Chapter 457

457.035(1) (1) The individual is licensed under this subchapter as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor or holds a valid professional counselor privilege to practice in this state.

457.035(2) (2) The individual is certified as an advanced practice or independent social worker and the individual engages in psychotherapy only under the supervision of an individual specified in s. 457.08 (4) (c) 1., 2., 3., or 4.

457.035 History History: 2001 a. 80; 2023 a. 55.

457.04 457.04 Prohibited practices. Except as provided in ss. 257.03 and 457.02, no person may do any of the following:

457.04(1) (1) Use the title “social worker” unless the person is certified as a social worker under this subchapter.

457.04(2) (2) Use the title “advanced practice social worker” unless the person is certified as an advanced practice social worker under this subchapter.

457.04(3) (3) Use the title “independent social worker” unless the person is certified as an independent social worker under this subchapter.

457.04(4) (4) Practice clinical social work or designate himself or herself as a clinical social worker or use or assume the title “clinical social worker” or any other title or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a clinical social worker unless the person is licensed as a clinical social worker under this subchapter or unless the person is certified under this subchapter as an advanced practice social worker or independent social worker and the person practices clinical social work under the supervision of a person who is licensed as a clinical social worker under this subchapter.

457.04(5) (5) Practice marriage and family therapy or designate himself or herself as a marriage and family therapist or use or assume the title “marriage and family therapist,” “marriage and family counselor,” or any other title or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a marriage and family therapist unless any of the following applies:

457.04(5)(a) (a) The person is licensed as a marriage and family therapist under this subchapter.

457.04(5)(b) (b) The person is licensed as a clinical social worker under this subchapter and initially became certified as an independent clinical social worker under ch. 457, 1999 stats., on or before May 31, 1995.

457.04(6) (6) Practice professional counseling or designate himself or herself as a professional counselor or use or assume the title “professional counselor,” “professional rehabilitation counselor,” “vocational rehabilitation counselor,” “rehabilitation counselor,” or any other title or designation that represents or may tend to represent the person as a professional counselor unless the person is licensed as a professional counselor under this subchapter or holds a valid professional counselor privilege to practice in this state.

457.04(7) (7) Practice psychotherapy unless the person is licensed under this subchapter, holds a valid professional counselor privilege to practice in this state, or is a certificate holder who may practice psychotherapy under the rules promulgated under ss. 457.03 and 457.035.

457.04(8) (8) Practice clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, or professional counseling without notifying his or her client in writing of the procedure to follow to resolve a grievance. The notice required under this subsection shall provide one of the following options for resolving a grievance to the client:

457.04(8)(a) (a) A grievance resolution procedure that contains all of the following elements:

457.04(8)(a)1. 1. The name, address, and telephone number of, and any other contact information available for, the appropriate section of the examining board that is responsible for receiving a complaint and investigating and conducting a hearing under s. 457.26 (1).

457.04(8)(a)2. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of, and any other contact information available for, a person not involved in the services, therapy, or counseling giving rise to the complaint who would be available to receive and investigate a complaint.

457.04(8)(a)3. 3. The manner by which a client may present a complaint to a person identified in subd. 1. or 2.

457.04(8)(a)4. 4. The manner by which a client may appeal the resolution of a complaint presented in subd. 3.

457.04(8)(a)5. 5. Time limits for filing, processing, and appealing the resolution of a complaint presented under subd. 3.

457.04(8)(a)6. 6. Protections against retaliation for a client who presents a complaint under subd. 3. and for any person who assists the client to present a complaint under subd. 3.

457.04(8)(b) (b) A grievance resolution procedure that complies with the rules promulgated under s. 51.61 (5) (b).

457.04(8)(c) (c) A grievance resolution procedure that is available to the credential holder through a professional association of which the credential holder is a member.

457.04 History History: 1991 a. 160; 2001 a. 80; 2005 a. 96; 2009 a. 28, 42; 2023 a. 55.

457.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. MPSW 20, Wis. adm. code.

