Steps For Licensure

Act 80 replaces clinical certification with licensure for independent clinical social workers. Effective November 1, 2002, independent clinical social workers (CICSW) are now licensed clinical social workers (LCSW)

Provisions:

Act 80 prohibits, with certain exceptions, a person from practicing clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, or professional counseling unless he or she is licensed.

1. Persons certified as advanced practice and independent social workers who practice psychotherapy under the supervision of persons licensed under the bill
2. Persons who practice psychotherapy within the scope of practice of other state or federal licenses
3. Mental health professionals employed by outpatient psychotherapy clinics certified by the Department of Health Services (DHS). 

Becoming a CSW:

Social Worker (SW) - DSPS

1. Certification as a Social Worker (“CSW” or “Basic-Level Social Worker”) requires a Bachelor of Social Work degree (or higher) and passage of the required exams.
2. Please see additional documents in this module for a checklist of application materials. Visit DSPS's information on CSW applications here. 

Steps for CSW License:

1. Fill out your license application on the License portal and pay the fee.
2. Take the 2 necessary exams:
   • Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Exam
     Required if not already taken in the last 5 years
     Open book, taken online at your own time, no time limit
     There is a fee for this; however, it is incorporated in the application fee you already paid to DSPS on License.
     Log-in and registration information will be provided to you via email once your CSW application is submitted
   • ASWB Bachelor's Exam
     Sometimes referred to as “National” or “Boards” exam
     Taken at a testing center, proctored, and requires an additional fee
     Log-in and registration information will be provided to you via email once your CSW application is submitted.
     Register: https://www.aswb.org/exam/

Becoming an APSW:

Social Worker - Advanced Practice - DSPS

https://www.aswb.org/exam/

An Advanced Practice Social Worker (“APSW”) requires a Master’s degree or higher in social work and passage of the two required exams.

Visit DSPS's information on APSW applications here.

The main components of the APSW application are:

1. Fill out your APSW license application on the LicensE portal and pay the fee.
2. Take the 2 necessary exams:
   • Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Exam
     Required if not already taken in the last 5 years
     Open book, taken online at your own time, no time limit
     There is a fee for this; however, it is incorporated in the application fee you already paid to DSPS on LicensE. If you do not need to take this exam, then your fee for your license would have been lowered.
     Log-in and registration information will be provided to you via email once your APSW application is submitted
     
   • ASWB Master's Exam
     Sometimes referred to as “National” or “Boards” exam
     Taken at a testing center, proctored, and requires an additional fee that you will pay when registering for your exam
     Log-in and registration information will be provided to you via email once your APSW application is submitted. You will register on ASWB’s website here

Becoming an LCSW:

Social Worker - Licensed Clinical (LCSW) - DSPS

Upon completion of education and after receiving certification as an advanced practice social worker or as an independent social worker, engage in at least 3000 hours of supervised clinical social work practice, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact and including DSM diagnosis and treatment of individuals.

• Supervised clinical social work hours obtained in another state may be accepted toward the 3000-hour requirement.
• Clinical social work practice must be completed under the supervision of a supervisor approved by the Social Worker Section.
• If a prospective supervisor requires approval under MPSW 4.01(6)(e), the approval must be obtained prior to starting supervision.
• The board reviews the application and determines eligibility to sit for the national ASWB exam. The exam for this level is called the ASWB Clinical Examination.
• An applicant who is a board-certified diplomate (BCD) of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work need not take the exam, but must have the Board submit written verification directly to the Social Worker Section.
• Visit ASWB to register for the national exam. 

Temporary License:

An applicant for a permanent credential may apply for a temporary credential at the same time.

The temporary credential may be issued to an individual who pays the required fee and meets all the qualifications for the permanent credential except for passing the required national examination.

• The temporary credential expires upon notification of successful completion of the national examination or expiration of the 9-month period, whichever is earlier.
• A temporary credential may be renewed one time for an additional 9-month period.
• If you are eligible to renew, instructions will be noted in your examination application's due diligence checklist on how to submit payment to renew your temporary license. to review your due diligence checklist:
  1. Log into license (https://license.wi.gov/)
  2. Click on "Check application status"
  3. On the far right of the screen, click the down arrow under "Action".
  4. Click "View due diligence"

Contact ASWB to register for the National Exam at www.aswb.org/exam-candidates/exam-registration/. (Applicants have the option of taking the national exam prior to graduation.)  The examination for this level is called the ASWB Bachelor's Examination (formerly the basic level exam).  The board reviews the application and determines eligibility to sit for the national exam.