Admissions

Wisconsin State Requirements

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• Complete 360 hours of specialized education in substance use disorder through a post secondary institution or department approved education program. 

• Complete and submit Application for Substance Abuse Counselor including all required documentation and pay required fee.

• DSPS reviews application and makes applicant eligible for the National  Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADC) examination.  Examinations may be taken after completion of education, before experience is completed.

• Successful completion of required examinations. 

• Submit verification of completion of 3,000 hours of work experience performing the 8 practice dimensions as a Substance Abuse Counselor, supervised as described in (Form #2749), within 5 years immediately preceding the date of application. 3,000 hours of work experience shall include the following:

• 1,000 hours in substance use disorder counseling with at least 500 hours is a one-on-one individual modality setting.

• A minimum of 200 hours of counseling during the 12 month period immediately proceeding the date of application, of which 100 hours shall have been completed using individual modality setting.