At a Glance
Wisconsin certifies substance abuse counselors at three levels through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS): SAC-IT (entry-level), SAC, and CSAC. Each credential requires progressively more education, supervised experience, and examination. Most counselors start with the SAC-IT and work toward full certification over two to three years.
Wisconsin recorded more than 1,700 fatal drug overdoses in 2023, a 45% increase from 2018 levels, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. That number dropped in 2024, but the demand for trained addiction counselors remains high across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) administers three certification levels for substance abuse counselors, each designed to match counselors to the right scope of practice at every stage of their career.
The Three Certification Levels
Wisconsin structures its substance abuse counselor credentials as a progression. The Substance Abuse Counselor In Training (SAC-IT) is the entry point. From there, most counselors advance to the Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) and, at the highest level, the Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). In practice, the SAC-IT is where nearly everyone starts: you cannot begin accruing the supervised hours required for the SAC until your SAC-IT credential has been issued, per the DSPS. The SAC-IT can be renewed only twice, giving you a maximum of approximately five years to complete your supervised experience and advance. The table below summarizes the key differences across the three levels.
| Certification |
Degree Requirement |
Supervised Experience |
| SAC-IT |
None |
None required |
| SAC |
None required (degree required for CSAC) |
3,000 hours (within 5 years) |
| CSAC |
Associate’s or higher in behavioral science |
5,000 hours total |
The CSAC is designed for counselors who want to take on broader clinical responsibilities, including providing supervision to SAC-IT counselors under Wis. Admin. Code SPS 162. The CSAC credential is also a required foundation for those pursuing the supervisory credentialing pathway through the DSPS (Clinical Supervisor-in-Training, Intermediate Clinical Supervisor, and Independent Clinical Supervisor). If you already hold a SAC, your 3,000 supervised hours apply directly toward the 5,000 total required for CSAC, meaning you’ll need an additional 2,000 hours at the clinical level before applying.
Education and Training Requirements
All three certification levels require completing structured education hours in core subject areas approved by the DSPS. The SAC-IT requires 100 hours total. The SAC and CSAC each require 360 hours, distributed across the same five performance domains plus a required ethics component. Requirements below reflect the DSPS Credentialing Information for Substance Abuse Counselor Applicants (Rev. 4/2022).
SAC-IT Education Requirements (100 Hours)
- 15 hours in Substance Abuse Assessment
- 15 hours in Substance Abuse Counseling
- 10 hours in Substance Abuse Case Management
- 15 hours in Substance Abuse Patient Education
- 20 hours in Substance Abuse Professional Responsibility
- 25 elective hours within the domains listed above
SAC and CSAC Education Requirements (360 Hours)
- 60 hours in Substance Abuse Assessment
- 60 hours in Substance Abuse Counseling
- 60 hours in Substance Abuse Case Management
- 60 hours in Substance Abuse Patient Education
- 60 hours in Substance Abuse Professional Responsibility
- 6 hours in Boundaries and Ethics
- 54 elective hours within the domains listed above
The CSAC also requires applicants to hold at least an Associate’s degree or higher in a behavioral science field such as counseling, social work, or psychology. Both the SAC and CSAC coursework must be completed through a postsecondary institution or a DSPS-approved education program. The DSPS maintains a current list of approved programs on its website.
Supervised Work Experience
The SAC-IT itself carries no supervised hour requirement, but it’s the credential that unlocks your ability to start accumulating the hours you’ll need for the SAC. Once your SAC-IT is issued, you can begin logging supervised experience. You cannot count hours accrued before that date, per the DSPS. You’ll need 3,000 hours of supervised work experience within the five years immediately preceding your SAC application date.
For the CSAC, the requirement rises to 5,000 total hours in the substance abuse field, also within the five years immediately preceding your application. If you’re advancing from the SAC, your existing hours apply directly toward that total, so the additional experience required is 2,000 hours. Throughout both pathways, your supervisor must hold a credential recognized under Wis. Admin. Code SPS 162, which includes CSACs, Independent and Intermediate Clinical Supervisors, and licensed mental health practitioners such as LCSWs, LPCs, and LMFTs. Practitioners holding a Wisconsin social work license at the LCSW level are also recognized as qualified supervisors under this rule.
Certification Exams
Exam requirements differ across the three credential levels. The SAC-IT requires only the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Exam, which covers the state rules governing substance abuse practice. The SAC and CSAC both require that exam, plus the National Certified Addiction Counselor Level I (NCAC I), administered by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC). Per the DSPS, payment for the NCAC I exam is made directly to NAADAC. The DSPS does not collect that fee.
The Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Exam is open-book. The DSPS provides applicants with login credentials once the application and fees are received and reviewed. Per the DSPS, both required exams for the SAC can be taken after completing all education hours, before finishing your supervised experience. You don’t need to wait until your hours are complete to sit for the exams.
