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Wisconsin licenses Clinical Social Workers through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor Examining Board. The clinical license generally requires a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program, a period of post-degree supervised clinical experience, and a passing score on the ASWB Clinical examination. Verify current licensing, Social Work Licensure Compact, supervised-experience, renewal, and continuing-education requirements directly with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor Examining Board.
Requires a master's (MSW) or doctoral (DSW) degree with a clinical concentration from a CSWE-accredited program. Verify exact degree and coursework requirements with Wisconsin DSPS.
Requires passing the ASWB Clinical examination and the Wisconsin statutes/jurisprudence examination. Verify the current exam requirements with Wisconsin DSPS.
Reported as 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work practice (including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact), typically accrued as an APSW or ISW. Verify exact hours, breakdown, and supervisor qualifications with Wisconsin DSPS.
The state has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact. Once the compact is operational, eligible clinical social workers will be able to obtain the authority to practice (in person and via telehealth) across participating states without a separate full license in each one. Enacting states are still standing up the compact commission and may not yet be issuing privileges.
Wisconsin enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact via 2025 Wisconsin Act 232 (2025 Assembly Bill 80), signed into law by Governor Evers. Once the compact is operational, eligible clinical social workers may obtain a privilege to practice across member states; the commission is still standing up and may not yet be issuing privileges. Verify current status with Wisconsin DSPS and at swcompact.org.
Wisconsin has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact. License portability may be available by endorsement and, where the state participates, through the Social Work Licensure Compact. Verify endorsement eligibility and compact participation with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor Examining Board.
Telehealth social work practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) — Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselor Examining Board.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, licensing, or employment advice. Clinical social work licensing laws, board rules, education and examination requirements, Social Work Licensure Compact participation, supervised-experience rules, and renewal/continuing-education requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the official state social work licensing board.