457.06 457.06 General requirements for certification or licensure. The social worker section, marriage and family therapist section, or professional counselor section may not grant any certificate or license under this subchapter unless the applicant does all of the following:

457.06(1) (1) Submits an application for the certificate or license to the department on a form provided by the department.

457.06(2) (2) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

457.06 History History: 1991 a. 160; 2001 a. 80; 2023 a. 55.

457.08 457.08 Social worker certificates and licenses.

457.08(1) (1) Social worker certificate. The social worker section shall grant a social worker certificate to an individual who qualifies under s. 457.09 (5) (d) or to any individual who does all of the following:

457.08(1)(a) (a) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.

457.08(1)(b) (b) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that he or she has received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by, or a preaccreditation program of, the council on social work education or a doctorate degree in social work.

457.08(1)(c) (c) Passes one or more examinations approved by the social worker section to determine minimum competence to practice as a social worker as specified in the rules promulgated under s. 457.03 (2).

457.08(2) (2) Advanced practice social worker certificate. The social worker section shall grant an advanced practice social worker certificate to any individual who is certified under sub. (1) and does all of the following:

457.08(2)(a) (a) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.

457.08(2)(b) (b) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that he or she has received a master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by, or a preaccreditation program of, the council on social work education or a doctorate degree in social work.

457.08(2)(c) (c) Passes one or more examinations approved by the social worker section to determine minimum competence to practice as an advanced practice social worker as specified in the rules promulgated under s. 457.03 (2).

457.08(3) (3) Independent social worker certificate. The social worker section shall grant an independent social worker certificate to any individual who is certified under sub. (1) and does all of the following:

457.08(3)(a) (a) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.

457.08(3)(b) (b) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that he or she has received a master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by, or a preaccreditation program of, the council on social work education or a doctorate degree in social work.

457.08(3)(c) (c) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that after receiving a master’s or doctorate degree in social work he or she has engaged in the equivalent of at least 2 years of full-time supervised social work practice approved by the social worker section.

457.08 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. MPSW 4, Wis. adm. code.

457.08(3)(d) (d) Passes one or more examinations approved by the social worker section to determine minimum competence to practice as an independent social worker as specified in the rules promulgated under s. 457.03 (2), or passes the Academy of Certified Social Workers examination administered by the National Association of Social Workers, except that the examining board may require an individual who passes the Academy of Certified Social Workers examination to also pass an examination approved by the examining board that tests the individual’s knowledge of state law relating to independent social work.

457.08(4) (4) Clinical social worker license. The social worker section shall grant a clinical social worker license to any individual who is certified under sub. (1) and does all of the following:

457.08(4)(a) (a) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.

457.08(4)(b) (b) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that he or she satisfies each of the following:

457.08(4)(b)1. 1. The individual has received a master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by, or a preaccreditation program of, the council on social work education or a doctorate degree in social work.

457.08(4)(b)2. 2. As part of the master’s or doctorate degree program specified in subd. 1. or postgraduate studies, the individual has completed a clinical social work concentration and supervised clinical field training, both of which are approved by the social worker section, except that, upon the advice of the social worker section, the examining board may promulgate rules that allow an individual to substitute a specified number of hours of supervised clinical work experience for the supervised clinical field training.

457.08(4)(c) (c) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that after receiving a master’s or doctorate degree in social work he or she has engaged in the equivalent of at least 3,000 hours of clinical social work practice, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact that includes the diagnosis and treatment of individuals based on the applicable edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or its equivalent, as determined by the examining board, supervised by one of the following:

457.08(4)(c)1. 1. An individual licensed as a clinical social worker who has received a doctorate degree in social work.

457.08(4)(c)2. 2. An individual licensed as a clinical social worker who has engaged in the equivalent of 5 years of full-time clinical social work.

457.08(4)(c)3. 3. A psychiatrist or a psychologist licensed under ch. 455.

457.08(4)(c)4. 4. An individual, other than an individual specified in subd. 1., 2., or 3., who is approved by the social worker section or satisfies requirements for supervision that are specified in rules promulgated by the examining board upon the advice of the social worker section.

