Updated for 2026

Wisconsin LPC Continuing Education Requirements

Wisconsin counselors must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC license, including 4 hours of ethics and boundaries.

30hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 30
4ethics and boundaries

Next deadline: February 28, 2027The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

What the board saysWisconsin board rule
every marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, social worker, advanced practice social worker, independent social worker, and clinical social worker shall complete at least 30 continuing education credit hours1 in approved continuing education programs during each 2 year credential period1 … A minimum of 4 continuing education credit hours2, of the required 30 continuing education credit hours, shall be in the area of professional ethics and boundaries2 … Only 15 of the required 30 continuing education credit hours3 shall be met through in-house training and development programs which are not approved by an organization identified in pars. (a) to (e). … No more than 16 continuing education hours4 may be obtained for authorship of chapters or articles. … No more than 16 continuing education hours5 may be obtained for authorship of alternative or electronic media or computer software.
What it means
  1. 30 hours every 2 years
  2. 4 hours of professional ethics and boundaries
  3. No more than 15 hours from unapproved in-house agency training
  4. No more than 16 hours for authoring chapters or articles
  5. No more than 16 hours for authoring media or software
Wis. Admin. Code MPSW 19.02, 19.03Last verified October 2026Ruleset 2026.5How we verify
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Requirements

Wisconsin LPC requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

Topic minimums, counted within the 30

The remaining 26 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Ethics and Boundaries
4
You need 4 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

In-house training (not otherwise approved)
max 15 hrs
Chapter or article authorship
max 16 hrs
Alternative media authorship
max 16 hrs

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.
New licensees
The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal adds a $25 late fee.

To keep your proof in order, see what to keep for a CE audit, which covers every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before February 28, 2027.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LPC CE hours calculator

Also hold a Wisconsin LMFT or LCSW license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Wisconsin LMFT and Wisconsin LCSW requirements.

Full board policy details
  • Fixed universal expiration: All Wisconsin LPC and LMFT licenses expire on February 28 of each odd-numbered year, regardless of the individual licensee's issuance date. The CE biennium runs March 1 (odd year) through February 28 (next odd year).
  • At least 15 of the 30 required CE hours must come from programs approved, sponsored, endorsed, or authorized by recognized organizations listed in MPSW 19.03(1)(a)-(e) (e.g., ACA, NBCC, AAMFT, APA-approved sponsors, AMA Category I, accredited colleges/universities, Wisconsin Counseling Association, WAMFT, NASW, CRCC). Up to 15 hours may come from in-house training and development programs not approved by a listed organization. The Department does not pre-approve individual courses; acceptability is determined by whether the provider or activity falls within the categories listed in MPSW 19.03.
  • Wisconsin does not pre-approve CE courses or providers. Licensees self-determine compliance and retain proof of completion.
  • LPCs are not required to take ethics in an interactive learning format (that requirement applies only to social workers under the same chapter). LPC ethics CE may be taken online, self-paced, or live.
  • Course repeat restriction (instructors): A presenter receives 1 CE hour per hour of presentation, but no additional CE hours will be granted for subsequent presentations of the same material within the same cycle (MPSW 19.03(2)(a)).
  • Authorship is an activity category, not a delivery format. A published professional textbook or resource book earns 20 hours; chapters or journal articles earn 8 hours each up to 16; alternative/electronic media or software earns 8 hours each up to a separate 16-hour limit.
  • License status, retired/non-practicing exemption: A licensee who certifies they have retired and no longer use the title or practice may be granted an exemption from CE under MPSW 19.04(2). Status is marked 'non-practicing' and CE is not required during the exempt period.
  • License status, reactivation from retired/non-practicing exemption: Before returning to active practice, a previously exempt licensee must submit evidence of at least 30 CE hours for each biennium during which the exemption applied (MPSW 19.04(3)). This duration-dependent accumulation remains manual because the engine cannot multiply a requirement by the number of exempt biennia.
  • Hardship waiver/postponement: Under MPSW 19.04(1), a licensee may apply to the Professional Counselor Section for a postponement, partial waiver, or full waiver of CE due to prolonged illness, disability, or other extreme hardship. Decisions are case-by-case.
  • Military extension: Active-duty military members and their spouses may request a renewal extension using DSPS Form R210.
  • No conditional/provisional renewal exists for CE shortfalls. A credential holder who fails to meet CE requirements by the renewal deadline must discontinue use of the title (MPSW 19.02).
  • Dual-license CE overlap: A licensee holding multiple credentials under the MPSW board need complete only one 4-hour ethics and boundaries course to satisfy the ethics requirement for all credentials (MPSW 19.02(2)(a)). The same 30 CE hours may generally satisfy multiple credentials provided content is relevant to each scope of practice.
  • Late renewal (expired less than 5 years): If an LPC or LMFT license has been expired for less than 5 years, the licensee may renew by paying the standard renewal fees plus a $25 late fee and satisfying any due continuing education (the 30-hour biennial CE requirement, including 4 ethics hours).
  • Late fee: A $25 late fee applies to renewals submitted after the February 28 odd-year expiration date when the license has been expired less than 5 years.

Wisconsin LPC CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Wisconsin LPC licensees need?

Wisconsin requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

How many ethics hours are required for Wisconsin LPC licensees?

Of the total, 4 hours must be in ethics and boundaries.

How often do Wisconsin LPC licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

Is the first renewal different for new Wisconsin LPC licensees?

The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.

Sources and verification

State source
Wisconsin board rule
Profession source
NBCC continuing education guidance
Last verified
October 2026
Ruleset version
2026.5

We reviewed this page against the Wisconsin board source, and we refresh it 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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Wisconsin guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.Wisconsin mental health workforce data →20,848 active providers, or 349 per 100,000 residents, ranked 37 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Wisconsin CE requirement pages

Wisconsin LMFTWisconsin LCSWWisconsin PsychologistWisconsin Addiction CounselorWisconsin PMHNP

LPC CE requirements in other states