Wis. Stat. § 457.02 — WI Code / Chapter 457 / Section 457.02
Applicability.
Status: in_force

This subchapter does not do any of the following:

(1) Require any individual to be certified or licensed under this subchapter in order to use the title “pastoral counselor,” “investment counselor,” “vocational counselor,” “career counselor,” “alcohol and drug counselor,” “chemical dependency counselor,” or “employee assistance counselor,” or to engage in such counseling, if the individual does not use any other title or designation that represents or may tend to represent that he or she is certified or licensed under this subchapter, and does not represent himself or herself as an individual who engages in social work, advanced practice social work, independent social work, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, or professional counseling.

(2) Require any individual who is licensed as a school social worker or school counselor by the department of public instruction to be certified or licensed under this subchapter in order to use the title “school social worker” or “school counselor.”

(3) Require a person who is a psychologist or a psychiatrist to be licensed under this subchapter in order to use the title “marriage and family therapist,” “marriage and family counselor,” or “professional counselor” if the psychologist or psychiatrist does not use the term “licensed,” “certified,” or “registered” or any similar term in connection with the title “marriage and family therapist,” “marriage and family counselor,” or “professional counselor.”

(4) Authorize any individual who is certified or licensed under this subchapter to use the title “school social worker” or “school counselor” unless the individual is licensed as a school social worker or school counselor by the department of public instruction.

(5) Authorize any individual who is certified under s. 457.08 (1) , 457.09 (1) , or 457.14 (1) (a) to (c) or who is exercising a multistate authorization to practice to use the title “alcohol and drug counselor” or “chemical dependency counselor” unless the individual is certified as an alcohol and drug counselor or as a chemical dependency counselor through a process recognized by the department.

(5m) Authorize any individual who is certified under s. 457.08 (1) , 457.09 (1) , or 457.14 (1) (a) to (c) or who is exercising a multistate authorization to practice to treat substance use disorder as a specialty unless the individual is a certified substance abuse counselor, clinical supervisor, or prevention specialist under s. 440.88 , or unless the individual satisfies educational and supervised training requirements established in rules promulgated by the examining board. In promulgating rules under this subsection, the examining board shall consider the requirements for qualifying as a certified substance abuse counselor, clinical supervisor, or prevention specialist under s. 440.88 .

(6) Require a credential for a person to do any of the following:

(a) Lawfully practice within the scope of a license, permit, registration, or certificate granted by this state or the federal government, or granted through a process recognized by the department of health services, including practicing psychotherapy under such a license, permit, registration, or certificate.

(b) Practice psychotherapy, if the person satisfies one of the following:

1. The person is registered as a music, art, or dance therapist under s. 440.03 (14) (a) and the person holds a valid license granted by the department under s. 440.03 (14) (am) .

2. The person is a mental health professional who meets all of the qualifications under s. DHS 61.96 , Wis. Adm. Code, for employment as a mental health professional in an outpatient psychotherapy clinic certified by the department of health services under s. DHS 61.95 , Wis. Adm. Code, if the person’s practice of psychotherapy is a part of the duties for which he or she is employed by such a clinic and the person practices psychotherapy solely within the confines of or under the jurisdiction of the clinic.

(c) Provide a consultation or demonstration with an individual licensed under this subchapter if the person providing the consultation or demonstration is licensed to practice marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, or clinical social work in another state or territory of the United States.

History: 1991 a. 160 ; 1995 a. 27 ss. 9126 (19) , 9145 (1) ; 1997 a. 27 ; 2001 a. 80 , 105 ; 2005 a. 25 , 254 , 407 ; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a) ; 2009 a. 180 ; 2017 a. 262 , 331 ; 2021 a. 131 , 222 , 238 ; 2023 a. 55 ; 2025 a. 232 .