Information:
Substance Abuse Counselor & Substance Abuse Counselor-In Training Information
For up-to-date information on pursuing a credential as a Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) or a Substance Abuse Counselor-In Training (SAC-IT), students are encouraged to review all requirements of the Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
Substance Abuse Counselor-In Training: Almost all MSCP students are eligible to apply for the SAC-IT license when going on a practicum with an appropriate supervisor. To meet the DSPS requirements for the SAC-IT, students fulfill the following:
- 100 hours of specialized education in the required domains (can be completed through required coursework in the program)
- Employment or internship that provides the appropriate supervision (descriptions of appropriate supervisors can be found on the DSPS website).
- Completed application and fees.
- Successfully completed a required examination.
Substance Abuse Counselor: To complete the educational requirements for the full SAC, students must enroll in MCP-679 Physiological Psychopharmacology.
Additional DSPS requirements include:
- Complete 360 hours of specialized education in substance use disorder through a post secondary institution or department approved education program. (would all be completed during the MCP program)
- Complete and submit Application for Substance Abuse Counselor including all required documentation and pay required fee.
- DSPS reviews application and makes applicant eligible for the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADC) examination. Examinations may be taken after completion of education, before experience is completed.
- Successful completion of required examinations.
- Verification of completion of 3,000 hours of work experience performing the 8 practice dimensions as a Substance Abuse Counselor, supervised as described in (Form #2749), within 5 years immediately preceding the date of application. 3,000 hours of work experience shall include the following:
- 1,000 hours in substance use disorder counseling with at least 500 hours is a one-on-one individual modality setting.
- A minimum of 200 hours of counseling during the 12 month period immediately proceeding the date of application, of which 100 hours shall have been completed using individual modality setting.
Accreditation/Approval:
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) requires 360 hours of instructional content across six domains. The three courses are structured to account for roughly 180 hours (60 hours each) of the 360-hour requirement.
