Substance Abuse Counselor In-Training - Training License
Understand the requirements of this profession to be a credential holder in WI.
Credential Statute: Wis. Stat. Sec. 440
Credential Code: Chapter SPS 160
Disclaimer: Please review WI statute for full professional requirements.
Overview
This page is the subsite for the Substance Abuse Counselor in-Training credential. Application requirements for this method, including applicable forms, can be found on this page. The Substance Abuse Counselor in-Training credential is used to accrue supervised experience towards the Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) or Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) credentials.
Before You Apply
To obtain certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor-in Training, you must:
Meet the education requirements.
Have a position, offer for a position, internship, practicum or an agreement authorizing volunteer hours as an agency providing substance use disorder treatment from a qualified supervisor.
Pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules exam.
Please note: The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) does not furnish a list of prospective supervisors or agencies. It is the applicant's responsibility to obtain a qualified supervisor.
How to Apply
Below are some general instructions for applying for a credential on LicensE.
Create or log into your LicensE account. Please visit LicensE account Information page for detailed guidance on selecting your account type.
Select "Apply for a License."
Select your Category.
Select your License Type.
Select your Application Method, then "Next."
Review your Personal Information.
Enter the requested Information on each page of the application. Information may include Examination, Education, or License History, depending on your profession.
If applicable, request a Veterans Fee Waiver or Initial Credential Fee Reduction.
Submit the requested Documents you may already have. You do not need to have all documents ready to submit.
Note: Forms are now hosted on AccessGov. Visit AccessGov Forms Directory to choose your form.
Respond to the Attestation questions.
Provide Payment Information. Fees may be found Credential Fees.
Submit your application.
Profession specific application requirements can be found in the "Application Information" section.
Application Information
Create or log into your LicensE account
Select Apply for a License
Category: Health
License Type: Substance Abuse Counselor In-Training
Application Method: Training License
Education Information
To obtain the Substance Abuse Counselor in Training credential, applicants must provide evidence of 100 hours of substance use disorder specialized education through a postsecondary institution or department-approved education program (see the preapproved program list below). One of the following forms must be submitted:
Form 3079. This form is only for verification of a Department preapproved programs and must be submitted directly by the educational institution to DSPS.
Form 2832. This form must be submitted if the education was not a Department preapproved program.
Applicants submitting form 2832 must also provide proof of course completion and course descriptions for each class listed on the form. Only submit full syllabi if specifically requested by staff.
The 100 hours must include the following:
15 hours in assessment training.
15 hours in counseling training.
10 hours in case management.
15 hours in patient education.
20 hours in professional responsibility.
6 hours in boundaries and ethics.
25 hours of electives in any of the subjects listed above.
Program Approval Dates | Program Provider | Program Type | Program Title |
8/01/23-8/01/27 | ASAP Education | Certificate | 100 Hour SAC IT pre-certification program |
2/01/24-2/01/29 | Concordia University | Certificate | 100 Hour SAC-IT Training Program |
5/01/25-5/01/27 | Concordia University | Certificate | 100 Hour SAC-IT Training Program (embedded in Master's Program for Social Work) |
