The process for earning the professional counselor license or the substance abuse counselor credential 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. Students must review the requirements of the organizations issuing licenses or credentials early in their degree programs to ensure they are qualified.

The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling degree is designed to meet the educational requirement for licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Wisconsin; however, it is the student’s responsibility to stay current with state requirements and counseling licensure standards.

In the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services 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://dsps.wi.gov/Default.aspx?Page=327ccb79-1373-4ce9-8a68-bfdd52ea3566
• Minnesota information may be found at: https://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health/lpc-and-lpcc/lpc-requirement.jsp

• Iowa information may be found at: http://idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Behavioral-Science

The clinical mental health counseling curriculum, combined with substance abuse electives, satisfies the educational requirements for the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) toward the certification of a Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC). To become certified, an individual must have specialized course work, documented practice experience with an approved clinical supervisor who holds the SAC credential, work in a substance abuse counseling setting, and pass state-required examinations.

The clinical mental health counseling program at Viterbo University offers our students the opportunity to pursue the substance abuse counselor (SAC) certification through the course work provided. The substance abuse counseling curriculum cannot be taken separately from the MS in mental health counseling (MSMHC) degree program. 

• COUN 591: Substance Abuse Disorders Counseling (Required in Wisconsin)
   
• COUN 592: Fieldwork in Substance Abuse Disorders (Required in Wisconsin)
   
• COUN 650: Psychopharmacology for Counselors (Required for certified substance abuse counseling (SAC) in the state of Minnesota)
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• COUN 593 Motivational Interviewing (Not required; recommended for those pursing Substance Abuse Counseling)