Skip to the main content
This website uses cookies to give you a better online experience. By using this website or closing this message, you are agreeing to our cookie policy. More information
Alberta Supports Contact Centre

Toll Free 1-877-644-9992

Addictions Counsellor

Addictions counsellors help individuals, families, and communities identify and deal with addictions and their effects through treatment programs and prevention programs.

Also Known As

Addictions Educator, Clinician (Addictions / Substance Abuse), Counsellor (Behavioural Addictions / Drug and Alcohol Addiction / Gambling Stabilization / Harm Reduction / Treatment / Substance Abuse), Wellness Project Coordinator, Worker (Addiction Prevention / Detox / Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder Support / School Addiction Resource)

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 4153: Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors

2006 NOC-S

  • E023: Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors

2011 NOC

  • 4153: Family, marriage and other related counsellors

2016 NOC

  • 4153: Family, marriage and other related counsellors

2021 NOC

  • 41301: Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies

2023 OaSIS

  • 41301.00: Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Addictions counsellors work with clients who have addictions challenges. Clients may come from diverse cultures, exhibit different behaviours, and have a range of lifestyles. They may experience codependency, have eating disorders, or be addicted to alcohol, drugs, gambling, or shopping. In general, addictions counsellors:

  • Provide information about addiction issues and available services and programs, and determine which program would most benefit the client
  • Assess client strengths, problem areas, severity of dependence, and readiness to change
  • Develop in-patient and out-patient treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client history
  • Use appropriate strategies and treatments to counsel and educate individuals and family members through all stages of recovery
  • Provide aftercare, follow up, and referrals as needed
  • Provide or facilitate crisis intervention, individual therapy, and group therapy as needed
  • Case manage and consult with other agencies or personnel involved in the client’s recovery
  • Review, evaluate, and document client progress
  • Create reports and discharge summaries

Addictions counsellors promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness of addictions. This may involve developing, implementing, and evaluating programs for public education, prevention, and health promotion.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Depending on the agency, addictions counsellors may work standard weekday office hours or shifts that include evenings and weekends. At times, counsellors may need to travel.

Due to the nature and demands of addictions counselling, the work can be both emotionally rewarding and emotionally draining.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Family, Marriage and Other Related Counsellors

2006 NOC: 4153

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
SOCIAL

Interest in mentoring in order to counsel clients, and provide therapy and mediation services; and in assisting individuals and groups of clients to identify, understand and overcome personal problems and achieve personal objectives

INNOVATIVE

Interest in co-ordinating information to develop and implement counselling and intervention programs to assist clients in determining goals and the means of attaining them; may conduct research, publish research papers, educational texts and articles

directive

Interest in following up results of counselling programs and clients' adjustments; and in conducting vocational testing and psychometric assessment; may supervise other counsellors, social service staff and assistants

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Addictions counsellors need:

  • Emotional maturity and a balanced, healthy lifestyle that emphasizes self-care
  • Patience
  • Tolerance for beliefs and values that differ from their own
  • A belief that individuals, families, and communities can change
  • Excellent communication, report writing, clinical note-taking, and presentation skills
  • Time-management skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Sound ethical practices and principles
  • Awareness of Indigenous issues
  • An understanding of trauma

Addictions counsellors should enjoy working with people and synthesizing information to find innovative solutions to problems. They should find reward in helping others. Some addictions counsellors have achieved stability and a desire to help after experiencing their own addictions.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Family, marriage and other related counsellors

2016 NOC: 4153

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 51 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 30, 2021 and Jun 18, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Personal Suitability: Dependability
Personal Suitability: Reliability
Develop and implement counselling and intervention programs to assist clients in determining goals and means of attaining them
Personal Suitability: Excellent oral communication
Personal Suitability: Values and ethics
Personal Suitability: Effective interpersonal skills
Personal Suitability: Client focus
Personal Suitability: Flexibility
Personal Suitability: Excellent written communication
Personal Suitability: Judgement
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Minimum Education 2 years post-secondary

Employers give preference to addictions counsellors with a related university degree. Depending on where they’re employed, they may be hired with the minimum of a diploma in addictions counselling or related field of study.

Post-secondary schools throughout Alberta offer related degree programs. For more information, see the Psychologist, Child and Youth Care Worker, and Social Worker occupation profiles.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Academy of Healthcare Services
Academy of Learning - Calgary Central
Academy of Learning - Calgary NE
Academy of Learning - Edmonton Downtown
Academy of Learning - Edmonton South
Academy of Learning - Edmonton West
Academy of Learning - Red Deer
Bow Valley College
Cambrooks College - Downtown Campus
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care - Calgary City Centre
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care - Calgary South
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care - Edmonton North
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care - Edmonton West
CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care - Red Deer
CLI College of Business Health & Technology - Calgary
Lakeland College
Mount Royal University
Northern Lakes College
Reeves College - Calgary City Centre
Reeves College - Calgary North
Reeves College - Edmonton
Reeves College - Lethbridge
Reeves College - Lloydminster
Sundance College - Edmonton
Vancouver College of Counsellor Training

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Certification Not Regulated

In 2018 the Mental Health Services Protection Act [pdf] was amended to include addictions counsellors, child and youth care counsellors, and counselling therapists under the new College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (CCTA). Regulations are being developed and these professions will be regulated in the near future. Once this happens, counsellors will need to be approved by CCTA to work in these professions. For updates on the regulation, visit Alberta Counselling Therapists Association (ACTA).

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Addictions counsellors work for agencies that offer prevention, health promotion, aftercare, early intervention, or treatment programs. They may work in addiction programs, harm-reduction facilities, or shelters for women or men. They may also work with private agencies, First Nation communities, the criminal justice system, health services, schools, or community programs.

Advancement opportunities depend on the counsellor’s qualifications and experience, and on the size and nature of the organization.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Family, marriage and other related counsellors
2016 NOC: 4153

83.4% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
2021 NOC: 41301
Medium
Demand
7,900
Employed

Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Family, marriage and other related counsellors
2016 NOC: 4153
1.9%
Annual Growth
(Below Average)
159
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2020

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Family, marriage and other related counsellors

2016 NOC: 4153
Average Wage
$33.81
Per Hour
Average Salary
$62,160.00
Per Year
Average Hours
35.8
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 4153 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $20.00 $38.43 $28.83 $27.00
Overall $21.28 $52.11 $33.81 $30.07
Top $22.33 $55.25 $36.31 $35.00

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Educational Services
Health Care & Social Assistance

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
58%
58%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
26%
26%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
18%
18%
Vacancy Rate
4%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Social Sciences, Law and Religious Studies
  • Social, Community and Protective Services
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Alberta Counselling Therapists Association (ACTA) website: www.acta-alberta.ca

Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF) website: www.caccf.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

Was this page useful?