Addiction education pathways tool
Want to work in Addiction Services?
This information can help you decide what type of work you want to do, and what training or qualifications employers prefer. Addiction Services employ people in a range of roles. The three most common roles are listed below.
How to Become an Addiction Support Worker
Training and qualifications
Training and qualifications aren’t always needed to start working as a Support Worker, but you will most likely need to gain this while working; with the support of your employer to ensure you gain the appropriate qualification for pay equity purposes. The NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services, NZQA Level 4) is the preferred qualification, particularly with the Mental Health and Addiction Support strand.
Endorsement
Addiction Support Workers may apply for endorsement from dapaanz (the professional association for people working in addiction treatment), which may be preferred or required by employers. To qualify you must be supervised by a dapaanz accredited supervisor.
Education Providers
The education providers listed below offer the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services, NZQA Level 4) with the Mental Health and Addiction Support strand. For the most up to date list of education providers please visit the NZQA website.
Ara Institute of Canterbury Ltd
Christchurch, Timaru
Workplace based apprenticeship with online learning and support from advisors
Deacon Training Academy
Christchurch
Eastern Institute of Technology Ltd
Hawke's Bay
Future Skills Academy Ltd
Manukau, Royal Oak
Kalandra Education Group Ltd
Online
Manukau Institute of Technology Ltd
North Tec Te Tai Tokerau Wānanga
Kaitaia, Kerikeri, Whangārei
Otago Polytechnic Ltd
Dunedin or Online
Southern Institute of Technology Ltd
Invercargill or Queenstown
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd
Online
Unitec New Zealand Ltd
Auckland
Universal College of Learning (UCOL)
Limited Palmerston North, Whanganui, Masterton
Wintec
Hamilton, Thames or Online
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki Ltd
New Plymouth
Whitireia Community Polytechnic Ltd
Porirua
Funding for Fees
The scholarship and funding programmes listed here can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications.
How to Become an Addiction Peer Support Worker
Training and qualifications
Training and qualifications aren’t always needed to start working as a Peer Support Worker, but you may need to gain some while working, with the support of your employer. The NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services,NZQA Level 4) is the preferred qualification, particularly with the Peer Support strand. Other training available is listed below.
In preparation for peer training or being employed in a Peer Support role, it can be useful to have completed a workshop on wellness and recovery plans, such as WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan.
Endorsement
Addiction Peer Support Workers may apply for endorsement from dapaanz (the professional association for people working in addiction treatment), which may be preferred or required by employers. In order to qualify you must be supervised by a dapaanz accredited supervisor.
Education and training providers
The training and education providers listed below offer appropriate courses related to peer support.
Odyssey
Peer Support 101 nationwide or online
Careerforce
Apprenticeship in Health and Wellbeing (strand in Peer Support)
Workplace based apprenticeship with online learning and support from advisors
Whiteria/Kites Trust
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support)
Online
Ember Korowai Takitini
Peer Employment Training
Manukau
Intentional Peer Support Aotearoa NZ
Intentional Peer Support Core Training, Intentional Peer Support Advanced Training, Intentional Peer Support Train-the-Trainer
Online or in-person by arrangement
Funding for fees
The scholarship and funding programmes listed here can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications.
How to Become an Addiction Practitioner
Qualifications
To become an addiction practitioner, you will need a university qualification before being employed and you are usually encouraged to gain or maintain a professional registration. There are a few pathways you might follow.
-
Will this be your first bachelor qualification?
- Yes (go to information sheet A)
- No (go to next question)
-
Is your bachelor qualification relevant to working as an Addiction Practitioner? (e.g., social work, nursing, occupational therapy, medicine, counselling)
- Yes (go to next question)
- No (go to information sheet A)
- Unsure (see the dapaanz website).
-
Is your bachelor qualification applied?
- Yes (go to information sheet B)
- No (go to information sheet C)
- Unsure (see the dapaanz website or the Membership and Practitioner Registration Policy).
A. Complete a relevant, applied bachelor qualification.
If you don’t have a bachelor degree qualification or your Bachelor is not related to addiction practice, you will need to complete one of the following types of qualifications if you want to become an Addiction Practitioner, registered with dapaanz:
1. An applied addiction qualification approved by dapaanz.
OR
2. A relevant, applied Bachelor qualification (e.g., in Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Counselling).
1. Applied Addiction Qualifications
The qualifications approved by dapaanz can be found on their website, with any conditions that are required. The addiction qualifications offered by the education providers listed below have been approved by dapaanz for full registration.