2/01/00-8/27/27 | Fox Valley Technical College | Certificate | 100 Hour SAC-IT program |
6/13/19-6/12/27 | Kenneth Ginlack Sr. Consulting & Training Center | Certificate | Substance Use Disorder Comprehensive Program 100 Hours |
4/08/19-4/07/27 | Life Changing Ministries | Certificate | 100 Hour SAC In Training |
5/01/07-5/30/29 | Madison College | Degree | Human Services Associate Degree Program |
8/12/09-5/30/29 | Madison College | Certificate | Addiction Studies Technical Diploma |
4/27/12-9/14/27 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Certificate | AODA Certificate |
5/08/19-5/07/26 | Nicolet Area Technical College | Certificate | SAC Education Certificate 100 Hours IT |
11/03/11-10/04/28 | Northcentral Technical College | Degree | Substance Use Disorder Counselor Associate Degree |
11/03/11-9/06/26 | Northcentral Technical College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counselor Education Technical Diploma |
5/04/11-4/12/28 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Degree | Human Services Associate Degree |
4/09/12-3/18/28 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counselor Education Technical Diploma |
6/28/12-6/27/27 | Northwood Technical College | Degree | Human Service Associate Program |
10/10/17-10/09/27 | Northwood Technical College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Education Technical Diploma |
2/20/23-2/20-27 | Rogers Behavioral Health Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Academy | Certificate | 100 Hours SAC-IT Mental Health and Addictions Recovery Program |
9/02/09-10/05/26 | Transformation Services | Certificate | AODA Community Substance Abuse Training Program |
5/15/13-1/14/27 | Trinidy Institute of Learning | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counseling Certification Training Program |
6/01/17-6/01/27 | UW-Milwaukee | Degree | Substance Abuse Counselor Program |
5/1/10-7/28/30 | UW-Milwaukee | Degree | MSW Masters in Social Work Advanced Curriculum |
6/9/10-5/14/30 | UW-Platteville | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counseling Emphasis/Certificate |
5/11/01-10/2/29 | UW-Platteville | Degree | MSE - Human Services |
5/11/01-10/2/29 | UW-Platteville | Degree | MSE - Adult Education |
5/11/01-10/2/29 | UW-Platteville | Degree | MSE - Counselling |
11/1/22-11/1/27 | UW-Stevens Point | Degree | BS in Psychology, Human Servics, with Substance Abuse and Addiction Studies Minor |
11/1/22-11/1/27 | UW-Stevens Point | Degree | BS in Social Work with Substance Use and Addiction Studies Minor |
5/1/07-3/10/30 | UW-Stout | Degree | BS in Rehabilitation Services |
5/1/07-3/10/30 | UW-Stout | Degree | MS Mental Health Counseling, AODA Concentration |
7/17/17-7/16/27 | UW-Superior | Degree | SAC BS Program in Exercise Science, Public Health, or Teacher Certification |
9/24/20-11/23/27 | UW-Superior | Certificate | Comprehensive SAC Pre-Certification Program |
5/16/08-5/17/30 | UW-Whitewater | Degree | Masters Level Program -Includes 100 Hours IT |
9/15/14-1/26/29 | Winona State University | Certificate | Addiction Counseling Certificate Program-Graduate Includes 100 Hours IT |
5/01/07-9/06/28 | Waukesha County Technical College | Degree | Human Services of Applied Science-Addiction Studies Specialization |
1/10/23-1/10/27 | Waukesha County Technical College | Degree | Substance Use Disorder Counselor Pre-Certification Program |
Program Approval Date | Program Provider | Program Type | Program Title |
|---|---|---|---|
1/4/18-2/11/28 | Achievement Learning | Certificate | 360 Hour Substance Abuse Program |
6/17/13-6/16/27 | Alverno College | Degree | 360 Hour MS in Community Psychology |
2/28/20-2/27/27 | Alverno College | Degree | 360 Hour AODA Program |
8/1/23-8/1/27 | ASAP Education | Certificate | 360 Hour Comprehensive Program |
4/10/19-4/9/29 | Blackhawk Technical College | Degree | Substance Abuse Counselor Pre-Certification Program |
2/5/21-2/4/27 | The Center for Addiction Studies and Research | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counselor 360-Hour Pre-Certification Education Program |
