This UW-Madison non-credit Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate program is a state pre-approved, 100% online program. It fulfills the 360 specialized educational hours required for becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) or Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s substance abuse crisis continues to impact scores of families and communities around the state. In the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) report on the state of mental health and substance abuse, 69% of those with substance use disorders did not receive treatment . That’s over 260,000 individuals statewide. DHS’s most recent annual report showed deaths by opioid overdose have doubled, and deaths by cocaine overdose have tripled in the last nine years.
Undeniably, these staggering statistics represent a major loss of life, opportunity, and economic potential in Wisconsin.
Every community in the state has an increasing need for Substance Abuse Counselors to help close the treatment gap. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects demand for substance abuse counselors will grow 18 percent in the next 10 years—much faster than the average for all occupations. Professionals licensed in both mental health and substance abuse counseling are especially in high demand. These professionals can help reduce treatment silos for individuals with dual diagnoses.
Successful completion of the program fulfills the 100-hour educational requirement for the Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SAC-IT), set forth by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), as well as the 360-hour specialized educational requirement for Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) Certification. This program does not take the place of any licensing examinations required by the State of Wisconsin. It does not provide the contact hours required for full licensure. You are responsible for understanding all the steps necessary to become fully licensed in Wisconsin.
In addition to meeting the specialized educational requirements to earn your SAC-IT, SAC, and C-SAC, this program also awards 360 hours of continuing education (36 CEUs ) upon completion. These continuing education hours may help satisfy renewal requirements for other licenses you hold.
Furthermore, per Wisconsin administrative code MPSW 1.09, this program meets the Wisconsin DSPS education requirement for Substance Abuse Specialty authorization for CSW, ISW, and APSW licenses.
Leveraging the competency-based learning approach of the UW Flexible Option, this certificate is designed to help you expand your scope of practice on your own terms.
We designed this self-paced program to fit into your life. You’ll complete this 100% online program in 24 weeks (or less). There are no live log-on times and no set course deadlines. Additionally, this is one of the most affordable substance use disorder counseling programs in the state.
To use this program outside of Wisconsin, you should secure approval from that state’s licensing board before enrolling. We do not guarantee that this program meets the requirements of all 50 states.
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 of the 500 noncredit classes, workshops, and conferences sponsored by Continuing Studies. These individuals seek professional development, personal enrichment, a career transition, or educational advising.
The UW Flexible Option Substance Use Disorders Counseling Certificate program was developed and is taught by faculty and staff at the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies. As a result, this online program is just as high-quality as in-person programming.
By completing this program, you will have demonstrated mastery of the following:
Boundaries and Ethics
Substance Abuse Assessment
Substance Abuse Counseling
Substance Abuse Case Management
Substance Abuse Patient Education
Substance Abuse Professional Responsibility
In addition to the required state-directed curriculum as noted above, there is an optional module focused on competencies related to how faith leaders can address substance abuse issues in their spiritual communities. This module is not required to earn the certificate, and the competencies have no relationship to earning your SAC-IT/SAC/C-SAC. The competencies here are:
Pat Gutierrez has a MS in clinical mental health counseling from Mount Mary University and holds credentials of licensed professional counselor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and independent clinical supervisor with the State of Wisconsin and a substance abuse professional with the federal Department of Transportation. Pat has 25 years of experience as a substance abuse counselor working with a variety of different clients ranging from children starting at the age of 12 to adults. She has worked in many different treatment modalities throughout the years building and developing programs. Pat has worked at IMPACT since 2007 and is Director of IMPACT’s Substance Use Disorder Services, providing oversight, supervision, and leadership to Milwaukee County’s Access Point and County IDP program.
This UW Flexible Option program is one of the most affordable programs of its kind approved by Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). As a competency-based program, there are no set log-on times or deadlines, and you will leverage your existing experience to potentially move through the program faster.
Tuition is a flat rate of $2,250* for a 24-week subscription period. Another key point is there are no registration fees, extra textbook costs, or hidden fees. While you have a 24-week window to complete the program, it is entirely self-paced and has no deadlines. This means you can study when it works for you.
| Subscription | Term Length | Tuition |
| Self-paced program enrollment | 24 weeks | $2,250* |
If your clinic or mental health agency is interested in having several staff members participate in this program, email UW Flexible Option Program manager Marie Hornickel: marie.hornickel@uwex.wisconsin.edu to discuss the benefits of partnering together. For instance, this may include a group discount on tuition or direct invoicing.
This certificate’s tuition, cancellation, and refund policies differ from the other UW Flexible Option credit-based programs . To learn more about the policies for this certificate, please visit the Non-Credit Program Policies page.
Ready to join the over 450 professionals in Wisconsin who have graduated from this program and are helping address the needs of their communities? This program starts every single month of the year, so it’s always available for you. Registration is due no later than the 24th of the month prior to when you plan to start (e.g. register by 11:59 PM on September 24th to start in October). Registration is available on a rolling basis for the three upcoming months.
The following terms and conditions apply to registration in the Substance Use Disorders Certificate Program: