Transfer Your Social Work License to Wisconsin: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) ↗
Yes, by endorsement. The Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) issues Wisconsin's clinical-level social work license to social workers already licensed at the clinical level elsewhere, verifying your license and accepting your ASWB score rather than retesting you. Fee: DSPS says only 'pay appropriate fee(s) online via LicensE' and publishes renewal fees ($62 for the LCSW, per the RDAF chart rev. 08/07/2025), not the initial or reciprocal application fee. Not verified, so left null.. Processing: DSPS publishes no processing time for LCSW reciprocity. A temporary license while an application is pending is possible for credentialed out-of-state health providers (information sheet 2021-A101).. Wisconsin has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but it was not issuing multistate licenses as of 2026-09-27, so the compact does not change this application.
Moving to Wisconsin from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
SW Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Wisconsin's legislature has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, and you may see Wisconsin described as a compact state. In practice that means nothing yet. No multistate license has been issued anywhere, there is no application to file, and a license from another compact state gives you no right to practice in Wisconsin. Plan on the endorsement file below; the compact becomes relevant only once the commission launches, and its stated target for the data system that launch depends on is Spring 2027.
Wisconsin's clinical credential is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The other tiers are the certified Social Worker, Advanced Practice Social Worker and Independent Social Worker. Reciprocity is judged 'solely' on the other jurisdiction's standards, not your individual qualifications. DSPS publishes a list of licenses for which reciprocity is NOT available, and any such application will be denied. For the Wisconsin LCSW that list includes clinical licenses from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, DC (LICSW), Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan (LMSW clinical/macro), Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island (LICSW), Tennessee, Texas (LMSW) and Washington (LICSW). Applicants from those states must apply by initial licensure, which needs 3,000 supervised post-degree hours, including 1,000 face-to-face, plus clinical coursework. DSPS notes that states missing from the list may simply not have been compared yet. Wisconsin ENACTED the Social Work Licensure Compact (2026-04-09), but the compact is not issuing multistate licenses yet.
Wisconsin requirements at a glance
| Exam | For reciprocity, DSPS compares your state's licensing standards with Wisconsin's; your ASWB score is accepted if ASWB sends it directly and it is for the same level you are applying for (Clinical). All applicants must ALSO pass the open-book Wisconsin Statutes and Rules exam, unless they took it within the last five years. |
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| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | DSPS says only 'pay appropriate fee(s) online via LicensE' and publishes renewal fees ($62 for the LCSW, per the RDAF chart rev. 08/07/2025), not the initial or reciprocal application fee. Not verified, so left null. |
| Processing time | DSPS publishes no processing time for LCSW reciprocity. A temporary license while an application is pending is possible for credentialed out-of-state health providers (information sheet 2021-A101). |
Step by step
- Confirm Wisconsin's current requirements on the Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Apply online in LicensE for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential and pay the fee.
- Pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules (open-book) exam, unless taken within the last five years.
- Have every state or territory where you are or were credentialed (active or inactive) send verification.
- Submit Form 2252 (convictions and pending charges) if applicable.
- Keep your out-of-state license active until DSPS finishes its equivalency comparison.
- Pay the fees (DSPS says only 'pay appropriate fee(s) online via LicensE' and publishes renewal fees ($62 for the LCSW, per the RDAF chart rev. 08/07/2025), not the initial or reciprocal application fee. Not verified, so left null.) and allow DSPS publishes no processing time for LCSW reciprocity. A temporary license while an application is pending is possible for credentialed out-of-state health providers (information sheet 2021-A101)..
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Wisconsin:
All 39 origin states
Nearby states
Social Work license transfer into the states bordering Wisconsin:
Wisconsin for other professions
- Nursing in Wisconsin
- Cosmetology / Barber in Wisconsin
- Real Estate in Wisconsin
- Contractor in Wisconsin
- Teaching in Wisconsin
- CPA / Accounting in Wisconsin
- Electrician in Wisconsin
- Plumber in Wisconsin
- Engineering in Wisconsin
- Pharmacy in Wisconsin
- Physical Therapy in Wisconsin
- Psychology in Wisconsin
- Counseling in Wisconsin
- Occupational Therapy in Wisconsin
Frequently asked questions
Does my social work license transfer to Wisconsin?
Yes, by endorsement. The Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) issues Wisconsin's clinical-level social work license to social workers already licensed at the clinical level elsewhere, verifying your license and accepting your ASWB score rather than retesting you. Fee: DSPS says only 'pay appropriate fee(s) online via LicensE' and publishes renewal fees ($62 for the LCSW, per the RDAF chart rev. 08/07/2025), not the initial or reciprocal application fee. Not verified, so left null.. Processing: DSPS publishes no processing time for LCSW reciprocity. A temporary license while an application is pending is possible for credentialed out-of-state health providers (information sheet 2021-A101).. Wisconsin has enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, but it was not issuing multistate licenses as of 2026-09-27, so the compact does not change this application.
Do I have to retake the ASWB exam to get licensed in Wisconsin?
For reciprocity, DSPS compares your state's licensing standards with Wisconsin's; your ASWB score is accepted if ASWB sends it directly and it is for the same level you are applying for (Clinical). All applicants must ALSO pass the open-book Wisconsin Statutes and Rules exam, unless they took it within the last five years. ASWB sends the score for $40 per transfer, requested in ASWBCentral, and delivery takes 7-10 business days.
How much does a Wisconsin clinical social work license cost for an out-of-state applicant?
DSPS says only 'pay appropriate fee(s) online via LicensE' and publishes renewal fees ($62 for the LCSW, per the RDAF chart rev. 08/07/2025), not the initial or reciprocal application fee. Not verified, so left null.
How long does the Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) take?
DSPS publishes no processing time for LCSW reciprocity. A temporary license while an application is pending is possible for credentialed out-of-state health providers (information sheet 2021-A101).
Is Wisconsin in the Social Work Licensure Compact?
Wisconsin has enacted it, but the compact was not issuing multistate licenses anywhere as of 2026-09-27. No one can practice in Wisconsin on a compact license yet; endorsement through the Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) is the route.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.
- Wisconsin DSPS — #2681 Credentialing Information for Licensed Clinical Social Worker Applicants (rev. 4/2022), incl. Reciprocal Applicants ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Social Worker, Licensed Clinical profession page ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Reciprocity/Endorsement Not Available list ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Renewal Dates and Fees (RDAF, rev. 08/07/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
- Social Work Licensure Compact — compact jurisdictions ↗ (accessed 2026-09-27)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]