Wisconsin

What does an Addiction Counselor in Wisconsin do? What is Their Job Role?


If your goal is to become a substance abuse counselor in Wisconsin you've chosen a great field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the need for counselors in this state is projected to grow a healthy nine percent over the next decade, so the job market should be open by the time you earn your licensure.


Overview


The uptick in counseling positions is due to a combination of reasons. The opiate epidemic is becoming a national concern, and as more federal monies open up to address the crisis there will be more treatment options available. There is also a growing trend to sentence criminals to substance abuse rehabilitation rather than incarceration and effective treatment centers must be fully staffed.


Substance abuse counselors in Wisconsin earn a median annual wage of almost $43,000 so with the state's low cost of living you can expect a good income. The highest 10 percent annual wage income is reported at just under $70,000 so there is a lot of room for career advancement.


Although there is no degree requirement for certification over half of substance abuse counselors hold a Master's degree or higher so you should make this your long-term educational goal. This will give you the advantage of having more job options in the field.


About Substance Abuse Counselors


Substance abuse counselors in Wisconsin are regulated by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and that is the department that will oversee your licensure. In Wisconsin there are two levels of certification: the Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SACT) and the Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC). A third level, the Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) is a position that trains others entering the field. Each level has specific requirements in terms of education, experience, examinations and testing.


Although there is no degree necessary for initial licensure there are specific educational requirements that must be met before you can qualify to take the certification exam. You must also complete specific work experience requirements under the guidance of a clinical supervisor that has been licensed by the state.


Once you earn your license you must periodically renew your certification; in the interim you must complete specific continuing education requirements. Because the process of licensure is so exact it's a good idea to join one or more professional organizations as soon as you begin your training as a substance abuse counselor.


Wisconsin Licensing & Certifications for Associates & Independent Counselors


As mentioned above, Wisconsin has two levels of certification: the Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SACT) and the Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC). Here's a look at the requirements for each license:


Substance Abuse Counselor in Training Requirements

  • High School diploma or GED

  • Minimum of 100 hours post-secondary education with specific hours of training in the following domains:

  • Assessment (15 hours)

  • Counseling (15 hours)

  • Case management (10 hours)

  • Education (15 hours)

  • Professional responsibility (20 hours)

  • Electives in any of the above subjects (25 hours)

  • A written statement of internship, practicum, employment or offer of employment at a substance use disorder treatment agency

  • Pass the state online examination

Substance Abuse Counselor Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED

  • Minimum 360 hours post-secondary education in substance abuse disorder treatment with specific hours of training in the following domains:

  • Substance Abuse Assessment (60)

  • Substance Abuse Counseling (60)

  • Substance Abuse Case Management (60)

  • Substance Abuse Education (60)

  • Substance Abuse Professional Responsibility (60)

  • Boundaries and Ethics (6)

  • Electives in any of the above domains (54)

  • 3,000 hours of clinically supervised work experience (within the past five years) including the following:

  • 1,000 hours providing substance abuse disorder counseling with a minimum of 500 hours one-on-one setting

  • 200 hours providing counseling during immediately previous 12 months, including 100 hours in an individual setting

  • All clinically supervised work experience must be in the eight domains: counseling, clinical evaluation, documentation, treatment planning, referral, service coordination, patient family and community education, professional and ethical responsibilities. You may substitute a portion of your work requirements with a degree as follows:

  • Associate’s degree for 500 hours

  • Bachelor’s degree for 1000 hours

  • Master's degree for 2000 hours

  • Pass the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors NCAC I exam

  • Pass the online Wisconsin state examination


CACREP Accredited Online Certification


Two types of accreditation are recognized in the United States; institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation takes the entire institution into account while the specialized focus on professional preparation programs. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a specialized accreditation that focuses on master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling at colleges and universities worldwide. Only already-accredited institutions are eligible for CACREP review. The review for accreditation will center on programs offering graduate degrees in counseling.


Choosing a CACREP-accredited program ensures that the program meets the highest of quality standards. Many counseling specialties are accredited by the CACREP, including addiction counseling. Accredited addiction counseling programs prepare individuals to work with those affected by addictive behavior and their families. Addictive behaviors include alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, sex, and anything else that negatively affects your personal or work life by creating addiction behaviors.


CACREP-accredited programs will focus on treatment models and the phases of addiction including prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention. These 60-semester hour programs will include the application of interventions. When students choose a CACREP-accredited program they can be confident that:


  • the program meets or exceeds national standards

  • the program will focus on professional counseling rather than psychology or education

  • the program has an excellent reputation

  • CACREP graduates statistically receive higher scores on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

  • the requirements for licensure will be met.


Department of Safety and Professional Services

Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board

The Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling and Social Work Examining Board regulates matters of interest in the mental health profession. The Board is divided into three sections for specifically addressing matters pertinent to individual fields of mental health. The three sections are Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Counselor, and Social Worker. The sections of the Board deal with licensure and disciplinary matters for their specific field of practice.