N.B. The qualifications which include optional problem gambling papers are marked with an asterisk *
Education Providers with Addiction Qualifications (Applied, Entry-level):
WelTec
*Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice (Level 7)
Porirua
Moana House Training Institute
Te Taketake Diploma in Addiction Counselling (Level 7)
Dunedin and Rotorua
Wintec
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7)
Hamilton
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7)
Nelson
Funding for Fees
The scholarship and funding programmes listed here can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications:
2. Relevant, Applied Bachelor Qualifications
People can apply to be provisionally registered with dapaanz, on the basis of a relevant, applied Bachelor qualification. This usually includes Bachelor degree qualifications in Social Work, Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Counselling**. See the dapaanz website for more details about the definition of relevant, applied qualifications. To become fully registered with dapaanz, people with this kind of qualification will also need to complete one of the dapaanz approved addiction qualifications from section A (above) or B (below).
Massey University
Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health and Addiction) Distance & Online N.B.
This qualification is currently under review by DAPAANZ awaiting final approval for graduates to be eligible to apply for accreditation as provisionally-registered mental health and addiction professionals.
B. Complete an approved addiction qualification
If your bachelor is relevant and applied (e.g., Bachelor of Social Work, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, Nursing**) then your Bachelor will allow you to become provisionally registered with dapaanz. To become fully registered you will need to complete one of the dapaanz approved addiction qualifications (either applied or non-applied) at one of the following education providers.
** If your Bachelor’s degree allows for you to become a registered health practitioner addiction services may employ you as an addiction practitioner without an expectation of getting dapaanz registration.
N.B. Qualifications which include optional problem gambling papers are marked with an asterisk *
Addiction Qualifications (Applied and Non-Applied):
University of Auckland
*Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Alcohol and Drug Studies OR Master of Health Practice in Addiction Studies
Grafton, Auckland
Auckland University of Technology
*Graduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences
North Shore, Auckland and Manukau
Auckland University of Technology
Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters in Health Sciences in Mental Health and Addictions
North Shore, Auckland and Manukau
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Mental Health and Addiction Counselling
Whakatane
Wintec
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7) or Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Social Practice (with endorsement in Mental Health and Addiction)
Hamilton, Nelson and Tauranga
Moana House Training Institute
Te Taketake Diploma in Addiction Counselling
Dunedin and Rotorua
National Addiction Centre – University of Otago, Christchurch
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders
Distance Learning, based in Christchurch
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Couselling (Level 7)
Nelson
C. Complete an approved applied addiction qualification
If you already have a bachelor's degree which is relevant, but not applied (e.g., Bachelor of Health Science, Psychology) you will need to complete one of the dapaanz approved applied addiction qualifications to become provisionally (and fully) registered.
N.B. The qualifications which include optional problem gambling papers are marked *
Addiction Qualifications - Applied
University of Auckland
*Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Alcohol and Drug Studies
Grafton, Auckland
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Mental Health and Addiction Counselling
Whakatane
Wintec
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling
Hamilton (also in Nelson)
Wintec
Postgraduate Diploma in Health and Social Practice (with endorsement in Mental Health and Addiction)
Hamilton, Nelson and Tauranga
Moana House Training Institute
Te Taketake Diploma in Addiction Counselling
Dunedin and Rotorua
WelTec
*Bachelor of Counselling and Addiction Practice
Porirua, Wellington
National Addiction Centre
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Health Sciences in Addiction and Co-existing Disorders
Distance Learning, based in Christchurch
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
Paetahi Tumu Kōrero Bachelor of Counselling (Level 7)
Nelson
Funding for fees
The scholarship and funding programmes listed here can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications:
Funding for Fees
The scholarship and funding programmes listed below can assist people to access free or subsidised qualifications:
- Fees-Free – If it is your first time studying (outside of high school), you may be eligible for the government to pay your fees.
- Te Rau Ora Scholarships provides scholarships for those intending to complete a qualification that contributes to minimising addiction-related harm.
- Le Va’s Futures that Work programme provides scholarships and mentoring to grow the Pasifika mental health & addictions workforce
- GivME– is a tool provided by Generosity New Zealand, a not-for-profit organisation, which collects and distributes information about funding databases including funding for individuals. There’s a subscription fee to access this information, alternatively you can access this database at some public libraries.
- Skills Matter - provides funding for postgraduate training for new graduates and existing practitioners working in DHB, NGO and primary care settings, including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists and addiction practitioners.
