Substance Use Disorders Certificate

In this UW-Madison pre-certification education program you will gain the credit hours you need to fulfill the educational requirements for becoming a highly sought-after certified Wisconsin Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) or Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).

Available for the first time in the UW Flexible Option format, the non-credit Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate program features a curriculum developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty in cooperation with industry professionals.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for certified SACs and CSACs is excellent. Demand for substance abuse counselors has grown in recent years, driven largely by coverage mandates for substance abuse treatment in Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant insurance policies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth in the substance abuse counseling field to grow 22 percent through 2024—much faster than the average for all occupations.

FULFILLS STATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

The UW Flexible Option Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate program is the first state-approved program in Wisconsin that offers the SAC/CSAC curriculum in a fully online format, and the only competency-based program that lets you work at your own pace. Successful completion of the program competency set fulfills the 100-hour Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SAC-IT) educational requirement set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, as well as the 360-hour educational requirement for Substance Abuse Counselor Certification. Within a six-month subscription period, you can work at your own pace, mastering competencies based on the learning resources provided in the program and by leveraging your existing knowledge.

The UW Flexible Option SUDs program DOES NOT take the place of the Wisconsin state exam or the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Exam. Rather, the non-credit curriculum—designed with input from substance use disorders professionals to prepare students with the critical content knowledge required by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)—fulfills the 360 educational hours required by the DSPS to be eligible for Wisconsin state certification.

In addition, the program offers 36 continuing education units (CEUs) upon completion.

Wisconsin State Certification Information

Students who have completed the UW Flexible Option Substance Use Disorders Counselors Certificate program and are now seeking Wisconsin state Substance Abuse Counselors (SAC) or Substance Abuse Counselor In Training (SAC-IT) certification should email Form #3079 to flexsuds@dcs.wisc.edu after completing the top portion of the application.  Please also include the electronic documentation you received from UW Flexible Option indicating you’ve completed the program or met the SAC-IT educational requirements.  Upon verification that the educational requirements have been met, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies will submit the form directly to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Note: Upon receipt, the Department of Safety and Professional Services for the State of Wisconsin will process the application. Please be aware processing time may be lengthy. Students are encouraged to be proactive and check on the status of their application here.

WHO SHOULD ENROLL?

This self-paced program is ideally suited for:

• Licensed mental health professionals, such as clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors, who would like to become dually credentialed, but don’t have the time to spend in face-to-face classroom courses
• Human services professionals holding a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health (examples include social work, psychology, counseling psychology, nursing, or a related field) who want to increase their skills and scope of practice, and are interested in greater opportunity for career advancement and increased marketability
• Students who have not yet completed a degree but are currently enrolled in a behavioral health program with at least 60 credits completed
• Practitioners in Wisconsin
• Motivated, disciplined self-starters who can work independently
• Busy professionals who don’t have time for a traditional face-to-face certificate program—this is the only approved online program of its kind in Wisconsin
• Anyone who desires the prestige and value of a University of Wisconsin-Madison certificate

ABOUT THE UW-MADISON DIVISION OF CONTINUING STUDIES

The UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies supports the “Wisconsin Idea” by extending a University of Wisconsin education to nontraditional students and lifelong learners across the state and nation. Each year, more than 17,000 students attend one or more of the 500 noncredit classes, workshops, and conferences sponsored by Continuing Studies, seeking professional development, personal enrichment, a career transition, or educational advising.

The UW Flexible Option Substance Use Disorders program was developed and is overseen by faculty at the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies. This ensures that this online program is just as high-quality as in-person programming. You can visit the program faculty page to learn more about the Behavioral Health faculty at the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies. 

Upon completion of this program, you will have demonstrated mastery of how to:

• Identify and analyze an appropriate client diagnosis, treatment, or referral using multiple resources
• Create a diagnostic assessment and recommendations that initiate the individual treatment plan for a client
• Identify potential holistic treatments or referrals that meet client needs
• Recognize and assess individual client needs when evaluating community resources
• Identify and apply evidence-based counseling practices
• Identify and conduct the best possible educational practices to provide your clients better knowledge of both their condition and their treatment options
• Properly document client care, from intake through discharge and beyond
• Articulate standards of ethical conduct and professional behavior befitting a practicing substance abuse counselor

This UW Flexible Option program offers busy adults an affordable way to earn a University of Wisconsin non-credit certificate. In this program, you pay a flat rate of $2,250 for a six-month subscription period.

With the UW Flexible Option, you won’t spend valuable time or money sifting through material you’ve already mastered. If you already know the material, you may be able to advance through the program more quickly, potentially accelerating your time to taking the Wisconsin state exam or IC&RC exam and earning your Substance Abuse Counselor Certification.

If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the UW Flexible Option Substance Use Disorders Certificate program, you may register for the program after reading the terms and conditions below.

The following terms and conditions apply to registration in the Substance Use Disorders Certificate Program:

• Refund and Cancellation Policy: Students who have registered for the Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate program may cancel their registration up to three (3) days prior to the start of their subscription period and will receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee. For example, a January subscription period start must be cancelled by 11:59 p.m. on December 29 to receive a refund. No refund is provided for cancelled registrations received after this time frame. Note: Exceptions may be granted due to extenuating circumstances. Please see the Compassionate Refund/Extension Policy for more information.
• State Licensure and Certification: This program does not grant Wisconsin, or any other state, licensure and/or certification upon completion. Practitioners interested in obtaining a Wisconsin Substance Abuse Counselor Certification or any similar Wisconsin licensure should visit the Department of Safety and Professional Services website for more information. Please know, this program does not provide, or assist participants in obtaining, clinical experience, supervision, or any other requirements set forth by DSPS beyond the 360-hour educational requirement.  It is the student’s responsibility to determine certification requirements and ensure s/he is able to fulfill those requirements.
• For Wisconsin Practitioners: Successful completion of this program fulfills the 360 hours of specialized education in substance use disorder counseling required by the state of Wisconsin for Substance Abuse Counselor licensure and is designed for practitioners in the state of Wisconsin.
• Continuing Education Units: Upon successful completion of this program, students will be awarded 36 continuing education units, equivalent to 360 hours of education.
• Course Repeat: Students who do not successfully complete the program for any reason during a subscription period are eligible to re-register for the program. Such students are advised to discuss this with their Academic Success Coach prior to re-registering. Please note that the full registration fee will apply.
• Flex Modality: UW Flexible Option is not a traditional learning experience. As such, you agree you have reviewed the Sample Competency Set module to familiarize yourself with how the program works. Please note, students are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns with an Enrollment Adviser (1-877-895-3276) prior to registering for this program.