Online Substance Use Disorders Certificate Program

The UW Flexible Option format offers a different way to fulfill the educational hours required to become a SAC or CSAC. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Substance Use Disorders Counselor (SUDS) Certificate is the first online pre-certification program that fulfills state and industry educational requirements for becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SAC-IT), a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC), or a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).

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Designed for busy adults, the Flexible Option SUDS program allows you to:

Study and advance when it’s convenient.
There are no regular class or semester schedules—you can start the program any month.
Prepare for Wisconsin state certification exams
with a curriculum designed by the director of the Substance Abuse Certificate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Leverage the knowledge you already have
to quickly and efficiently meet the educational requirement needed for Wisconsin state certification.

Careers outlook

As addiction and mental health counseling services are increasingly covered by insurance, employment of substance use and behavioral disorder counselors is projected to grow 22 percent by 2024—much faster than the average for all occupations.

"Have you been looking for a program to expand the scope of your practice to aid those suffering from substance abuse, but haven’t been able to find a certification program that fits your schedule? This 100% online program builds off your existing human services training and allows you to control the pace at which you learn. You can advance your career, even while juggling family and other commitments. "

— Kristi Obmascher, Program Director at UW-Madison