Chapter SPS 161

Chapter SPS 161

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

SPS 161.01   Substance abuse counselor-in-training application.

SPS 161.02   Substance abuse counselor application.

SPS 161.03   Clinical substance abuse counselor application.

SPS 161.04   Clinical supervisor-in-training application.

SPS 161.05   Intermediate clinical supervisor or independent clinical supervisor application.

SPS 161.06   Prevention specialist-in-training application.

SPS 161.07   Prevention specialist application.

SPS 161.08   Reciprocity.

SPS 161.09   Reciprocal credentials for service members, former service members, and their spouses.

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Ch. SPS 161 Note Note: Chapter SPS 161 was repealed and recreated by 2017 Wis. Act 262 effective 5-1-18, Register April 2018 No. 748.

SPS 161.01 SPS 161.01 Substance abuse counselor-in-training application. An applicant for certification as a substance abuse counselor-in-training shall submit all of the following:

SPS 161.01(1) (1) A complete application.

SPS 161.01 Note Note: Instructions for applications can be found on the department of safety and professional services’ website at http://dsps.wi.gov.

SPS 161.01(2) (2) A fee as determined by the department under s. 440.05, Stats.

SPS 161.01(3) (3) Evidence of successful passage of the jurisprudence examination.

SPS 161.01(4) (4) Evidence of completion of 100 hours of substance use disorder specialized education through a postsecondary institution or department-approved education program. The 100 hours shall be in all of the following:

SPS 161.01(4)(a) (a) Fifteen hours in assessment training.

SPS 161.01(4)(b) (b) Fifteen hours in counseling training.

SPS 161.01(4)(c) (c) Ten hours in case management.

SPS 161.01(4)(d) (d) Fifteen hours in patient education.

SPS 161.01(4)(e) (e) Twenty hours in professional responsibility.

SPS 161.01(4)(f) (f) Twenty-five hours in electives in any of the subjects in pars. (a) to (e).

SPS 161.01(5) (5) Evidence of current employment, a written offer of employment, internship, practicum, or an agreement authorizing volunteer hours at an agency providing substance use disorder treatment under the supervision of a clinical supervisor approved by the department prior to the start of the supervised practice.

SPS 161.01(6) (6) For applicants who have a pending criminal charge or have been convicted of a crime, all related information necessary for the department to determine whether the circumstances of the pending criminal charge or conviction are substantially related to the practice of substance use disorder counseling.

SPS 161.01 History History: 2017 Wis. Act 262: cr. Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5-1-18; CR 25-095: am. (1), (4) (intro.), (5), (6) Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26.

SPS 161.02 SPS 161.02 Substance abuse counselor application. An applicant for certification as a substance abuse counselor shall submit all of the following:

SPS 161.02(1) (1) A complete application.

SPS 161.02 Note Note: Instructions for applications can be found on the department of safety and professional services’ website at http://dsps.wi.gov.

SPS 161.02(2) (2) A fee as determined by the department under s. 440.05, Stats.

SPS 161.02(3) (3) Evidence of successful passage of the jurisprudence examination unless the applicant has previously passed the examination in the process of obtaining a substance abuse counselor-in-training credential.

SPS 161.02(4) (4) Evidence of completion of 360 hours of substance use disorder specialized education through a postsecondary institution or a department-approved education program. The 360 hours shall be in all of the following:

SPS 161.02(4)(a) (a) Sixty hours in assessment training.

SPS 161.02(4)(b) (b) Sixty hours in counseling training.

SPS 161.02(4)(c) (c) Sixty hours in case management.

SPS 161.02(4)(d) (d) Sixty hours in patient education.

SPS 161.02(4)(e) (e) Sixty hours in professional responsibility.

SPS 161.02(4)(f) (f) Six hours in boundaries and ethics.

SPS 161.02(4)(g) (g) Fifty-four hours in electives in any of the subjects in pars. (a) to (f).

SPS 161.02(5) (5) Evidence of successful passage of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors’ NCAC I exam.

SPS 161.02(6) (6) Evidence of completion of 3,000 hours of work experience performing the practice dimensions supervised by a clinical supervisor and while holding a valid in-training license. Any 1,500 of the total 3,000 hours of work experience shall be completed within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application. The 3,000 hours shall also include a minimum of 1,500 hours providing substance use disorder counseling, of which at least 500 hours is in a one-on-one individual modality setting.

SPS 161.02(6m) (6m) An applicant who has completed any portion of substance use disorder treatment work experience in another state shall be given credit for those hours obtained provided the hours meet the requirements of sub. (6). If the work experience was completed under the supervision of an individual who did not take the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors’ NCAC I exam, an applicant shall provide evidence of completion of required work experience hours supervised by an individual who passed the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium prior to May 1, 2018.

SPS 161.02(7) (7) For applicants who have a pending criminal charge or have been convicted of a crime, all related information necessary for the department to determine whether the circumstances of the pending criminal charge or conviction are substantially related to the practice of substance use disorder counseling.

SPS 161.02(8) (8) An applicant who holds an active credential listed in s. 440.88 (3m), Stats., may count hours of practice gained under that credential that otherwise meet the requirements of sub. (6) regardless of whether the applicant held a substance abuse-in-training credential or received supervision from a clinical supervisor.

SPS 161.02 History History: 2017 Wis. Act 262: cr. Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5-1-18; CR 25-095; am. (1), r. and recr. (6), cr. (6m), am. (7), cr. (8) Register May 2026 No. 845, eff. 6-1-26; correction in (8) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2026 No. 845.

SPS 161.03 SPS 161.03 Clinical substance abuse counselor application. An applicant for certification as a clinical substance abuse counselor shall submit all of the following:

SPS 161.03(1) (1) A complete application.

SPS 161.03 Note Note: Instructions for applications can be found on the department of safety and professional services’ website at http://dsps.wi.gov.

SPS 161.03(2) (2) A fee as determined by the department under s. 440.05, Stats.

SPS 161.03(3) (3) Evidence of successful passage of the jurisprudence examination unless the applicant has previously passed the examination in the process of obtaining a substance abuse counselor-in-training or substance abuse counselor credential.

SPS 161.03(4) (4) Evidence of one of the following:

SPS 161.03(4)(a) (a) Holding a substance abuse counselor credential.

SPS 161.03(4)(b) (b) Completion of 360 hours of substance use disorder specialized education through a postsecondary institution or department-approved education program. The 360 hours shall be in all of the following:

SPS 161.03(4)(b)1. 1. Sixty hours in assessment training.

SPS 161.03(4)(b)2. 2. Sixty hours in counseling training.

SPS 161.03(4)(b)3. 3. Sixty hours in case management.