SPS 160.015(1)(1) Use of title. Except as consistent with sub. (2), a person may use the title “addiction counselor,” “substance abuse counselor,” “alcohol and drug counselor,” “substance use disorder counselor” or “chemical dependency counselor” only if the individual is certified as a substance abuse counselor, or as a clinical substance abuse counselor under s. 440.88, Stats. SPS 160.015(2)(a)(a) A physician, as defined in s. 448.01 (5), Stats., who practices as a clinical supervisor or provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(b)(b) A clinical social worker, as defined in s. 457.01 (1r), Stats., who practices as a clinical supervisor or provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(bg)(bg) An advanced practice social worker, as defined in s. 457.01 (1c), Stats., who provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(br)(br) An independent social worker, as defined in s. 457.01 (2g), Stats., who provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(c)(c) A licensed psychologist, as defined in s. 990.0l (31m), Stats., who practices as a clinical supervisor or provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(d)(d) A marriage and family therapist, as defined in s. 457.01 (3), who practices as a clinical supervisor or provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(dm)(dm) A professional counselor, as defined in s. 457.01 (7), Stats., who practices as a clinical supervisor or provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their licensure. SPS 160.015(2)(e)(e) The preparation of a patient for substance use disorder treatment by referral, the treatment of a patient for substance use disorder until a referral for substance use disorder treatment is completed, and the continuation of treatment with the nonsubstance use disorder issues of a person, when performed by a mental health provider practicing within the scope of their credential. SPS 160.015 HistoryHistory: 2017 Wis. Act 262: cr. Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5-1-18; correction in (2) (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2023 No. 805; CR 25-093: r. and recr. (1), am. (2) (a), (b), cr. (2) (bg), (br), am. (2) (c), (d), cr. (2) (dm), am. (2) (e) Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26. SPS 160.02(1)(1) “Accredited” means accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. SPS 160.02(2)(2) “Assessment” means the process and procedures by which a counselor or service identifies and evaluates an individual's strengths, weaknesses, problems and needs in order to develop a treatment plan for the individual based on an approved placement criteria as defined in s. DHS 75.03 (4). SPS 160.02(2m)(2m) “Assessment training” means education on the comprehensive process of collecting pertinent data about patients or patient systems and their environment, and appraising the data as a basis for making decisions regarding substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment or referral. The education shall consist of culturally inclusive studies in understanding addiction, psychopharmacology, recognition and differentiation of co-occurring medical and psychological disorders, clinical evaluation, and treatment planning. SPS 160.02(3)(3) “Behavioral science field” means any of the following: SPS 160.02(3m)(3m) “Case management” means education on culturally appropriate administrative, clinical, and evaluative activities included in the process of coordinating and prioritizing patient treatment goals and working with the patient and significant others, as well as other services, agencies, and resources to achieve those treatment goals. The education shall include studies in implementing treatment plans including continuing assessment, the referral process, service coordination, including for co-occurring medical and psychological disorders, record management and documentation, and utilizing the written client record to guide and monitor services to reach measurable goals and objectives. SPS 160.02(5)(5) “Clinical substance abuse counselor” means an individual who holds a clinical substance abuse counselor certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(6)(6) “Clinical supervision” means a specific and definitive process of oversight of a counselor's professional development in the didactic, experiential and application of the transdisciplinary foundations, and practice dimensions including core functions. Supervision takes place between a clinical supervisor and a counselor provided on or off the site of a service to ensure that each patient has an individualized treatment plan and is receiving quality care. A primary purpose of “clinical supervision” is to ensure quality patient care. SPS 160.02(7)(7) “Clinical supervisor” means an individual who practices or has training in substance use disorder clinical supervision; provides substance use disorder counseling, treatment, or prevention services within the scope of their credential; and holds an unencumbered and active credential in good standing granted by the department or respective examining board as one of the following: SPS 160.02(7)(b)(b) A certified intermediate or independent clinical supervisor. SPS 160.02(8)(8) “Clinical supervisor-in-training” means an individual who holds a clinical supervisor-in-training certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(9)(9) “Continuing education credit hour” means 50 minutes of instruction or participation spent by the credential holder in actual attendance or completion of an approved educational activity. SPS 160.02(10m)(10m) “Counseling training” means education that includes the study of fundamental theories, principles, and techniques of substance use disorder counseling to facilitate the progress of diverse patients toward mutually determined treatment goals and objectives using culturally sensitive modalities. Counseling education shall include studies of understanding addiction, recognized treatment theory and practice, the recovery process, effective strategies for meeting the counseling needs of diverse patients, crisis management skills, and awareness of co-occurring medical and psychological disorders. SPS 160.02(12)(12) “Department” means the department of safety and professional services. SPS 160.02(13)(13) “DSM” means the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. SPS 160.02(13m)(13m) “Encumbrance” means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on, the full and unrestricted practice of substance use disorder counseling imposed by the department or respective examining board. SPS 160.02(17)(17) “Independent clinical