Wisconsin LPC CE Requirements Guide for 2026

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), through the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board, oversees continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). This comprehensive guide covers all CE requirements for 2026 and beyond.

[!NOTE] In Wisconsin, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPCs) have the same CE requirements.

Quick Facts

Total CE Hours Required: 30 hours per 2-year cycle
Ethics Requirement: 4 hours minimum
Renewal Frequency: Every two years
License Type: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/LCPC)
State: Wisconsin
Regulatory Body: Wisconsin DSPS
Administrative Code: MPSW 19

CE Hours Breakdown

Total Requirement: 30 Hours Every 2 Years

The 30-hour requirement includes:

Total hours: 30 credit hours per two-year credential period
Ethics minimum: 4 credit hours in professional counselor ethics and professional boundaries
General CE: Remaining 26 hours in topics relevant to professional counseling practice

Ethics Training Requirement (4 Hours)

Minimum: 4 credit hours every renewal cycle
Topics: Professional ethics and professional boundaries
Relevance: Must be related to your area of practice
Focus areas:
- Ethical decision-making in counseling
- Professional boundaries with clients
- Confidentiality and privacy
- Dual relationships
- Informed consent
- Cultural considerations in ethics

[!IMPORTANT] Ethics courses should specifically address professional counselor ethics and boundaries, not just general professional development.

First Renewal Exception

No CE required for first renewal

If you are renewing your Wisconsin LPC license for the first time, continuing education is not required for that renewal period.

This exemption applies only to your very first renewal. All subsequent renewals require the full 30 hours of CE.

Approved CE Courses and Providers

DSPS Policy on Approval

The Wisconsin DSPS does not pre-approve specific CE courses. Instead, courses will be accepted if they satisfy the requirements outlined in administrative code MPSW 19.

Acceptable CE Programs

CE programs are acceptable if they meet these criteria:

Relevant to professional counseling - Content relates to your area of practice
Educational in nature - Formal learning experience with clear objectives
Provided by reputable organizations - Professional associations, universities, or recognized providers
Documented completion - Certificate or proof of attendance provided

Recognized Professional Organizations

CE courses from these organizations are generally accepted:

American Counseling Association (ACA)
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
American Psychological Association (APA)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCA)
Accredited universities and colleges
Other state-recognized professional organizations

CE Format Options

Online CE Courses

Allowed: Yes, up to 100% of required hours
Requirements: Must include verification of completion
Benefits: Flexibility, accessibility, cost-effective

In-Person Training

Workshops and seminars - Professional development events
Conferences - National and state counseling conferences
University courses - Graduate-level relevant courses
Live webinars - Interactive online sessions

Self-Study Programs

Acceptable if from approved provider
Must include assessment component
Should provide completion certificate

Record Keeping Requirements

Documentation to Maintain (Minimum 4 Years)

Wisconsin requires you to retain CE documentation for at least four years:

Completion certificates - Official proof from provider
Course outlines or descriptions - What was covered
Provider information - Name and credentials
Number of credit hours - Total CE earned
Date of completion - When the course was taken
Ethics designation - If course counts toward ethics requirement

Best Practices

Keep digital copies - Scan all certificates and store securely
Organize by renewal period - Separate CE by two-year cycle
Label ethics courses - Clearly mark which courses count toward 4-hour requirement
Backup your records - Store in multiple locations (cloud and local)

Audits and Compliance

Audit Process

The DSPS may audit licensees to verify CE compliance
If selected, you must provide all required documentation
Failure to provide proof may result in disciplinary action
Response time is typically 30 days from notification

Compliance Tips

Never assume a course is approved - verify it meets MPSW 19 requirements
Keep all documentation for the full four years
Don't wait until renewal to verify your hours
Contact DSPS if you're unsure about a course's acceptability

Planning Your 30 Hours

Suggested Timeline

Months 1-6 of Renewal Cycle

Complete 4 hours of ethics training
Complete 6-8 additional hours
Total: 10-12 hours

Months 7-12

Complete 6-8 hours in specialty areas
Total to date: 16-20 hours

Months 13-18

Complete remaining 6-8 hours
Total to date: 22-28 hours

Months 19-24

Complete final 2-8 hours to reach 30
Verify all documentation is complete
Final total: 30 hours

Contact Information

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)

Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board

Phone: (608) 266-2112
Email: [email protected]
Website: dsps.wi.gov
License Lookup: online.drl.wi.gov

Mailing Address: Wisconsin DSPS P.O. Box 8366 Madison, WI 53708-8366

Physical Address: 1400 E. Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53703

Choose relevant topics - Select CE that enhances your clinical skills
Diversify your learning - Mix clinical skills, ethics, and specialty topics
Network while learning - Attend conferences to connect with colleagues
Apply what you learn - Implement new techniques in your practice
Track impact - Note how CE improves your client outcomes

Quality Over Quantity

Don't just accumulate hours - select courses that:

Address gaps in your knowledge
Align with your client population
Introduce evidence-based practices
Challenge you to grow professionally

Wisconsin LPC Renewal Process

Steps for Successful Renewal

Complete 30 CE hours (including 4 ethics hours)
Gather all documentation - Certificates and proof of completion
Submit renewal application - Online through DSPS portal
Pay renewal fee - Check current fee on DSPS website
Keep records - Retain CE documentation for 4 years

[!WARNING] Practicing with an expired license is illegal in Wisconsin. Renew before your expiration date.

Stay Compliant with CE Tracker App

Managing your Wisconsin LPC continuing education requirements is simple with the right tools. CE Tracker App helps you:

Track all 30 required hours - Real-time progress monitoring
Separate ethics tracking - Know when you've completed 4 ethics hours
Store certificates digitally - Unlimited secure storage
Generate reports - Create renewal and audit reports
Set reminders - Alerts for renewal deadlines
4-year archive - Automatic compliance with record-keeping requirements

Don't risk your Wisconsin counseling license - stay organized and compliant with CE Tracker App.

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LPC CE Requirements for Wisconsin (2026 Renewal Cycle)