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.

30

total hours / 2 years

4

ethics and boundaries hours

Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline

Wisconsin LPC requirements

RequirementNotes
Total continuing education30 hours every 2 years.
RenewalBiennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years.
Ethics and Boundaries4 hours required each cycle.
New licenseesFirst renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Board auditThe board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewalA late renewal allows a $25 late fee.

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

Keeping the proof in order: what to keep for a CE audit, with every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Total hours
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.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal allows a $25 late fee.
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.

We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Wisconsin LPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.

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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. Biennial cycle: CE 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?

Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years.

Is the first renewal different for new Wisconsin LPC 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

Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.4

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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Wisconsinguides & data

What to keep for a CE audit

What boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, what the notice looks like, and a printable checklist.

Wisconsin mental health workforce data

20,848 active providers, or 349 per 100,000 residents, ranked 37 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Wisconsin CE requirement pages

Wisconsin LMFTWisconsin LCSWWisconsin Psychologist

LPC CE requirements in other states

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