457.08 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. MPSW 4, Wis. adm. code.

457.08(4)(d) (d) Passes one or more examinations approved by the social worker section to determine minimum competence to practice as a clinical social worker.

457.08(5) (5) Use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In its discretion, the examining board may establish a number of hours required for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals based on the applicable edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or its equivalent for purposes of sub. (4) (c). The number of hours required under this subsection may not exceed 600.

457.08 History History: 1991 a. 160; 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 80; 2003 a. 301; 2017 a. 356, 357.

457.08 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. MPSW 3, Wis. adm. code.

457.09 457.09 Social worker training certificate.

457.09(1) (1) The social worker section shall grant a social worker training certificate to any individual who does all of the following:

457.09(1)(a) (a) Submits an application for the certificate to the department on a form provided by the department.

457.09(1)(b) (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (6).

457.09(1)(c) (c) Submits evidence satisfactory to the social worker section that he or she has a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in psychology, sociology, criminal justice or another human service program approved by the section.

457.09(1)(d) (d) Submits a statement to the social worker section that he or she is seeking to attain social worker degree equivalency under sub. (4) while he or she holds a social worker training certificate.

457.09(2) (2) 

457.09(2)(a) (a) Notwithstanding s. 457.04 (1), a social worker training certificate authorizes the holder to use the title specified in s. 457.04 (1) during the period in which the certificate is valid.

457.09(2)(b) (b) A social worker training certificate holder is a social worker certified under this subchapter for purposes of any law governing social workers certified under this subchapter.

457.09(3) (3) 

457.09(3)(a) (a) A social worker training certificate is valid for 24 months.

457.09(3)(c) (c) A social worker training certificate may not be renewed.

457.09(4) (4) During the period in which a social worker training certificate is valid, the certificate holder shall do all of the following:

457.09(4)(a) (a) Seek to attain social worker degree equivalency by completing courses relating to all of the following in a social work program or other human services program at an accredited college or university:

457.09(4)(a)1. 1. Social welfare policy and services.

457.09(4)(a)2. 2. Social work practice methods with individuals, families, small groups, communities, organizations and social institutions.

457.09(4)(a)3. 3. Human behavior in the social environment, including human growth and development and social systems theory.

457.09(4)(b) (b) Complete one of the following:

457.09(4)(b)1. 1. A human services internship that involves direct practice with clients and that is supervised by a social worker certified under this subchapter who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

457.09(4)(b)2. 2. One year of social work employment that involves direct practice with clients and that is supervised by a social worker certified under this subchapter who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

457.09(4m) (4m) 

457.09(4m)(a) (a) The social worker section shall determine whether a course, internship or employment satisfies the requirements under sub. (4) and whether a social worker training certificate holder has attained social worker degree equivalency.

457.09(4m)(b) (b) Notwithstanding sub. (4), for the purpose of determining whether a social worker training certificate holder has attained social worker degree equivalency under sub. (4), the section shall apply course work or internships that the certificate holder completed, or employment that the certificate holder held, as part of the program leading to the degree that he or she specified to satisfy the requirement in sub. (1) (c) if the course work, internship or employment satisfies the requirements in sub. (4).

457.09(5) (5) 

457.09(5)(a) (a) A social worker training certificate holder may take the national social work examination at any time before or after he or she completes the requirements under sub. (4).

457.09(5)(b) (b) If a social worker training certificate holder passes the examination specified under par. (a), he or she shall be permitted to take an examination approved by the social worker section that tests knowledge of state law relating to social work.

457.09(5)(c) (c) If an individual fails an examination specified under par. (a) or (b), he or she may retake the examination. The social worker section may not place any restrictions on the number of times an individual may retake the examinations specified under pars. (a) and (b).

457.09(5)(d) (d) The social worker section shall grant a social worker certificate to an individual who has held a social worker training certificate and who passes the examinations specified under pars. (a) and (b).

457.09 History History: 1995 a. 27; 2001 a. 80; 2017 a. 330; 2023 a. 55.

457.09 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. MPSW 3.13, Wis. adm. code.