How to Get Your Wisconsin Social Work License
Social workers in Wisconsin make $60,000-$67,000 per year, and healthcare specialists top the salary range according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A career in this field comes with great prospects, as Wisconsin’s job growth for social workers matches positive national trends.
Wisconsin’s social work license requirements matter whether you start with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work. The state gives you several paths to certification. You can become a Certified Social Worker (CSW) with a BSW degree or an Advanced Practice Social Worker (APSW) with an MSW degree. Wisconsin has joined the Social Work Licensure Compact that will let licensed professionals work in multiple states. The state board of social work manages clinical licensure through the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential that needs extensive supervised clinical practice experience.
This guide walks you through every step to get your Wisconsin social work license. You’ll learn about education prerequisites and continuing education requirements that will help advance your social work career.
Education Requirements
Your Wisconsin social work license trip starts with a solid educational background. The Wisconsin board of social work sets specific educational requirements based on the certification level you want.
A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program is needed to get the entry-level Certified Social Worker (CSW) credential. Several CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin qualify graduates for this license. A BSW degree typically takes approximately four years of full-time study.
A Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program becomes necessary if you want advanced credentials like Advanced Practice Social Worker (APSW), Independent Social Worker (ISW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Full-time students usually complete this advanced practitioner training in about six years.
BSW programs have specific admission requirements:
- Minimum GPA standards (usually 2.5-2.75 for public universities, though competitive programs like UW-Madison’s average admitted GPAs exceed 3.0)
- Prerequisite coursework completion (English composition, mathematics, sciences, and introductory social sciences courses)
- Personal statements and professional references
MSW programs have stricter requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum GPA of 2.75-3.0 (varies by program)
- Completion of an introductory statistics course
- Personal statement and resume
- Three positive references
Wisconsin offers another option through the Social Work Training Certificate if you have a bachelor’s degree in related fields. Your degree must be in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, or another human service program the Social Worker Section approves. This path requires five social worker degree equivalency courses, each with at least three semester hours and a minimum grade of C.
These equivalency courses cover:
- Social welfare policy and services
- Social work practice methods with individuals
- Social work practice methods with groups and families
- Social work practice methods with communities, organizations, and social institutions
- Human behavior in the social environment
School social workers need extra educational components. Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction requires all school social workers to get a license, which needs an MSW degree plus specific courses in child welfare, psychopathology, and school social work practice.
Field experience is crucial during your education. CSWE-accredited programs require supervised field education—BSW students typically complete 400-500 hours in their senior year. Students taking the training certificate route must complete a 400-hour human services internship or work one year in supervised social work (with at least 400 hours of face-to-face client contact).
Your educational preparation creates the foundation for your Wisconsin social work license. Multiple paths are available depending on your background and career goals.
Exam Requirements
Your next big step to get your Wisconsin social work license is passing the required exams after completing your education. The Wisconsin board of social work requires all applicants to pass two exams:
- The Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code Examination (open-book)
- The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) National Examination
You need to score at least 85% on the Wisconsin Statutes exam. This open-book test helps you learn where to find statutes and administrative codes that control professional practice. The test covers specific state statutes and administrative code chapters.
Here’s how you can take this exam:
- Go to https://eptol.drl.wi.gov/ and click ‘Test Launching’
- Type ‘dft’ as your instructor
- Enter the exam name, password, and applicant ID you got after submitting your application
- You’ll have three months to complete this untimed exam
The Board reviews your application and decides if you can take the national ASWB examination. You’ll need to sign up with ASWB directly. Each license level requires a specific ASWB exam:
- Certified Social Worker (CSW): ASWB Bachelors examination
- Advanced Practice Social Worker (APSW): ASWB Masters examination
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): ASWB Clinical examination
The exam fees vary by level. Associate, Bachelors, or Masters exams cost $230, while Advanced Generalist or Clinical exams are $260. Good preparation is key to passing on your first try.
ASWB offers these exams at Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide. You can schedule your test after getting your Authorization to Test email. Special testing arrangements are available if you have disabilities, health conditions, or English isn’t your first language.
You’ll find many resources to help you prepare. UW-Milwaukee offers free APSW exam practice sessions several times a year. NASW-Wisconsin chapter runs workshops that cover exam processes, learning styles, test anxiety management, and sample questions.
Wisconsin lets you take the national exam before graduation, which gives you more flexibility with your license timeline. You can start your APSW license application up to six months before graduating.
Social workers licensed in other states can apply through reciprocity in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin statutes and rules exam is still required even with reciprocity. Regular licensure by examination is the path for those who don’t qualify for reciprocity.
These exams are just one part of getting your Wisconsin social work license. The next sections will explain supervised experience and application processes to finish your licensing journey.
Supervised Experience
Clinical social workers in Wisconsin must complete supervised field experience to achieve their professional goals. The Wisconsin board of social work maintains specific requirements that ensure practitioners develop competency in clinical settings.
Candidates seeking the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work experience. This includes 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact. The experience should include DSM diagnosis and treatment of individuals under approved supervision. The board accepts these hours only from certified Advanced Practice Social Workers (APSW) or Independent Social Workers (ISW).
Wisconsin social work license requirements define qualified professionals who can serve as supervisors. Approved supervisors can be Licensed Clinical Social Workers with doctoral degrees in social work or Master’s degrees in social work. LCSWs with five years of full-time clinical experience, psychiatrists, psychologists, or professionals specifically approved by the Social Worker Section also qualify.