Address

4822 Madison Yards Way

Madison, WI 53705


Phone

(608) 266-2112


Website Address

https://https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/BoardsCouncils/MPSW/Default.aspx


Licensure:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)


According to 2017 Wisconsin Act 278, starting August 1, 2018, prior to sending an application for a credential, an individual could associate with the Division for a decision of whether the individual would certainly be invalidated from acquiring the credential as a result of his/her sentence file. To seek a predetermination, please send Kind # 3085 along with sending out all required documents defined on the type.


To establish credentials please most likely to the U.S.A. Division of Wellness As well as Health along with Human being Provider website prior to sending Kind 3217. Per Wis. Stat. 440.08 (2 ), the needed resurgence day for the Compound Misuse Counselor credential is 02/28/odd years. If you receive your preliminary credential in the months leading up to this date, you are still called for to recover your certification by the statutory specified day.


Overall as well as additionally send out Application for Chemical abuse Counselor including all required documents and also pay required cost. DSPS endorsements application as well as additionally makes prospects eligible for the National Organization for Alcohol Addiction and also Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADC) assessment. Effective conclusion of needed examinations. Submit verification of verdict of 3,000 hrs of work experience doing the 8 method measurements as a Material Abuse Counselor, managed as explained in (Kind # 2749), within 5 years quickly preceding the date of application.


A person can get the material of education and learning in Department locations. Requirements are as adhered to: 15 human resources each in substance misuse counseling, analysis, and likewise education and learning as well as understanding, 10 hrs essentially abuse situation monitoring, as well as 20 in specialist obligation. The staying 25 may contain electives in the core efficiency domain names.


The minimum score is 76%. A prospect who completed the examination however does not do sufficiently will be required to send a retake application as well as additionally $75 cost. A Counselor-in-Training will absolutely need 2 hrs of scientific advice for each solitary 40 humans resources worked; at this stage, guidance needs to be supplied by a clinical supervisor who is past the preliminary training stage.


He or she might start doing some functions instantly. Counseling will definitely not be accredited up until the worker has in fact ended up a minimum of 300 hours of training or experience. Counselor-in-Training is a time-limited condition. 2 revivals are allowed. A drug abuse specialist has to have, at minimum, a high school diploma.


A minimum of 200 counseling hours must have been made throughout the 12 month period prior to application; of these, at the minimum 100 demands to include individual treatment. A prospect that holds an accepted partner's degree will certainly be reduced by 500 hours. Level is thought of to be the matching of 1,000 hrs of experience; an approved graduate level amounts 2,000.


Leads can schedule evaluations at their own convenience. According to the application package, the limit score is 500. Prospects that have actually currently passed the required exam might call the IC&RC at 717-540-4457 to have their ratings sent out to the licensing company. A prospective counselor that has actually not passed the regulation evaluation during the prior 5 years will absolutely require to do so prior to credentialing.


How to become an addiction counselor in Wisconsin is not a difficult task. The state offers a good amount of addiction therapy facilities that will help the addict to kick the habit. If you are looking for a career as an addiction counselor, you must be qualified to deal with addicts of all ages and backgrounds. You should have experience in addiction therapy and at least a bachelor's degree.


A good training and certification will enable you to become an addiction counselor in Wisconsin. It is advisable to find a university or institute that offers accredited programs for the graduates to make their transition to the field easier. Also, you must have some training in counseling and you must be capable of handling multiple clients.


The training required to become an addiction counselor can take years, but it will provide a lot of knowledge and expertise for you to help people who are addicted to alcohol or other substance abuse. There are lots of institutions that offer courses and training in addiction therapy. You can also get the knowledge on how to become an addiction counselor through online or live classes. These institutions have professionals who have been trained extensively.


The most important things for you to have prior to taking up a position in an alcoholism treatment center would be a diploma from an accredited university or college or certificate from a recognized institution like the American Society for Addiction Medicine. You must also be a licensed professional to do this job in Wisconsin. You will require at least a bachelor's degree for the training.


How to become an addiction counselor in Wisconsin also requires that you have a lot of patience and compassion. Your compassion must be to deal with addicts with complete respect and dignity. Addiction is a disease and not a crime. When you go for such a job, you will not be dealing with criminals. You will also be dealing with people who are in a crisis of mind and who are emotionally unstable.


As an addiction counselor, you must be able to keep the clients motivated and focus on getting them out of their addiction. You must also know how to motivate them and talk to them in a sympathetic manner. It is your job to convince them that there is a better way out for them. and that there is hope that they can overcome this problem.


A large number of people are affected by alcohol dependence in America. People with substance abuse disorders or alcoholism form a large segment of the population. As a result, treatment facilities in the state are faced with a huge demand for trained professionals. It is therefore important for those who are looking to enter the profession to be very serious about their careers and acquire proper training.


People suffering from alcohol abuse or alcoholism are not given much importance or respect by society when they are in a dependency on drugs or alcohol. They are considered a drain on the system and they are not considered worthy of any attention or sympathy. As a matter of fact, a lot of treatment centers try to hide their addictions and fail to provide the best treatment possible.


