Alcohol and Other Drugs Qualifcaitions
Nationally recognised qualifications
Upskilled offers two nationally recognised alcohol and other drugs qualifications online: the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215), and a dual program that awards both that qualification and the Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315). Both are delivered 100% online and self-paced with no exams, include a supervised work placement, and are designed to prepare you for support roles in alcohol and other drugs services.
Certificate IV or the dual Certificate IV
The Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs is the focused option for people heading into AOD support work. The dual program awards that qualification plus the Certificate IV in Mental Health, so it covers two related fields, takes longer and costs more. Both are nationally recognised and include work placement.
| Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs | Dual Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health | |
|---|---|---|
| National code | CHC43215 | CHC43215/CHC43315 |
| Qualifications awarded | One | Two |
| Best for | Working specifically in alcohol and other drugs support | Working across both substance use and mental health support |
| Typical duration | Up to 12 months, self-paced | Longer than the single Certificate IV, self-paced |
| Work placement | Mandatory, with placement support | Mandatory, with placement support |
| Entry requirements | No formal qualification required | No formal qualification required |
| Payment | GST free, payment plans available | GST free, payment plans available |
| Pathway | Highest level Upskilled offers in alcohol and other drugs | Highest level Upskilled offers in alcohol and other drugs |
What makes a qualification different from a short course?
A nationally recognised qualification is an AQF credential with a national code, delivered by a Registered Training Organisation and recognised by employers across Australia. Non-accredited short courses and bootcamps teach a specific tool or skill and award a certificate of completion instead. If your goal is a formal credential for a career move, a qualification such as the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215) is the product built for it.
Roles these qualifications are designed to prepare you for
A Certificate IV in alcohol and other drugs is designed to prepare you for supervised support roles across AOD services, community health and outreach. It does not register or license you to practise, and it is not a counselling or clinical credential. Employers and funded services set their own requirements, which commonly include police and working with children checks, supervision arrangements and minimum experience, and these vary by state and territory.
Meet your alcohol and other drugs educators
Join over 42,000 Aussies who have had success with Upskilled
The Cert IV in Mental Health was comprehensive and very worthwhile. I'm so thankful to our trainer Ronnie who was always available when I got stuck to help me keep moving forward. Friendly, professional, patient, kind, explained why it was repetitive at times and had full belief I'd pass.
I think the best thing about upskilled is that you can work at your own pace and we are given ample time to do the course. I also loved the support and I found the course very insightful and interesting.
My experience in this course has been highly rewarding, effectively addressing my initial desire to enhance engagement with clients in the mental health and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector. A key highlight was the successful completion of the first six modules, which showcased a seamless integration of concepts. As I am not currently employed in the industry, I appreciated the guidance from the course trainer and insights from friends working in the field. The course significantly improved my ability to engage with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and enhanced my communication skills. I developed stronger empathetic questioning techniques, which have boosted my confidence in interacting with potential clients in the AOD and mental health sectors. The trainer and program coordinator were highly accessible and provided timely responses, offering exceptional guidance and consistent encouragement. The assessment process was well-supported, with clear guidance and constructive feedback that enhanced my understanding and skills.
Overall, my experience with the assessors was exceptional. The course's flexible schedule allowed me to maintain a healthy work-life balance, enabling study at my own pace. The curriculum appears to offer excellent preparation for real-world scenarios, particularly with the inclusion of a practical work placement. The content is highly relevant to the industry. A significant takeaway has been the realisation of the interconnected nature of mental health and AOD issues. I intend to apply these learnings in my future career within the mental health and AOD space.
Better than the classroom! It’s been a fantastic experience. The student support team and our trainer are incredible. Always willing to help our investgate my queries. Our trainer is always generous with his time and feedback.
Alcohol and other drugs course FAQs
Yes. Both qualifications on this page are nationally recognised training under the Australian Qualifications Framework, delivered online by Upskilled, RTO 40374: the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215) and the Dual Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43215/CHC43315). Nationally recognised means the qualification is recognised by employers and training providers across Australia, in every state and territory.
Choose by how wide you want your options to be. The Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215) is the focused route for people who want to work specifically in alcohol and other drugs support. The Dual Certificate IV (CHC43215/CHC43315) awards two qualifications and adds mental health practice, which frequently occurs alongside substance use, so it suits people who want to work across both. The dual takes longer and costs more than the single Certificate IV.
These qualifications are designed to prepare you for supervised support roles such as alcohol and other drugs worker, outreach worker, harm reduction worker, community support worker and case worker, depending on the qualification you complete and your experience. Completing a qualification does not guarantee a job, and it does not register or license you to practise. Employers and funded services set their own requirements, which commonly include police and working with children checks, supervision arrangements and minimum experience, and these vary by state and territory.
Yes. The Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215) includes a mandatory work placement, and Upskilled provides placement support to help you arrange it. Placement is completed in a real alcohol and other drugs or community services setting under supervision. Host services usually require checks and clearances before you start, so allow time for that in your plan.
Both are delivered 100% online and self-paced with no exams, so you study around work and other commitments with support from qualified trainers. The Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215) is typically completed within 12 months and the Dual Certificate IV (CHC43215/CHC43315) takes longer because it covers two qualifications. Work placement hours sit on top of your study time.
No formal qualification is required to enrol in the Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs (CHC43215). You need to be at least 18, have reliable internet access and be comfortable studying in English at Certificate IV level. Many students come from community services, health, youth work or disability support, and many come with lived experience. Work placement host services set their own screening requirements.
Certificate IV is the highest level Upskilled offers specifically in alcohol and other drugs. Students who want to go further usually move sideways or up within community services, for example the Diploma of Counselling (CHC51015), the Diploma of Community Services (CHC52025) or the Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315). Any recognition of units you already hold is assessed at enrolment against the qualification you are entering.
Travis Hackett
Head of Vocational Education — CHC, Upskilled
Travis leads the CHC Community Services stream at Upskilled and brings more than 28 years of frontline and leadership experience across the sector. His career spans disability services, child protection casework with FaCS, youth services, harm minimisation programs with NSW Health, youth justice conferencing, and counselling. Travis is also a registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner with the Attorney-General's Department. He reviews Upskilled's CHC course content to ensure it reflects current sector practice and prepares students for meaningful, impactful work in Community Services roles.
View full profile