Wisconsin Social Work CE Requirement Statutes

This information below has been obtained directly from the Wisconsin Social Work Board Website and is current as of August 2024. Please visit Wisconsin Board of Social Work for full information and details.

Wisconsin Social Work MPSW 19.02 Continuing education requirements. 

(1) Unless granted a postponement or waiver of the continuing education requirement under s. MPSW 19.04, every marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, social worker, advanced practice social worker, independent social worker, and clinical social worker shall complete at least 30 continuing education credit hours in approved continuing education programs during each 2 year credential period and certify on the application for renewal that all required education was completed. Unless granted a postponement or waiver of the continuing education requirement, a credential holder who fails to meet the continuing education requirements by the renewal deadline must discontinue the use of the title. 

(2) A minimum of 4 continuing education credit hours, of the required 30 continuing education credit hours, shall be in the area of professional ethics and boundaries related to the practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, or social work. 

(a) A person holding multiple credentials granted by the board shall complete only a minimum of 4 continuing education credit hours in the area of professional ethics and boundaries. 

(b) Social work credential holders shall complete their ethics continuing education credit hours in an interactive learning format. 

(3) During the time between receiving the initial credential and commencement of a full 2 year credentialing period, a new credential holder is not required to meet continuing education requirements for the first renewal of the credential. 

(4) Continuing education credit hours shall apply only to the 2 year credential period in which the credit hours are completed, unless either of the following applies: 

(a) Continuing education credit hours required as a consequence of a disciplinary proceeding may not be counted towards the fulfillment of generally applicable continuing education requirements. 

(b) If the credential holder fails to meet the continuing education requirement during a 2 year credential period, any additional continuing education credit hours completed on or after the renewal date to satisfy the requirement of the preceding period will not apply to the period in which they are earned. 

History: CR 13−117: cr. Register February 2015 No. 710, eff. 3−1−15; correction in (1) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2017 No. 740. 

MPSW 19.03 Approved continuing education. (

1) Continuing education programs, if relevant to the professional practice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, or social work, are approved as follows: 

(a) Any continuing education program approved, sponsored, provided, endorsed, or authorized by: 1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) or affiliated divisions. 2. Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT). 3. National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA). 4. American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA). 5. Wisconsin Rehabilitation Counseling Association (WRCA). 6. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). 7. American Counseling Association (ACA). 8. Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCA). 9. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). 10. Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC). 11. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). 12. National Association of Social Workers (NASW) or affiliated chapters. 13. Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors (BPD). 14. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 15. National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling (NAADAC) or affiliated divisions. 

(b) Any continuing education program or course offered by a training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). 

(c) Any continuing education program approved, sponsored, or co−sponsored by a presenter approved by the Committee for the Approval of Continuing Education Sponsors of the American Psychological Association. 

(d) Any educational programs, recognized as approved at the time of attendance as “Category I” continuing medical education programs by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association. 

(e) Any course or continuing education program offered by an accredited college or university. 

(f) Public and private agencies that provide in−house training and development programs. Only 15 of the required 30 continuing education credit hours shall be met through in−house training and development programs which are not approved by an organization identified in pars. (a) to (e). 

(2) Continuing education hours may be awarded for the following professional activities, if relevant to the professional prac- MPSW 19.03 WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 40 Published under s. 35.93, Wis. Stats., by the Legislative Reference Bureau. Published under s. 35.93, Stats. Updated on the first day of each month. Entire code is always current. The Register date on each page is the date the chapter was last published. Register July 2018 No. 751 tice of marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, or social work: (a) A presenter of professional material shall receive 1 continuing education credit hour per hour of continuing education. A developer of professional material shall receive 1 continuing education credit hour per hour of development of continuing education. A presenter of a semester education course shall receive 20 continuing education credit hours. No additional continuing education credit hours will be granted for subsequent presentations of the same material. A presenter of professional material at any of the following qualifies for continuing education: 1. Seminars, workshops, programs, or institutions approved in sub. (1) (a) to (f). 2. University, college, or vocational technical adult education courses. (b) Authorship of a published textbook or professional resource book. Authors of a book shall receive 20 continuing education credit hours. (c) Authorship of a published chapter in a textbook or professional resource book, or a professional journal article. Authors of chapters or articles shall receive 8 continuing education credit hours. No more than 16 continuing education hours may be obtained for authorship of chapters or articles. (d) Authorship of alternative or electronic media or computer software. Authorship of these materials shall receive 8 continuing education credit hours. No more than 16 continuing education hours may be obtained for authorship of alternative or electronic media or computer software. History: CR 13−117: cr. Register February 2015 No. 710, eff. 3−1−15; corrections in (1) (f), (2) (a) 1. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2015 No. 710. MPSW 19.04 Postponement, waiver, and exem