 - (Developing Therapeutic Relationships) | 3 |
| CMHW 135 - (Mental Health and Addictions) | 3 |
| Total Semester Credits | 12 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| CMHW 120 - (Approaches to Support) | 3 |
| CMHW 130 - (Care of Self and Others) | 3 |
| CMHW 145 - (Mental Health Assessment and Interventions) | 3 |
| CMHW 140 - (Practicum) | 6 |
| Total Semester Credits | 15 |
| Total Credits | 27 |
Admission Information
- General admission requirements apply
- English 12, with minimum “C” grade, or equivalent
Notes on Admission
- Proof of successful completion of the following must be received well in advance of the practicum experience and preferably before the program starts.
- Current Standard First Aid with Level “C” CPR
- A completed Immunization Requirements Form
- Foodsafe Level 1 certificate
- Criminal Record Check: Practicums will require a satisfactory criminal record check prior to placement. Criminal Record Checks are requested through VIU. The Registration Centre at VIU will contact prospective students by email regarding the requirements for a Criminal Record Check. Criminal Record Checks are processed through the Ministry according to the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.
- Applicants with previous experience in health care area preferred (but not required).
- Enrolment in this program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Seats in the program are offered as follows: first qualified applications are given first offers, until all seats are filled.
Note: To view current course offerings and register check VIU Professional Development and Training.
Domestic Fees
Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees
When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.
When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.
Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.
| Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 8,871.36 |
| Student Activity fee (8 months x $20.37 per month) | 162.96 |
| Student Services fee (8 months x $22.49 per month) | 179.92 |
| VIU Students' Union fee* (8 months x $38.87 per month) | 310.96 |
| Health and Dental Plan fee ($285.00 per year) | 285.00 |
| Total | 9,810.20 |
* Amounts calculated using Nanaimo Campus rates.
The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.
All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.
Domestic (Canadian)
| Program Start Date | Accepting Applications | Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | Online | ||
|
Anticipated intake for someone applying today:
Next Intake(s):
The Community Mental Health Worker program has one intake starting in April 2026 and another intake starting in September 2026.
Application Fee:
$46.06
Testing Required:
No
Admissions Officer:
Name: Krista Convey Phone: 250.740.6400 Email: krista.convey@viu.ca
Chair Contact:
Name: Kim Fraser Email: Kim.Fraser@viu.ca
Area Contact:
Name: Kirill Cherkasov Email: CMHW@viu.ca
Document Deadline:
All requested transcripts and supported documents must be submited 2 weeks after application.
Comments:
The practicum of the program is in person and in BC.
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