Extended-release buprenorphine education is covered in POATSP; however, to be authorized to prescribe, clinicians must complete the 15-minute online Indivior Sublocade Certification Prescribing Course prior to prescribing extended-release buprenorphine.
Additional optional learning includes an accredited 45-minute course on the administration of Sublocade: BCCSU Practical Administration of Sublocade Injection online course (UBC CPE)
Injectable OAT prescribing requires completion of additional education and training, and is only available to MDs/NPs. To be authorized to prescribe iOAT in BC, MDs/NPs must:
Complete POATSP, including the iOAT module
Email bccsu_education@bccsu.ubc.ca to request the iOAT workbook and iOAT preceptor contact list
Schedule a half-day (4-hour) preceptorship with a pre-approved iOAT preceptor
Complete the iOAT workbook, half-day preceptorship, and online preceptorship form
Sign and return the Collaborative Prescribing Agreement (CPA), which will be emailed to you by the BCCSU upon submission of the online preceptorship form
BCCSU authorizes and sends CPA to the Ministry of Health for PharmaNet activation
BCCSU sends you the fully executed copy
Note: Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Matters (CRISM) has a National Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Clinical Guideline.
The BCCSU Interdisciplinary Clinical Addiction Medicine Fellowship is an advanced training program focused on excellence in clinical care, scholarship, research, and advocacy in addiction medicine. The fellowship prepares clinicians to develop specialized expertise and assume leadership roles in clinical, academic, and research settings, with training in both inpatient and outpatient addiction care, as well as concurrent disorders. Fellowship opportunities are available to physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses.
For more information about the fellowship and its various training streams, visit the BCCSU Addiction Medicine Fellowship webpage.
Physicians who wish to further develop their expertise in addiction medicine may choose to pursue certification through the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM-SMCA) certification. This voluntary credential recognizes physicians with advanced training and demonstrated competency in addiction care, and requires the successful completion of an approved addiction medicine examination. While CSAM-SMCA certification is not required to prescribe OAT in BC, it can support ongoing professional development, clinical confidence, and alignment with national standards.
Requirements to achieve certification include:
Current Canadian medical license
Postgraduate medical training with certification from:
Collège des Médecins du Québec, or
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
Successful completion of an addiction medicine exam proctored by:
International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM), or
American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), or
American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM) addiction medicine exam
CSAM-SMCA also offers certification for physicians with the following credentials:
Certificate of Added Competence in Addiction Medicine (CFPC), or
Area of Focused Competence Diploma in Addiction Medicine (RCPSC)
BC ECHO on Substance Use: BC ECHO on Substance Use offers free, CME-accredited monthly sessions designed to support primary care providers and their teams build capacity in the treatment and management of substance use disorders. The ECHO series is a case-based learning model that connects clinicians with an interdisciplinary team of experts who provide practical, evidence-based guidance for the clinical management of substance use disorders. Sessions include brief didactic presentations and participant-submitted patient case discussions, with a focus on applying learning in real-world settings.
To register for upcoming sessions or view previous recordings, visit: bcechoonsubstanceuse.ca
Addiction Practice Pod: The Addiction Practice Pod is a podcast for BC health care providers focused on practical approaches to addiction and substance use care. Episodes offer clinical tips and guidance to support skill development in addiction medicine and include a variety of guests with clinical expertise and lived and living experience.
Addiction Care and Treatment Online Course (ACTOC): This is a free, online, accredited course (15-20 hours) for health care providers interested in expanding their knowledge of substance use and substance use disorder care. Nurses may complete an additional 3-5 hours of nursing-specific modules with CNA accreditation. The course covers a range of information relating to use of alcohol, tobacco, opioids, stimulants, and cannabis, including withdrawal management and concurrent disorders, as well as harm reduction and recovery.
While conference schedules, format, and offerings vary within and between hosting organizations, the below examples of Canadian conferences offer relevant learning and networking opportunities related to substance use care. Visit the individual conference websites for upcoming dates and additional details.
CSAM-SMCA Scientific Conference: An annual conference for addiction medicine practitioners, featuring emerging research, best practices, and evidence-based approaches to care.
Issues of Substance (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction): A bi-annual national conference focused on substance use, offering research-informed sessions, training opportunities, and networking with leaders across Canada.
Western Canada Addiction Forum (WCAF): A collaborative, practice-focused conference for health care and Indigenous health providers working to improve substance use care across Western Canada.
Recovery Capital Conference of Canada: Canada’s largest mental health and addiction recovery conference, bringing together clinicians, researchers, policymakers, peer-support workers, and community leaders to explore evidence-based recovery-oriented systems of care.
Canadian Academy for Addiction in Psychiatry (CAAP): A national conference that brings together addiction psychiatry leaders and clinicians to share the latest research, practical clinical insights, and innovative approaches to treating addiction and concurrent disorders.