457.15 Reciprocal certificates and licenses.

(1) Upon application and payment of the fee specified in s. 440.05 (2), the social worker section may do all of the following:

(a) Grant a social worker certificate to any individual who holds a similar certificate in another state or territory of the United States and who passes an examination approved by the social worker section that tests knowledge of state law relating to social work, if the social worker section determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 457.08 (1).

(b) Grant an advanced practice social worker certificate to any individual who holds a similar certificate in another state or territory of the United States and who passes an examination approved by the social worker section that tests knowledge of state law relating to advanced practice social work, if the social worker section determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 457.08 (2).

(c) Grant an independent social worker certificate to any individual who holds a similar certificate in another state or territory of the United States and who passes an examination approved by the social worker section that tests knowledge of state law relating to independent social work, if the social worker section determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 457.08 (3).

(d) Grant a clinical social worker license to any individual who holds a similar certificate or license in another state or territory of the United States and who passes an examination approved by the social worker section that tests knowledge of state law relating to clinical social work, if the social worker section determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate or license in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 457.08 (4).

(2) Upon application and payment of the fee specified in s. 440.05 (2), the marriage and family therapist section may grant a marriage and family therapist license to any individual who holds a similar certificate or license in another state or territory of the United States and who passes an examination approved by the marriage and family therapist section that tests knowledge of state law relating to marriage and family therapy, if the marriage and family therapist section determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate or license in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 457.10.

(3) Upon application and payment of the fee specified in s. 440.05 (2), the professional counselor section may grant a professional counselor license to any individual who holds a similar certificate or license in another state or territory of the United States and who passes an examination approved by the professional counselor section that tests knowledge of state law relating to professional counseling, if the professional counselor section determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate or license in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 457.12.

History: 1991 a. 160; 2001 a. 80.

The Examining Board may not require applicants for reciprocal certificates to pass an examination covering state law in the absence of a statutory requirement. Applicants for certificates under reciprocal certification must demonstrate that they obtained their certificates under a state law that was substantially equivalent to Wisconsin's educational, experience, and examination requirements. OAG 4-99.