Chapter 457

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.

457.10 457.10 Marriage and family therapist license. The marriage and family therapist section shall grant a marriage and family therapist license to any individual who does all of the following:

457.10(1) (1) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.

457.10(2) (2) Submits evidence satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section that he or she has done any of the following:

457.10(2)(a) (a) Received a master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy education.

457.10(2)(b) (b) Received a master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy, psychology, sociology, social work, professional counseling or other mental health field that included course work that the marriage and family therapist section determines is substantially equivalent to the course work required for a master’s or doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy described under par. (a).

457.10(3) (3) Submits evidence satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section that after receiving a master’s or doctorate degree required under sub. (2) he or she has engaged in the equivalent of at least 3,000 hours of marriage and family therapy practice, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, supervised by one of the following:

457.10(3)(a) (a) An individual licensed as a marriage and family therapist who has received a doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy.

457.10(3)(b) (b) An individual licensed as a marriage and family therapist who has engaged in the equivalent of 5 years of full-time marriage and family therapy practice.

457.10(3)(c) (c) A psychiatrist or a psychologist licensed under ch. 455.

457.10(3)(d) (d) An individual, other than an individual specified in par. (a), (b), or (c), who is approved by the marriage and family therapist section or satisfies requirements for supervision that are specified in rules promulgated by the examining board upon the advice of the marriage and family therapist section.

457.10(4) (4) Passes one or more examinations approved by the marriage and family therapist section to determine minimum competence to practice marriage and family therapy.

457.10 History History: 1991 a. 160; 2001 a. 80; 2017 a. 357.

457.10 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. MPSW 15 and 16, Wis. adm. code.

457.11 457.11 Marriage and family therapist training license.

457.11(1) (1) The marriage and family therapist section shall grant a marriage and family therapist training license to any individual who does all of the following:

457.11(1)(a) (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.

457.11(1)(b) (b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (6).

457.11(1)(c) (c) Satisfies the requirements in s. 457.10 (2), or submits proof satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section that he or she is enrolled or will be enrolled in an institute for marriage and family therapy that is approved by the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy or by the marriage and family therapist section, or holds a graduate degree in a mental health field approved by the marriage and family therapist section and is enrolled or will be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program in marriage and family therapy accredited by the commission on accreditation for marriage and family therapy education or by the marriage and family therapist section.

457.11(1)(d) (d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the marriage and family therapist section that he or she is in a position, or has an offer for a position, as a marriage and family therapist in a supervised marriage and family therapist practice or is in a position, or has an offer for a position, in which the applicant will, in the opinion of the marriage and family therapist section, receive training and supervision equivalent to the training and supervision received in a supervised marriage and family therapist practice.

457.11(2) (2) A marriage and family therapist training license is valid for 48 months and may be renewed at the discretion of the marriage and family therapist section. A marriage and family therapist training license authorizes the holder to use any title specified in s. 457.04 (5) and to practice marriage and family therapy within the scope of his or her training or supervision during the period in which the license is valid.

457.11 History History: 2001 a. 80; 2005 a. 422.

457.12 457.12 Professional counselor license; privilege to practice.

457.12(1m) (1m) License. The professional counselor section shall, subject to sub. (4m), grant a professional counselor license to any individual to whom all of the following apply:

457.12(1m)(a) (a) The individual satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.

457.12(1m)(b) (b) The individual submits evidence satisfactory to the professional counselor section that he or she has received a master’s or doctorate degree in professional counseling or its equivalent from a program approved by the professional counselor section.

457.12(1m)(bm) (bm) The individual does not, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, have a conviction record.