Vancouver Island University

Data updated July 16, 2026

Canada

2 Trials

In response to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, a research group at Vancouver Island University (VIU) has been awarded funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for the exploration of psychedelic therapies for front-line workers. Led by Dr Shannon Dames, the team are currently focusing on ketamine-assisted therapy for front-line workers experiencing symptoms of PTSD and emotional distress as a result of their experiences working through the pandemic.

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Blossom’s read

Vancouver Island University’s psychedelic offering is a serious, university-led graduate certificate rather than a boutique retreat or weekend-style training. It was built from Shannon Dames’ resilience and ketamine-assisted therapy work for front-line health-care workers, and later broadened into a broader psychedelic-assisted therapy curriculum with theory and supervised practicum. It sits in the field as an academically grounded, clinically oriented option for practitioners who want recognised university credit rather than a purely private-sector credential.

Who is Vancouver Island University for?

This best suits practising and near-practising health professionals, therapists, spiritual care providers, traditional healers, nurses, physicians, and allied clinician practitioners who want structured training in psychedelic-assisted care. It is not pitched at the curious public.

What do you need before you start?

VIU says applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent training and relevant experience. Applicants without a bachelor’s degree may be considered if they have at least 5 years of recent, relevant training and therapy or clinical experience; a criminal record check is also required.

Is Vancouver Island University accredited?

The programme was presented as an accredited graduate-level certificate from an accredited university in Canada. VIU described it as a 15-credit graduate certificate, the first programme of its kind at an accredited Canadian university to include both theory and supervised practice.

How much does it cost?

VIU lists domestic tuition at $557.46 per credit, which totals $8,361.90 for the 15-credit programme, plus a $541.21 lab fee and standard student fees. International tuition is listed at $781.09 per credit, plus the same lab fee and additional student fees. VIU also notes that some courses may have extra fees and that a prior learning assessment may let eligible students challenge the final practicum and avoid paying the 6-credit tuition, though an assessment fee still applies.

What do you walk away with?

Learners receive a graduate certificate and practical training for frontline psychedelic-assisted therapy work, including theory, small-group learning, recorded therapy sessions, and a supervised practicum. VIU frames the outcome as the ability to contribute to, and lead in, psychedelic-assisted therapy and related clinical settings.