Social Workers · Wisconsin · Continuing education
Wisconsin Social Work CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- SW/APSW/ISW/LCSW: 30 hours every 2 years, including 4 h medical ethics, professionalism & law; renewal by February 28 in odd-numbered years.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
Wisconsin SW/APSW/ISW/LCSW CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 30hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Feb 28, odd yrs
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By February 28 in odd-numbered years
- Accepted credit
- Programs offered or approved by national and state social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling and addiction counseling organizations; accredited colleges and universities; AMA/AOA CME; employer in-house training (max 15 hours unless approved by a listed organization). Credit also for presenting or developing CE, teaching college courses, authoring textbooks, chapters, articles or media. DSPS does not pre-approve courses.
- New licensees
- No CE is required for the first license renewal.
- Renew online
- license.wi.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Medical ethics, professionalism & lawEthics and professional boundaries related to the area of practice; for social workers it must be interactive (live instructor-led in person/online, or an approved self-paced course from an authorized provider) | 4 | every renewal |
| Professional boundaries & risk managementPart of the 4-hour ethics and professional boundaries requirement | — | every renewal |
Good to know. Reporting period runs March 1 of an odd year to February 28/29 of the next odd year.
Source: dsps.wi.gov · Wis. Admin. Code ch. MPSW 19 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Wisconsin
05 Questions
How do I verify a social worker license in Wisconsin?
Use the license lookup of the Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (DSPS) (dsps.wi.gov/a-z-boards-and-councils-list/mpsw); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
How many CE hours do social workers need in Wisconsin?
30 hours every 2 years.
Which CE topics are mandatory for social workers in Wisconsin?
Medical ethics, professionalism & law — 4 h (every renewal); Professional boundaries & risk management (every renewal).
Which CE courses count for social workers in Wisconsin?
Programs offered or approved by national and state social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling and addiction counseling organizations; accredited colleges and universities; AMA/AOA CME; employer in-house training (max 15 hours unless approved by a listed organization). Credit also for presenting or developing CE, teaching college courses, authoring textbooks, chapters, articles or media. DSPS does not pre-approve courses.
How do social workers report CE in Wisconsin?
By attesting on the renewal application; keep certificates in case of an audit.
When is the renewal deadline for social workers in Wisconsin?
Licenses renew by February 28 in odd-numbered years (2 years cycle).