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 counselling psychology, applied psychology, educational psychology, or equivalent, 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 Sep. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027. 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: | $201 |
| Program Admission Fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable) | $265 |
| Non-program Application Fee (non-refundable) required only once: | $126 |
Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)
learners living in Canada and out | Learners living in Canada | $1,9391 |
| Indigenous learners in Canada | $1,7592 |
| Learners living outside Canada | $2,1891 |
1 The PMCC course tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology Fee of $60 and Course Materials Fee of $38 per course and are included in this calculation. This calculation also includes the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) Fee of $14 per credit.
2 Starting Sep. 1, 2026, Canadian Indigenous graduate students are eligible for 10% off the tuition portion of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAPPgraduate course costs.
program fees | Program fee per 3-credit course (non-refundable) | $704 |
| Program fee per 6-credit course (non-refundable) | $1,408 |
| Total program fee (non-refundable)3 | $2,816 |
3ÌýThe total program fee is split up and charged with individual course registrations.
Estimated program tuition cost (2026-2027):
The total tuition cost for a learner living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University over a 1-year period would be $10,572 ($1,939 x 4 = $7,756, 3-credit course equivalents, plus program fees of $2,816 for a total of $10,572). 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 | $355/course |
| Course Extension Fee (this fee applies to extensions of all non-thesis FHD graduate courses, regardless of credit weight) | $341/month |
| Letter of Permission Fee | $102 |
| Course Withdrawal Processing Fee2: | $462 |
| Western Dean's Agreement Administration Fee (non-Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAPPvisiting students) | $250/course |
| Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAPPGraduate Student Association Fee (per credit): | $14 |
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 Sep. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027.
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
Courses to explore
Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program. Please consult an advisor to confirm any course planning, as some of these courses may not apply to you.
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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