Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate Program Policies

Registration Information

Registration opens three months prior to the start of a subscription period. It remains open until 11:59PM on the 24th of the month prior to the start of a subscription period. For example, a May subscription period start will open on February 1 and will accept registrations through April 24th. Click here to register now.

Payment Information

Tuition is due in full at the time of registration. If you have an employer or agency (e.g. Americorps, DWD) paying on your behalf, please reach out to your Enrollment Adviser for instructions.

Tax Information

As a non-credit program, the Substance Use Disorder Counseling Certificate program is not eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit. UW-Madison does not issue a 1098-T for this program.

Repeat Policy

You may repeat the domain-specific assessments as many times as needed, until mastery is achieved. However, you have only two attempts to demonstrate mastery of the summative assessment. If you do not achieve mastery on the final assessment after two attempts, you will not receive a certificate of course completion.

While you are eligible to re-enroll in the program in the next available subscription period, you should speak with your Academic Success Coach to discuss whether the UW Flexible Option platform is a good fit. Current registration fees will apply.

In the case of re-registration, any work previously completed or mastered is retained and carried forward. In other words, you may “pick up” where you left off. The number of attempts at mastery of the summative assessment resets, and two more attempts are allowed.

Grading Policy

As a non-credit program, this course does not use the traditional A – F letter grade system. Instead, it assigns “Mastered”  or “Not Yet Mastered” based on your performance on assessments. You will receive a grade of Mastered (M) for any assessment that you score 80% or higher on. You will receive the grade Not Yet Mastered (NM) for any assessment that you score below 80%. To successfully complete this program, you must earn a grade of Mastered on all assessments, including the summative assessment.

Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of this program, you will receive a certificate, and documentation of 360 continuing education hours (36 Continuing Education Units, or CEUs) earned. You will receive your certificate in the mail a few weeks after successfully completing the program. Access Canvas prior to your subscription period end date to print copies of any of the learning resources you wish to keep, as well as the Program Summary to provide with the state certification you pursue. 

You will be provided with an electronic certificate when you meet the 100 minimum hours required for SAC-IT certification.

Wisconsin State Certification

For information on how to apply for the SAC-IT, SAC, or C-SAC in Wisconsin, please visit our certification web page.

Ordering Replacement Copies of Certificates and Transcripts

If you need a replacement copy of a certificate, (either for the full program or the SAC-IT level), please email the UW Flexible Option Registrar’s Office. You may also complete the form to order a copy of your transcript by following the link in your student center.

Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your registration up through the Friday before your subscription period start (subscription periods always start on Tuesdays). Cancellations will receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee. No refunds are provided after the cancellation deadline has passed (see Compassionate Refund/Extension Policy below for extenuating circumstances). To cancel registration, click here.

Refund Policy

There are no tuition refunds for the Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate program if you withdraw after the cancellation period ends (see above). 

Compassionate Refund Policy

There are no tuition refunds for the Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate program. In extenuating circumstances, the Compassionate Refund/Extension Policy may be granted. This policy applies only to individuals who are unable to continue in the program due to compelling circumstances beyond their control.

Compassionate refunds are contingent upon approval. There are three sets of circumstances that may warrant a refund:

1. A life-threatening or disabling mental or physical illness/accident for an enrolled student
2. Death of an immediate member of the family or household of an enrolled student
3. Students facing financial catastrophe (e.g. loss of job, bankruptcy)  

If you are seeking a compassionate refund, consult with your Academic Success Coach (ASC). You must provide written verification for consideration. If a compassionate refund is granted, you will be withdrawn from the program and assessed a $50 administrative fee. Your tuition refund is based on the schedule below, using the date of your request. 

Compassionate Tuition Refund Schedule by Week

Weeks	1-4	5 – 8	9 – 12	13 – 16	17 – 20	21 – 24
Tuition refund % (less $50 fee)	100%	75%	60%	45%	30%	15%

Compassionate Extension Policy

In certain extenuating cases, you may need an extension of your course. If you were on track to complete all of your competencies but were unable to do so due to extraordinary circumstances, you may seek approval for a compassionate extension. To begin this process, please reach out to your ASC. 

Students granted a compassionate extension do not need to re-enroll in the program. The program manager determines the length of the extension on a case-by-case basis. If you do not complete the program within the additional time period, you will receive a grade of Not Yet Mastered (NM). You cannot receive a second extension. In this case, you would need to re-register for the program. Current registration fees will apply.