3/20/96-2/13/30 | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Degree | Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Associate Degree |
4/30/23-5/1/28 | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Certificate | 360 Hour AODA Certificate Program |
5/1/22-4/30/27 | College of Menominee Nation | Degree | Associate of Applied Science Program: Substance Abuse Counselor |
10/9/12-3/26/26 | Concordia University | Degree | 360 Hour Substance Abuse Counselor Pre-Certification Program |
2/1/17-1/31/22 | Crown College | Degree | MA in Alcohol & Drug Counseling |
2/1/17-1/31/22 | Crown College | Degree | AS in Alcohol & Drug Counseling |
2/1/17-1/31/22 | Crown College | Certificate | Certificate in Alcohol & Drug Counseling |
5/1/07-5/24/28 | Edgewood College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counseling Concentration |
7/31/00-7/30/27 | Fox Valley Technical College | Degree | Associate Degree in Substance Use Disorder Counseling |
2/1/00-8/27/27 | Fox Valley Technical College | Certificate | Comprehensive 360 Hour Certificate Program |
5/1/12-3/21/28 | Gateway Technical College | Certificate | AODA Certification Program 360 Hours |
8/2/16-8/21/26 | Grand Canyon University | Degree | BS Counseling with am Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse - 360 Hours |
8/2/16-8/21/26 | Grand Canyon University | Degree | MS in Addiction Counseling |
8/2/16-8/21/26 | Grand Canyon University | Degree | MS in Christian Counseling of Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders |
6/12/00-6/27/26 | Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies | Degree | MA in Addiction Counseling |
6/12/00-6/27/26 | Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies | Degree | MA in Addiction Studies |
6/12/00-6/27/26 | Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies | Degree | MA in Addiction Counselling-Advanced |
6/13/19-6/12/27 | Kenneth Ginlack Sr. Consulting & Training Center | Certificate | Substance Use Disorder Comprehensive Program |
6/1/17-10/9/23 | Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College | Certificate | AODA Certificate Program |
6/1/23-6/1/27 | Laitinen Academy | Certificate | Comprehensive 360 Hour Program |
3/14/16-3/13/26 | Lakeland University | Degree | MA in Counselling |
4/8/19-4/7/27 | Life Changing Ministries | Certificate | 360 Hour Substance Abuse Counselling |
2/1/25-2/1/27 | Lion of Judah Training Center | Certificate | 360 Hour Substance Abuse Counselling |
5/1/27-5/30/29 | Madison College | Degree | Human Services Associate Degree Program |
8/12/09-5/30/29 | Madison College | Certificate | Addiction Studies Technical Diploma |
5/1/07-8/17/26 | Marquette University | Degree | Masters of Science Counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
4/27/12-9/14/27 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Certificate | AODA Certificate Program |
4/27/12-4/21/27 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Degree | Human Services Degree with an Aoda Emphasis |
12/15/09-11/5/28 | Moraine Park Technical College | Degree | Substance Abuse Counseling Associate Degree |
1/3/12-1/3/27 | Mount Mary University | Degree | MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
5/8/19-5/7/26 | Nicolet Area Technical College | Certificate | SAC Education Certificate 360 Hours |
8/18/16-11/3/27 | Nicolet Area Technical College | Degree | Substance Use Disorder Counseling Associate's Degree |
11/3/11-10/4/28 | Northcentral Technical College | Degree | Substance Use Disorder Counseling Associate's Degree |
11/3/11-9/6/26 | Northcentral Technical College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counselor Education Technical Diploma |
5/4/11-4/12/28 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Degree | Human Services Associate Degree |
4/9/12-3/18/28 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counselor Technical Diploma |
6/28/12-6/27/27 | Northwood Technical College | Degree | Human Service Associate Program |
10/10/17-10/9/27 | Northwood Technical College | Certificate | Substance Abuse Education Technical Diploma |