Applying for Certification
All applications are submitted online through the DSPS LicencE portal at license.wi.gov. You’ll need to submit employment verification (Form #2770) along with your completed application and required documentation. The application fee is $60 for each certification level, paid online. Veteran applicants may be eligible for a fee waiver.
If you have a criminal conviction on your record, you’ll need to submit additional documentation for the DSPS to review. If you’re concerned that a past conviction might affect your eligibility, you can request a predetermination review before submitting your full application. The predetermination form is available through the DSPS website. Confirm current fees directly with the DSPS, as fee schedules are updated periodically.
Renewing Your Certification
All Wisconsin substance abuse counselor certifications renew during odd years, with a deadline of February 28. The renewal fee is $75 and can be submitted online via the LicencE portal. New credential holders are not required to complete continuing education hours during any partial period before their first full biennial renewal cycle begins. After that, each full biennial renewal cycle requires 30 hours of continuing education, including a minimum of 4 hours specifically covering Ethics and Professional Boundaries, per Wis. Admin. Code SPS 168. CE programs must be approved by a recognized body, including NAADAC or the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium.
Salary and Career Outlook
Substance abuse counseling is one of the faster-growing behavioral health fields in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the average across all occupations. The BLS attributes this growth to rising demand for behavioral health services and the ongoing need to replace workers who retire or move to other occupations, with approximately 48,300 openings projected each year over the decade. In Wisconsin, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $62,470 for this occupation as of May 2024, above the national median of $59,190.
| Employment Metric |
BLS Data (May 2024) |
| National Median Annual Wage |
$59,190 |
| Wisconsin Median Annual Wage |
$62,470 |
| Projected Job Growth (2024–2034) |
17% |
| Projected Annual Openings (National) |
~48,300 |
Credential level matters for earnings. Counselors holding the CSAC and taking on clinical or supervisory responsibilities typically earn toward the higher end of the range. The top 10 percent of earners in this occupation nationally brought in over $98,210 in May 2024, according to BLS data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a college degree to become a substance abuse counselor in Wisconsin?
Not for the SAC-IT or SAC levels. Neither requires a degree. The CSAC does require at least an Associate’s degree or higher in a behavioral science field (such as counseling, social work, or psychology) from an accredited institution, per the DSPS credentialing requirements.
How long does it take to become a certified substance abuse counselor in Wisconsin?
Most counselors should plan for two to three years from SAC-IT to full SAC certification. The SAC-IT itself can be obtained relatively quickly once you complete the 100 required education hours. From there, the SAC requires 3,000 hours of supervised experience within the five years immediately preceding your application date. Keep in mind that the SAC-IT can only be renewed twice, which gives you roughly five years total from initial certification to complete your supervised hours and advance.
Do my SAC supervised hours count toward CSAC certification?
Yes. If you’re already a certified SAC, your 3,000 supervised hours apply toward the 5,000 total hours required for CSAC. You’ll need to accumulate an additional 2,000 hours of experience at the clinical level before applying for the CSAC credential.
What is the difference between a SAC and a CSAC in Wisconsin?
Both credentials authorize you to provide substance abuse counseling services in Wisconsin. The CSAC is designed for counselors who want to take on broader clinical responsibilities and is a required foundation for those pursuing the separate supervisory credentialing pathway through the DSPS (Clinical Supervisor-in-Training, Intermediate Clinical Supervisor, Independent Clinical Supervisor). The CSAC also requires an Associate’s degree or higher in a behavioral science field, while the SAC carries no degree requirement.
Does Wisconsin have reciprocity for substance abuse counselors licensed in other states?
Yes, for both the SAC and CSAC. Wisconsin may grant certification through reciprocity if you hold a current credential in good standing from another state or U.S. territory, provided that state’s requirements are not lower than Wisconsin’s current standards, per the DSPS. Contact the DSPS directly and confirm your out-of-state credential qualifies before submitting a reciprocity application.
Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin offers three certification levels through the DSPS: the SAC-IT is the entry point, the SAC authorizes substance abuse counseling services, and the CSAC adds clinical responsibilities and is the required foundation for the supervisory credentialing pathway. In practice, most counselors progress through each level in sequence.
- The SAC-IT requires 100 education hours and no degree. The SAC and CSAC each require 360 education hours, with the CSAC additionally requiring an Associate’s degree or higher in a behavioral science field.
- Plan for two to three years to reach full SAC certification from scratch, with 3,000 supervised hours completing the bulk of that timeline. Those hours carry forward if you later pursue the CSAC.
- Employment in this field is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034 nationally, with a median annual wage of $59,190 according to May 2024 BLS data.
- All certifications are administered by the Wisconsin DSPS and renewed during odd years by February 28, with 30 continuing education hours required after the first renewal cycle.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors represent national data. Wisconsin state wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Figures are not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
