Wisconsin LCSW, APSW, ISW & SW Continuing Education Requirements
Wisconsin clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW license, including 4 hours of ethics and boundaries.
30
total hours / 2 years
4
ethics and boundaries hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Wisconsin LCSW, APSW, ISW & SW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years. |
| Ethics and Boundaries | 4 hours required each cycle. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 30 hours can come from.
- in-house training (not otherwise approved)max 15 hrs
- chapter or article authorshipmax 16 hrs
- alternative media authorshipmax 16 hrs
Full board policy details
- No overall cap on self-study or home-study CE. The only format cap is MPSW 19.03(1)(f): no more than 15 of the 30 hours may come from in-house trainings by organizations not otherwise listed as approved sponsors. There is no minimum number of live hours required (aside from the ethics interactive-format rule below).
- Ethics hours must be earned in an "interactive" format (MPSW 19.02(2)(b)). Per MPSW 19.01(2), "interactive" means a live, synchronous presentation with opportunity for discussion, or certain approved asynchronous programs. Fully live-interactive online courses with real-time discussion qualify as interactive and do not count against the in-house/self-study cap.
- COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS — MPSW 19.03(2)(a): an instructor or developer may earn CE credit for presenting or authoring a training, but no additional CE credit hours will be granted for subsequent presentations of the same material within a renewal period. The rule does not impose a blanket repeat-course ban on attendees.
- LICENSE STATUS RULES — MPSW 19.04(2): a licensee who certifies that they have retired and no longer practice receives a full waiver of CE requirements and is reclassified as "non-practicing." The rules do not explicitly define a separate "inactive" status; an inactive/non-renewing licensee who is not practicing is not required to complete CE. MPSW 19.04(3): to reactivate from a retirement or similar exemption, the licensee must complete 30 hours of CE for each biennium during which the exemption was granted before returning to active practice.
- Hardship / conditional renewal — MPSW 19.04(1): the board section may grant a postponement or partial waiver of CE requirements in cases of illness, disability, or extreme hardship. There is no fixed maximum extension; relief is granted case-by-case.
- Approved sponsors — Wisconsin does not pre-approve individual courses. CE counts if it is offered or sponsored by an entity listed in MPSW 19.03(1) (e.g. NASW, NBCC, accredited universities, AMA Category I, and similar recognized organizations), or is an in-house training subject to the 15-hour cap above.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Wisconsin LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Wisconsin LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW CE free →Wisconsin LCSW, APSW, ISW & SW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Wisconsin LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW licensees need?
Wisconsin requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years.
How many ethics hours are required for Wisconsin LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW licensees?
Of the total, 4 hours must be in ethics and boundaries.
How often do Wisconsin LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years.
Is the first renewal different for new Wisconsin LCSW / APSW / ISW / SW licensees?
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Wisconsin board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the Wisconsin board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it →
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