7/31/20-7/30/25 | Ottawa University | Degree | BS in Addiction Counseling |
7/31/20-7/30/25 | Ottawa University | Degree | MS in Addiction Counseling |
7/31/20-7/30/25 | Ottawa University | Degree | Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies - Behavioral Health Counseling |
2/20/23-2/20/27 | Rogers Behavioral Health - Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Academy | Certificate | 360 Hour Non-Degree SAC Program |
3/3/11-3/2/20 | St. Martin's College and Seminary | Certificate | Comprehensive Non-Degree 360 Hour Program |
7/26/07-5/22/23 | Springfield College | Degree | MS Human Services - Concentration in Mental Health Counseling |
7/26/07-7/25/24 | Springfield College | Degree | BS Human Services - Concentration in Addiction Studies |
9/2/09-10/5/28 | Transformer Services | Certificate | "360 Circle of Support" AODA Community Training Substance Abuse Training Program |
5/15/13-1/14/27 | Trinidy Institute of Learning | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counseling Certification Training Program |
2/14/23-2/14/27 | Uniting Garden Homes Inc Training Academy | Certificate | 360 Hour Non-Degree SAC Program |
6/9/12-6/08/28 | UW-Madison | Certificate | FLEX Competency Program for Substance Abuse Counselors |
6/1/17-6/1/27 | UW-Milwaukee | Degree | Substance Abuse Counselor Program |
5/1/10-7/28/30 | UW-Milwaukee | Degree | MSW Masters in Social Work Advanced Curriculum |
6/9/10-5/14/30 | UW-Platteville | Certificate | Substance Abuse Counseling Emphasis |
5/11/01-10/2/29 | UW-Platteville | Degree | MSE - Human Services |
5/11/01-10/2/29 | UW-Platteville | Degree | MSE - Adult Education |
5/11/01-10/2/29 | UW-Platteville | Degree | MSE - Counseling 360 Hours |
11/1/22-11/1/27 | UW-Stevens Point | Degree | BS in Psychology Human Services with Substance Abuse and Addiciton Studies Mnor |
11/1/22-11/1/27 | UW-Stevens Point | Degree | BS in Social Work with Substance Use and Addiction Studies Minor |
5/1/07-3/10/30 | UW-Stout | Degree | BS in Rehabilitation Services |
5/1/07-3/10/31 | UW-Stout | Degree | MS Mental Health Counseling, AODA Concentration |
7/17/17-7/16/27 | UW-Superior | Degree | SAC BS Program in Exercise Science, Public Health, or Teacher Certification |
9/24/20-11/23/27 | UW-Superior | Certificate | Comprehensive SAC Pre-Certification Program |
5/16/08-5/17/30 | UW-Whitewater | Degree | Comprehensive 360 Hour Certificate Program - Masters Level Program |
5/8/20-5/7/28 | UW-Whitewater | Certificate | 360 Hour SAC Pre-Certification Program |
10/1/99-7/14/24 | Viterbo University | Certificate | Comprehensive 360-Hour Substance Abuse Counseling Program |
7/15/14-7/14/24 | Viterbo University | Degree | Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling |
9/15/14-1/26/29 | Winona State University | Certificate | Addiction Counseling Certificate Program - Graduate |
5/1/07-9/6/28 | Waukesha County Technical College | Degree | Human Services of Applied Science - Addiction Studies Specialization |
1/10/23-1/10/27 | Waukesha County Technical College | Degree | Substance Use Disorder Counselor Pre-Certification Program |
10/28/24-10/28/26 | Wood Violet Recover HUD Training Series | Certificate | 360 Hour SAC Non-Degree Program |
Supervisor Information
Form 2770-Employment/Volunteer Verification Form For Supervised Substance Abuse Counselor Practice is required for a SAC-IT application and must be submitted directly by the clinical supervisor to DSPS.
Clinical supervisor means an individual who practices or has training in substance use disorder clinical supervision; provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their credential; and holds an unencumbered and active credential in good standing granted by the department or respective examining board as one of the following:
A certified clinical supervisor in training [except as provided in s. SPS 162.03 (3)].
A certified intermediate or independent clinical supervisor.
A licensed physician.
A licensed clinical social worker.
A licensed psychologist.
A licensed marriage and family therapist.
A licensed professional counselor.