So, how can one be a good addiction counselor? What are some of the criteria that one has to meet in order to qualify as an addiction counselor? These are the following:


As already mentioned earlier, you need to be a certified professional before you apply for an alcoholism treatment center in Wisconsin. You may also be required to have a masters or a bachelor's degree and be at least 21 years old for this position.


You will find the job of a counselor very stressful. It is therefore important for you to maintain a positive attitude while handling clients and dealing with people from all kinds of backgrounds.


Counselor Testing & Examination Process


In Wisconsin you may take the required exams before your experience is completed. There are two exams for substance abuse counselor certification:


  • International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium Counseling Examination

  • Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Examination (online, open-book)


Once you log in to the DSPS website and begin the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Examination there is a three month window for completion.


When you're ready to apply for your credential you can download a copy of the application form from the DSPS website. There is a $75 fee for the certification as well as a $75 fee for the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Examination; if you've already passed this exam you won't have to pay the fee again.


Besides your personal information you'll need to submit the following forms:


  • Employment Verification

  • Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination results

  • IC&RC Exam results

  • Certificate of Completion of department approved substance use disorder education program

  • Completion of Specialized Education

  • Notarized clinical supervision hours statement

  • Official school transcripts if using a degree in lieu of supervised employment hours


If you have a pending criminal charge you must also submit the Conviction and Pending Charges form to verify the charges are not substance abuse related.


Once your application and all required documentation is reviewed and approved you'll be notified by the DSPS and may download and print your license by logging in to their website.


Clinical Supervision Explained


Your work experience must be completed under the oversight of a clinical supervisor. A clinical supervisor holds a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certification and will help you become a fully rounded counselor.


Among other areas a clinical supervisor is charged with:


  • Counselor development

  • Counselor skill assessment and performance evaluation

  • Staff management and administration

  • Teaching professional responsibility

  • Auditing of patient files

  • Case review and discussion of active cases

  • Direct observation of treatment


The goals of your clinical supervisor include helping you practice dimensions and core functions, develop competency in the transdisciplinary foundations, provide a context for professional growth and development, and ensure a continuance of quality patient care.


Your clinical supervisor will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can concentrate on developing the areas where you may be lacking. For example, you may be great at one-on-one counseling but missing the mark in regards to maintaining client files, so your supervisor will concentrate on helping you develop documentation skills more than direct counseling.


Your clinical supervisor will be tasked with documenting your required work hours for certification and will provide the DSPS a signed log of your hours when you're ready to apply for certification.


Renewal and Continuing Education


Once you earn your certification you'll be required to keep it current. Your license will expire on February 28 of odd calendar years; if you earn your certification in December of an even number year you will still be required to renew but will not be held accountable for continuing education during your first period of licensure.


All current certified substance abuse counselors in Wisconsin must complete 40 hours of continuing education in the two years their license is valid. Wisconsin does not have specific coursework requirements and accepts all of the following examples for continuing education as long as they are from a local or national professional substance use disorder association, an accredited college or university or other professional mental health or medical health-related organization such as NAADAC:


  • Continuing education course

  • Undergraduate courses

  • Graduate-level courses


In Wisconsin there is no limit to the number of continuing education hours you complete online, so if you're already licensed and working towards your higher degree you may use those credit hours towards your continuing education requirement as long as the coursework pertains to substance abuse treatment or prevention.


In addition, CE hours may be awarded for presentation as long as the courses relate to the license holder's area of practice but only for the initial presentation as follows:


  • Presentation of professional material equals 1 CE hour per hour of presentation

  • Development of professional material equals 1 CE hour per hour of development

  • Presentation of a semester length education course shall receive 20 CE hours


A presenter of professional material also qualifies in the following activities:


  • Seminars, workshops, or programs approved by DSPS programs

  • University, college or vocational adult education courses

  • Authoring a published textbook or professional resource book (20 CE hours)

  • Authorship of published chapter in textbook, professional resource book, or professional journal article (8 CE hours) but maximum 16 CE hours for authorship of chapters or articles

  • Authorship of electronic media or computer software (8 CE hours) maximum 16 CE hours


Potential Counselor Career Path Options


  • Addiction Counselor

  • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselor

  • Behavioral Health Specialist

  • Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor

  • Chemical Dependency Counselor

  • Mental Health Counselor

  • School Counselor

  • Substance Abuse Counselor


Associations & Organizations


As soon as you enroll in your first substance abuse course you should join one or more professional organizations. Membership in an association will give you unlimited resources in your field such as mentorship, networking, and advocacy opportunities as well as the latest information on legislation that may affect the counseling field. Professional organizations are also the go-to source for workshops, seminars, and conferences as well as continuing education classes. Many professional associations also offer discounts on books, magazines, insurance, and other areas that are relevant to substance abuse counselors and students. Here are some organizations you can join once you begin your Wisconsin career in substance abuse counseling:


  • National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) Wisconsin Chapter

  • Wisconsin Rehabilitation Counseling Association (WRCA)

  • Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCS)

  • Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT)