2001 Wisconsin Act 80

Welcome to the Wisconsin Certification Board’s (WCB) 2001 Wisconsin Act 80 page to assist DRL credentialed social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors in complying with requirements for providing Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) services under the provisions of Act 80.

Note:   DRL credentialed social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors already WCB certified as a CADC, CADC II or CADC III (or those with a certification development plan on file with the WCB) already meet the proposed Act 80 criteria for providing AODA services.

The WCB created special certification requirements for persons credentialed under Act 80.  The certification requirements and the process to acquire WCB certification as a Certified Alcohol/Drug Counselor-D (CADC-D) are placed on this site as a service to DRL credentialed social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors who practice substance use disorder counseling and want to be in compliance with Act 80. 

Who should obtain this certification?

  The Department of Regulation and Licensing has stated, “The definition of ‘psychotherapy’ created in Act 80 includes the diagnosis and treatment of addictions.  A person credentialed by the Examining Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors may treat alcohol or substance dependency or abuse as long as it is not treated ‘as a specialty’.”

“Psychotherapy” means the diagnosis and treatment of mental emotional, or behavioral disorders, conditions, or addictions through the application of methods derived from established psychological or systemic principles for the purpose of assisting people in modifying their behaviors, cognitions, emotions, and other personal characteristics, which may include the purpose of understanding unconscious processes or intrapersonal, interpersonal, or psychosocial dynamics. 457.01

  Act 80 does not “authorize any individual who is certified or licensed under this chapter to treat alcohol or substance dependency or abuse as a specialty unless the individual is a substance abuse counselor, as defined in s. HFS 75.02 (84), Wis Adm. Code, or unless the individual satisfies educational and supervised training requirements established in rule promulgated by the examining board.  In promulgating rules under this subsection the examining board shall consider the requirements for qualifying as a substance abuse counselor under s. HFS 75.02(84),” Wis Adm. Code.  457.02(5m)  At the present time the Department of Regulation and Licensing has not developed alternative standards to those of the Wisconsin Certification Board.

The Department of Health and Family Services requires that all therapists providing substance use disorder services in HFS 75 certified clinics be certified by the Wisconsin Certification Board. HFS 75.03 (4) (d).

The references to HFS 75.02 identify certifications by the Wisconsin Certification Board.

Act 80 and the rules promulgated by the sections do not further define “as a specialty.”  The Wisconsin Certification Board will consider therapists seeking the CADC-D certification as qualifying under this act if a focus of their therapy with clients addresses substance use disorder issues or includes substance use disorder issues in a treatment plan.

Act 80 does not “authorize any individual certified under this chapter to use the title “alcohol and drug counselor” or “chemical dependency counselor” unless the individual is certified as an alcohol and drug counselor or as a chemical dependency counselor through a process recognized by the department of health and family services.” 457.02 (5) (Currently certification by the Wisconsin Certification Board is the only certification that meets this requirement.)

State of Wisconsin Dept. of Regulation & Licensing

Wisconsin Certification Board, Inc.

Ø      Certified Alcohol/Drug Counselor-D (CADC-D)

§       Informational brochure about the CADC-D

§         WCB Process for Act 80 Compliance

§         CADC-D Requirements

§         CADC-D Certification Handbook and Application  

           (includes IC&RC Written Counselor Examination Application)

§         IC&RC Written Counselor Examination

§         CADC-D Materials Order Form