Professional counselor license; privilege to practice
Wis. Stat. § 457.12
in effect(1m) License. The professional counselor section shall, subject to sub. (4m), grant a professional counselor license to any individual to whom all of the following apply:
(a) The individual satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.
(b) The individual submits evidence satisfactory to the professional counselor section that he or she has received a master’s or doctorate degree in professional counseling or its equivalent from a program approved by the professional counselor section.
(bm) The individual does not, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, have a conviction record.
(c) The individual submits evidence satisfactory to the professional counselor section that he or she has done any of the following:
1. After receiving a master’s degree in professional counseling or its equivalent, engaged in the equivalent of at least 3,000 hours of professional counseling practice, including at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, supervised by one of the following:
a. An individual licensed as a professional counselor who has received a doctorate degree in professional counseling.
b. An individual licensed as a professional counselor who has engaged in the equivalent of 5 years of full-time professional counseling practice.
c. A psychiatrist or a psychologist licensed under ch. 455.
d. An individual, other than an individual specified in subd. 1. a., b., or c., who is approved by the professional counselor section or satisfies requirements for supervision that are specified in rules promulgated by the examining board upon the advice of the professional counselor section.
2. Received a doctorate degree in professional counseling or its equivalent, and, either during or after the doctorate degree program or its equivalent, engaged in the equivalent of at least 1,000 hours of full-time professional counseling practice supervised by one of the following:
a. An individual licensed as a professional counselor who has received a doctorate degree in professional counseling.
b. An individual licensed as a professional counselor who has engaged in the equivalent of 5 years of full-time professional counseling practice.
c. A psychiatrist or a psychologist licensed under ch. 455.
d. An individual, other than an individual specified in subd. 2. a., b., or c., who is approved by the professional counselor section or satisfies requirements for supervision that are specified in rules promulgated by the examining board upon the advice of the professional counselor section.
(d) The individual passes one or more examinations under s. 457.16 approved by the professional counselor section to determine minimum competence to practice professional counseling.
(2m) License based upon privilege to practice. The professional counselor section shall grant a professional counselor license to any individual to whom all of the following apply:
(a) The individual satisfies the requirements in s. 457.06.
(b) The individual holds a home state license in another state that is a party to the counseling compact, has changed his or her primary state of residence to this state, and satisfies all other requirements under s. 457.50 (5).
(bm) The individual does not, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, have a conviction record.
(d) The individual passes an examination described under s. 457.16 (1) (b), if required.
(3m) Privilege to practice. The professional counselor section shall grant a professional counselor privilege to practice to any individual to whom all of the following apply:
(a) The individual holds an unencumbered home state license in another state that is a party to the counseling compact and satisfies all other requirements under s. 457.50 (4).
(b) The individual applies for the privilege to practice in the manner prescribed by the department.
(c) The individual pays any fee established by the department under s. 457.51 (2).
(d) The individual passes an examination described under s. 457.16 (1) (b), if required.
(4m) Types of license.
(a) A professional counselor license granted under sub. (1m) may be either of the following:
1. A license that, subject to s. 457.50 (4), entitles the holder to obtain and exercise a privilege to practice in other states that are parties to the counseling compact.
2. A single-state license, which only entitles the holder to practice in this state. Nothing in the counseling compact applies to the holder of a single-state license unless otherwise applicable under this subchapter.
(b) When applying for a license under sub. (1m), an individual shall specify whether he or she is applying for a license under par. (a) 1. or 2.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/457.12Fetched: 10/7/2026