Post-Masters Certificate in Counselling

At a glance

Credential: post-master's certificate
Credits: 12
Next start: see program details

Counselling is a critical field with essential support for individuals navigating mental, emotional, and even physical challenges. By offering coping strategies, resources, and a safe space for expression, counsellors play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for people and communities alike.

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About Post-Masters Certificate in Counselling

If you've already earned a master's degree in counselling or applied psychology, Athabasca University's online Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling program offers you a chance to specialize further. Designed for practicing counsellors aiming to broaden their expertise or pivot their career focus, this program is a perfect fit for those who want more than a general-focus master's degree. Completing the 12-credit certificate allows you to develop a new area of specialization, enriching both your practice and professional opportunities.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements include a related master's degree in a counselling-related field, with a minimum grade point average (GPA).

See full Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling admission requirements

Program details

Overview

Why take the Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling?

The Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling is designed for counsellors who want to specialize in a new focus area. If you're looking for a change in career direction or want to add a specialization to your general-focus master's degree, the Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling is for you.

If you have a master's degree in a human science field and are looking to enrich your educational background, the Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling could be a great fit for you. It offers a selection of foundational courses in counselling psychology theory and practice to complement your existing expertise.

Application deadlines and start dates

Application deadline	Start date
April 1	Sept.
Aug. 1	Jan.
Dec. 1	May

The Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling is a 12-credit online graduate program. You must complete at least 9 credits through Athabasca University.

There are 3 intakes each year: in Sept., Jan., and May.

Application deadlines

Completion times

Finish this program in as little as 1 year of full-time study. You can take up to 2 years to complete all requirements.

Tuition and fees

A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.

The following fees are effective for courses starting Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

program application and admission fee
Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies:	$184
Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable)	$255
Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once:	$116

learners living in Canada and out
Learners living in Canada	$1,861¹
Learners living outside Canada	$2,106¹

¹ The PMCC course tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $58 and Course Materials Fee of $35 per course and are included in this calculation. This calculation also includes the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $13 per credit.

program fees
Program fee per 3-credit course (non-refundable)	$676
Program fee per 6-credit course (non-refundable)	$1,352
Total program fee (non-refundable)²	$2,704

² The total program fee is split up and charged with individual course registrations.

Estimated program tuition cost (2023-2024):

The total tuition cost for a learner living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University over a 1-year period would be $9,768 ($1,861 x 4 = $7,444, 3-credit course equivalents, plus program fees of $2,704 for a total of $9,768). AUGSA fees are included in the above calculation. Application, admission and Art Therapy specialization fees are not included in the above calculation.

Other fees

other fees
Transfer credit evaluation fee	$325/course
Course extension fee (this fee applies to extensions of all FHD graduate courses, regardless of credit weight)	$312
Letter of Permission fee	$93
Course withdrawal processing fee²:	$423
AU Graduate Student Association fee (per credit):	$13

²The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a learner withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the learner will be refunded the full course tuition fees (see above) less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to the information about course withdrawal under Course regulations and procedures.

Fee information effective Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024.

Courses

In the Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling program, you'll take a range of courses designed to meet the graduate-level requirements for licensing with the College of Alberta Psychologists. These courses will cover various aspects of counselling psychology, such as health psychology, working with different age groups, and family therapy, among others. You'll have the flexibility to complete additional courses for certification or licensure that may not have been part of your master's degree.

To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Post-Master’s Certificate in Counselling.

Our program regulations plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program. If you’re feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.

Program regulations

Top courses

Here are some of the most popular courses students take in this program.

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Career options

After earning your Post-Master's Certificate in Counselling from Athabasca University, you'll be well-positioned to expand your career opportunities in specialized counselling roles within health care organizations, educational institutions, or private practice. Whether you're looking to pivot your focus or deepen your expertise, this certificate can also pave the way for roles in mental health advocacy, consulting, or even academic research in the field of counselling psychology.

Careers could include:

counsellor
mental health therapist
school counsellor
marriage and family therapist
substance abuse counsellor
career counsellor
rehabilitation counsellor
crisis intervention specialist
mental health advocate
counseling psychologist
clinical supervisor
academic researcher in counselling psychology
psychological consultant

Resources and links

Additional information that you need to know about AU and this program.

Program resources

Additional resources

Program contact

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