supervisor” means an individual who holds an independent clinical supervisor certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(18)(18) “Intermediate clinical supervisor” means an individual who holds an intermediate clinical supervisor certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(19)(19) “Patient” means an individual who has completed the screening, placement and intake process and is receiving substance use disorder treatment services. SPS 160.02(19m)(19m) “Patient education” means education about the process of providing patients, groups, families, couples, significant others, and communities with information on risks related to substance use, the processes of dependence including signs, symptoms, and behavior patterns, and available resources for prevention, treatment, and recovery in culturally relevant ways. The education shall include studies in understanding addiction including addiction to nicotine, the classification and basic pharmacology of drugs, basic physiology and the effects of drug use on the human body and patient, learning styles and teaching methods, delivery of educational programs, health and behavior problems related to substance use including transmission of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, and other infectious diseases, and basic life skills such as stress management, communication, and assertiveness. SPS 160.02(20)(20) “Practice dimensions” means the 8 counselor practice dimensions used to effectively treat substance use disorders. They are: SPS 160.02(21)(21) “Prevention” means a pro-active process of promoting supportive institutions, neighborhoods and communities that foster an environment conducive to the health and well being of individuals and families. Prevention may be targeted to specific populations or the larger community by any of the following: SPS 160.02(21)(a)(a) Promoting knowledge, attitudes, skills, values and relationships conducive to the health and well being of individuals and families. SPS 160.02(21)(c)(c) Promoting responsibility, judgment, communication and conflict resolution. SPS 160.02(21)(f)(f) Promoting healthy support systems in families, schools, workplaces and communities. SPS 160.02(21)(g)(g) Promoting healthy lifestyles and resistance to physical and psychological illness or psychological injury. SPS 160.02(21)(h)(h) Involving citizens in creating cultural changes related to health and wellness. SPS 160.02(21)(i)(i) Counteracting harmful circumstances such as substance use, health and safety hazards, isolation, violence, economic hardship and inadequate housing, childcare, transportation, education or social services. SPS 160.02(23)(23) “Prevention specialist” means an individual who holds a prevention specialist certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(24)(24) “Prevention specialist-in training” means an individual who holds a prevention specialist-in-training certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(24m)(24m) “Professional responsibility” means education that addresses standards of conduct or professional behavior expectations for counselors, supervisors, and prevention workers. Professional behavior areas to be studied shall include, at a minimum, legal issues specific to substance use disorder professional practice, patient welfare as a primary concern, responsibility for professional competence and professional development, participation in ongoing supervision and consultation, counselor values and self-care, relationships with other professionals and institutions, and the establishment of limits and boundaries in the patient relationship. This education shall also address the impact of specific cultural, ethnic, and racial influences and expectations. SPS 160.02(26)(26) “Substance abuse counselor” means an individual who holds a substance abuse counselor certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(27)(27) “Substance abuse counselor-in-training” means an individual who holds a substance abuse counselor-in-training certificate granted by the department. SPS 160.02(28)(28) “Substance use disorder” means the existence of a diagnosis of “substance use disorder” listed in the most current edition of DSM. SPS 160.02(29)(29) “Substance use disorder counselor” means the holder of any credential issued by the department pursuant to s. 440.88, Stats., or issued by any Wisconsin accrediting board and practicing substance use disorder counseling within the scope of their credential. SPS 160.02 HistoryHistory: CR 07-031: cr. Register November 2007 No. 623, eff. 12-1-07; correction in (intro.), (9), (12) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; 2017 Wis. Act 262: cr. (2m), (3) (g), (h), (3m), am. (6), r. (9), (10), cr. (10m), r. (14), (16), cr. (19m), r. (22), cr. (24m), am. (28), r. (29) Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5-1-18; CR 25-095: am. (2), (3) (e), r. (4), am. (6), r. and recr. (7), cr. (9), am. (11), cr. (13m), r. (15), am. (25), cr. (29), (30) Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26. SPS 160.04(1)(1) A person who uses telehealth in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient located in this state shall be credentialed to practice by the department. SPS 160.04(2)(2) A person credentialed by the department located in this state treating patients via telehealth, who are not physically located in this state at the time of treatment, must comply with the regulations in the state the patient is physically located at the time of treatment. SPS 160.04(3)(3) A person credentialed by the department shall be held to the same standards of practice and conduct including patient confidentiality and recordkeeping, regardless of whether health care services are provided in person or by telehealth. SPS 160.04(4)(4) A person credentialed by the department who provides substance use disorder counseling services by telehealth is responsible for the quality and safe use of equipment and technology that is integral to patient diagnosis and treatment. The equipment and technology used to provide substance use disorder counseling services by telehealth shall be compliant with HIPAA regulations as established in 45 CFR 160 and 164, as of January 2026, and provide, at a minimum, information that will enable the substance use disorder counselor to meet or exceed the standard of minimally competent counseling practice. SPS 160.04 HistoryHistory: CR 25-095: cr. Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.
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Chs. SPS 1-299; Professional Services
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