Supervision involves directing social work practice through face-to-face individual or group sessions that last at least one hour weekly. Practitioners can average this requirement across their supervision period for scheduling flexibility. Group supervision allows no more than six supervisees per supervisor.
The board offers an alternative pathway for those with specific field training. Practitioners can submit an affidavit showing completion of 1,500 hours of supervised clinical social work experience in a primary clinical setting, completed in no less than one year. This option requires at least 500 hours of face-to-face client contact. The overall 3,000-hour supervised experience requirement still applies.
Supervised practice must include several core activities. These involve evaluating psychological functioning difficulties, developing plans to address challenges, and implementing interventions. Interventions may include counseling, advocacy, referrals, and facilitating organizational change.
Most practitioners complete their clinical experience within two years. Outpatient mental health clinics and inpatient treatment facilities serve as common approved settings. Wisconsin may accept clinical hours accumulated out-of-state under appropriate supervision if they meet clinical nature requirements.
Supervisors must verify competence in each required activity before practitioners can proceed with their final Wisconsin social work license application steps.
Application Process
The application process is a key step to get your Wisconsin social work license. You’ll need to use LicensE—Wisconsin’s online, self-guided occupational license application platform at license.wi.gov. This efficient system manages all social work credential applications in the state.
Your application must include these essential documents:
- Official transcripts showing your social work degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- Certificate of Professional Education form with your school’s chancellor, dean, or registrar’s signature
- Proof that you passed required examinations
- Documentation of your credentials from places where you held previous licenses
- Background check details about pending charges or convictions
Clinical social work applicants need extra documentation. This includes proof of your 3,000 supervised clinical hours, with 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact.
The Wisconsin board of social work provides a temporary credential option during your application review. You can practice while waiting for exam results if you meet all other requirements for permanent licensure. These temporary credentials have specific rules:
- They expire when you get exam results or after nine months
- You can renew them once for another nine months
- They aren’t available for reciprocity applications
Wisconsin offers reciprocity to social workers who have current, active licenses in other states. The Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) reviews each application to check if the original state’s standards match Wisconsin’s requirements. You must pass the Wisconsin statutes and rules examination even with reciprocity approval.
You can track your application status through LicensE’s “Application Status Lookup” tool. The tool needs your 10-digit PAR number, which you can share with anyone helping with your application.
The Wisconsin social work license is issued after approval. Clinical social workers complete a long trip that includes education, examination, and supervised practice. This license allows them to practice independently across the state.
Wisconsin makes the application process transparent. The DSPS website offers detailed guidance for each credential level, including clear instructions for original applications and renewals.
Continuing Education
Your Wisconsin social work license needs ongoing professional development after your original certification. Licensed social workers must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) during each biennial period. License renewals happen on February 28th of odd-numbered years.
The continuing education requirements don’t apply to your first license renewal. This gives new licensees time to adjust to their professional practice before taking on additional educational commitments.
Each renewal period after that comes with specific content requirements. 4 of your 30 required CE hours must focus on ethics and professional boundaries related to your practice area. The Wisconsin board of social work requires these ethics hours through interactive learning. This means either a live, synchronous presentation with discussion or an asynchronous educational program from an approved provider.
You can earn the remaining 26 hours from these approved sources that relate to your practice area:
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) or National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- American Psychological Association (APA) approved sponsors
- Accredited colleges and universities
- Public and private agencies offering in-house training (limited to 15 hours)
CE credits can also come from your professional contributions. You’ll earn 1 CE hour per presentation hour at workshops, while teaching a semester-long course gives you 20 CE hours. Published textbooks earn 20 CE hours, and published book chapters or journal articles provide 8 CE hours each (maximum 16).
You must certify completion of required hours during license renewal. Keep documentation of all CE activities for at least four years. The Department of Safety and Professional Services conducts random audits to verify compliance.
NASW-Wisconsin are a great way to get your required hours through their annual conferences, specialized workshops, and webinars. These options work well for busy professionals.
Additional Information
Your Wisconsin social work license involves several factors beyond the basic requirements. The state requires all social work licenses to expire on February 28 of odd-numbered years, whatever date you got your credential. Wisconsin Act 210 gives military service members extra benefits by extending their license validity from 90 to 180 days after discharge.
Wisconsin’s participation in the Social Work Licensure Compact will let social workers practice across state lines once fully implemented. This benefit helps practitioners expand their reach beyond state boundaries.
Social workers moving to Wisconsin can take advantage of reciprocity options. The Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) reviews each application to make sure the candidate’s state standards match Wisconsin’s requirements. You’ll need a valid social work license from another state, a completed application, verified credentials, and a passing score on Wisconsin’s statutes and rules exam.
Wisconsin social workers enjoy strong career prospects with yearly salaries between $60,000-$67,000. Healthcare specialists tend to earn top wages in the field. Licensed clinical social workers earn even more, with average annual pay reaching $95,039 as of April 2025. The state offers an added advantage with its below-average cost of living and stable 3.2% unemployment rate as of March 2025.
The Department of Safety and Professional Services offers these helpful resources:
- Conviction Self-Report to report new convictions
- Professional Assistance Procedure to help practitioners facing personal challenges
- Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry (WEAVR) to find emergency response opportunities
Understanding these additional aspects of licensure will help you direct your career path and make the most of opportunities available to Wisconsin social work license holders.