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Bill > SB140

WI SB140

Provisional social worker certificates and licenses.

summary

Introduced
03/21/2025
In Committee
03/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Current law prohibits a person from using the title Xsocial workerY without holding a social worker certificate, and similarly prohibits the use of other titles corresponding to higher levels of social work practice without a corresponding credential for that level of social work practice. Those higher levels of social work practice include advanced practice social work, independent social work, and clinical social work. Current law further prohibits the practice of clinical social work without a clinical social worker license. Current law specifies requirements for obtaining these social worker credentials, all of which include a requirement of passage of an examination. This bill provides for an alternative pathway to obtain a social work credential without passage of a national examination. Under the bill, an individual who has taken the examination corresponding to a particular category of social work credential and has not passed the examination, but who otherwise satisfies the requirements for the credential, may obtain a provisional credential. With the provisional credential, the individual is allowed to practice the corresponding level of social work, may use the corresponding title, and is considered to be that level of LRB-2171/1 MED:skw 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 140 social worker, but the individual must obtain at least three hours of supervision during every 160 hours of practice, in accordance with the bill and rules promulgated by the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board and subject to periodic evaluation. Upon successful completion of the supervised practice requirement, the individual must receive a final evaluation and may obtain a corresponding nonprovisional social worker credential without passage of the examination.

AI Summary

This bill creates a new pathway for social workers to obtain professional credentials by introducing provisional certificates and licenses for individuals who have not yet passed the required national examination. Under this legislation, a social worker who has taken but not passed the national exam can apply for a provisional certificate or license in their specific category of social work practice (such as basic social work, advanced practice, independent, or clinical social work). With this provisional credential, the individual can practice and use the corresponding professional title, but must complete at least 37.5 hours of supervision during their first 2,000 hours of practice, including at least 3 hours of supervision for every 160 hours worked. The provisional credential is valid for 36 months and cannot be renewed. After completing the supervised practice and receiving a final evaluation from their supervisor attesting to their competence, the individual can obtain a full, nonprovisional credential without having to pass the national examination. The bill also requires the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board to establish specific rules for supervision requirements, supervisor qualifications, and evaluation procedures.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (16)

Last Action

Senator Ratcliff added as a coauthor (on 05/09/2025)

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