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Study with the National Addiction Centre

The National Addiction Centre provides practically orientated addiction and coexisting disorders education at a postgraduate level.

Our courses have been developed for clinicians working with people who have addiction and coexisting disorders in a variety of settings

All courses are offered through Distance Learning.

Courses of study offered at the National Addiction Centre

Postgraduate qualification pathway

The Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences (Addiction and Coexisting Disorders) is the first step in the qualification pathway offered by the NAC.

  • PSME 404 has traditionally been the core paper coupled with one of PSME 416, 422 or 424.
  • We strongly recommend that students take PSME 422 as their second paper.
  • PSME 404 and PSME 422 are companion papers which together provide the key clinical knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of people with addiction and coexisting disorders.
  • Funding for up to ten trainee places is provided for PSME 404 and PSME 422 by Skills Matter, a workforce development programme within Te Pou - The National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development.

The Certificate may be credited towards a Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Health Sciences.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Addiction & Coexisting Disorders) is achieved by successful completion of PSME 404, two other PSME addiction and coexisting disorders papers and an approved fourth paper.

A Master of Health Sciences is achieved by successful completion of a Postgraduate Diploma plus two further papers and a dissertation, or a Postgraduate Diploma plus a thesis

  • An approved research methods paper is required in the overall mix of papers for both dissertation and thesis options

Papers

Paper 2018 2019
PSME404 First semester First semester
PSME416 Not offered Not offered
PSME422 Second semester Second semester
PSME424 Not offered TBA
  • PSME 404 Assessment of Addiction and Coexisting Disorders
  • PSME 416 Applied Theory of Addiction and Coexisting Disorders
  • PSME 422 Treatment of Addiction and Coexisting Disorders
  • PSME 424 Pharmacotherapy of Addiction and Coexisting Disorders

Distance learning

Distance learning is achieved utilising a variety of methods including block courses, teleconference classes, local supervision, online teaching resources and internet discussion groups.

Read more about distance learning at Otago

For further information

Judith Stone
Postgraduate Administrator
Dept of Psychological Medicine
University of Otago, Christchurch

Tel +64 3 372 6704
Email judith.stone@otago.ac.nz