Wis. Stat. § 457.09 — WI Code / Chapter 457 / Section 457.09
Social worker training certificate.
Status: in_force

(1) The social worker section shall grant a social worker training certificate to any individual who does all of the following:

(a) Submits an application for the certificate to the department on a form provided by the department.

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

(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.

(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.

(2)

(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.

(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.

(3)

(a) A social worker training certificate is valid for 24 months.

(c) A social worker training certificate may not be renewed.

(4) During the period in which a social worker training certificate is valid, the certificate holder shall do all of the following:

(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:

1. Social welfare policy and services.

2. Social work practice methods with individuals, families, small groups, communities, organizations and social institutions.

3. Human behavior in the social environment, including human growth and development and social systems theory.

(b) Complete one of the following:

1. A human services internship that involves direct practice with clients and that is supervised by a social worker who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

2. One year of social work employment that involves direct practice with clients and that is supervised by a social worker who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work.

(4m)

(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.

(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) .

(5)

(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) .

(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.

(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) .

(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) .

History: 1995 a. 27 ; 2001 a. 80 ; 2017 a. 330 ; 2023 a. 55 ; 2025 a. 232 .