Exam Information
A passing Wisconsin statutes and rules examination score is required for a SAC-IT application. The instructions are automatically emailed to you after paying the required fee as part of submitting the application through LicensE.
The official scores must be received and manually updated by the credentialing team. You will receive an automated email when the score is posted and do not need to upload a copy of the score yourself.
What Happens Next?
After you upload all required documents, submit your application, and pay the required fee(s):
Preliminary Application Reference Number (PAR)
Your application will be assigned a Preliminary Application Reference number or PAR number. This number allows you and trusted parties to look up the status of your application without logging in. You can also reference this number in any support tickets you submit in regard to your application.
A trusted 3rd party can look up your credential status by visiting LicensE, clicking “Application Status Lookup” and entering the PAR number you have provided to them.
Review Timeline
Your materials will be reviewed within approximately 10 days by a member of the credentialing team.
Note: Some licenses do take longer to process due to complexity. You can see the performance data on our LicensE Dashboard to see what date we are reviewing for certain application types under "Application Review Times by Profession."
Pending Applicant Input Status
After this review, if anything is missing or the credentialing team has any questions on your application, your application will go back into a status called “Pending Applicant Input.” You will receive an email letting you know your application was moved into this status. You should then log into LicensE and check your application “Due Diligence.”
To check your "Due Diligence"
Your Due Diligence is a checklist of items required for your credential.
The Due Diligence section is how DSPS staff will communicate with you regarding your credential requirements.
Log in to your LicensE account
Click on "Check Application Status"
Your credential application should be shown on this page. Under “Action” select the button that looks like an upside-down triangle. If you are on mobile, you will need to turn your phone into landscape view. Note: LicensE is best viewed on a desktop or laptop.
After clicking the upside-down triangle, select “View Due Diligences.”
The Due Diligence column lets you know what the requirement is.
The “STATUS” column will you know if the item is “Met”, “Not Met”, or “Not Applicable.”
Items listed as “Not Met” are items that are needed by the Department.
The “NOTES” column of your Due Diligence will provide further written details or instructions about what is still needed.
To upload documents
Some applications require additional document uploads.
Log into your LicensE account
Click on "Check Application Status"
Your credential application should be shown on this page. Under "Action" select the button that looks like an upside-down triangle. If you are on mobile, you will need to turn your phone into landscape view. Note: LicensE is best viewed on a desktop or laptop.
After clicking the upside-down triangle, select "Upload Document."
The document must be an allowable document type.
After uploading the document, click "submit." If you do not, it will not be sent to a reviewer.
If you have any questions, you can submit a support ticket on LicensE by logging in and clicking "request support" at the top of the page.
LicensE statuses that require action from applicant:
Status | Description |
Pending Applicant Input | The application is with the applicant to submit additional documentation and/or information. |
Pending Exam | The Department is waiting for the applicant to complete a required examination and receive passing results. |
LicensE statuses that indicate the application is with Department staff:
Status | Description |
Credentialing Team Review | The application is in the queue of a DSPS team member and awaiting review. |
Legal File Preparation | The application is with a member of the legal team who is compiling arrest/conviction documents for review by an attorney. |
Legal Review | The application is with an attorney, or another member of the legal team who performs the actual review. |
Board Review | The application is with board liaison and/or the board for determination. |
Awaiting Regulatory Authority | The application sent to regulatory authority (Chief Legal Counsel) for determination. |
Discipline and/or Monitoring | Application is with legal staff but will be held until Division of Legal Services and Compliance disciplinary matter is resolved. |
Contact Us
Support Ticket
Submit a support ticket on LicensE and click "request support." Please provide as much detail as possible regarding your concern so we can work to answer your question with a one touch resolution.
Call
608-266-2112
Email
dsps@wisconsin.gov
Office Hours
7:45am-4:30pm
Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI, 53705
Note: The in-person office does not process same day.
How To Guide
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Apply
Go to license.wi.gov to apply for a credential or license.
Application Status Look Up
Click here to review the status of your credential.