Certifications/Licensures
The process for earning the professional counselor license or the substance abuse counselor credential typically involves completion of the prescribed educational requirements, as well as completion of application materials, background checks, testing, and a designated number of hours of supervised practice. Prospective and current students should review the requirements of the organization's issuing licenses or credentials early in their degree programs.
Completion of the graduate program in mental health counseling meets the educational requirement for licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Wisconsin.
Completing the addiction counseling specialty meets the educational requirements for the substance abuse counselor credential in the State of Wisconsin, in addition to providing experiences applicable to the required hours of the supervised practice requirements. Currently, the Wisconsin Department of Regulations and Licensing equates a master’s degree in a behavioral science field with an addiction emphasis or concentration in clinical counseling from an accredited school as equal to 2,000 hours of the supervised practice hours required for the substance abuse counselor credential.
In the State of Wisconsin, the Department of Regulations and Licensing is the governing body that oversees both the licensure and credential process. Information about the requirements and process in the State of Wisconsin is available at http://drl.wi.gov/. Minnesota information may be found at
http://www.license.mn.gov/licenses/licensedetail.jsp?URI=tcm:29-2986&CT_URI=tcm:27-117-32 .