Chapter MPSW 3

MPSW 3.13(1)(c) (c) Documentation necessary for the section to determine, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, Stats., whether any of the following apply:

MPSW 3.13(1)(c)1. 1. The applicant has a pending charge for an exempt offense, as defined in s. 111.335 (1m) (b), Stats., or a violent crime against a child, as defined in s. 111.335 (1m) (d), Stats., which is substantially related to the practice of a social worker.

MPSW 3.13(1)(c)2. 2. The applicant has been convicted of a crime substantially related to the practice of a social worker.

MPSW 3.13 Note Note: Application forms are available upon request to the Social Worker Section at 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708.

MPSW 3.13(2) (2) Social worker degree equivalency. To attain social worker degree equivalency to a bachelor’s degree in social work under the terms of s. 457.09 (4) and (4m) (b), Stats., and to qualify to take the national social work examination, a social worker training certificate holder shall demonstrate by certified transcript from an accredited college or university, sent directly to the section, that the applicant has successfully completed with a minimum of a C grade at least a total of 5 courses, each consisting of a minimum of either 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours of academic credit. Courses shall be taught by an instructor who holds a master’s degree or a PhD in social work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education unless otherwise approved by the section. The courses shall use a textbook written by a social work educator for social work courses as a primary text, unless otherwise approved by the section. At least three of these courses shall be taken at the same institution, and shall be distributed among the following subject areas:

MPSW 3.13(2)(a) (a) Social welfare policy and services. At least one course of at least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit. Qualifying course work in this area shall include the history, mission and philosophy of the social work profession, the impact of social policy on health and well-being, the effect of social policy on social work practice, current social policy analysis, political and organizational processes used to influence policy, the process of policy formulation, and the framework for current social policy analysis in light of the principles of social and economic justice.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b) (b) Social work practice methods with individuals, families, small groups, communities, organizations and social institutions - generalist practice methods. At least 3 courses each consisting of at least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit. Qualifying coursework in these areas shall substantively and effectively prepare the student for action to engage with, assess, intervene with, and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The social work practice methods taught shall be evidence-based, and shall emphasize client strengths. Each course shall have infused throughout the curriculum significant course content on social work values, ethics, approaches and skills for practice with clients from differing social, cultural, racial, religious, spiritual and class backgrounds; and systems of all sizes. The content of the three courses shall be coordinated by the college or university to cover the material described below and demonstrate that within the curriculum of the three courses, students shall learn:

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)1. 1. Of the three required social work methods courses, a course in each of the following: social work practice with individuals, social work practice with groups and families, and social work practice with communities, organizations, and social institutions.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2. 2. Practice content which emphasizes professional relationships that are characterized by mutuality, collaboration, respect for the client system and incorporates use of professional social work supervision. Coursework shall prepare a student to do all of the following:

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.a. a. Use empathy and other interpersonal skills with clients.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.b. b. Develop with the client a mutually agreed upon focus of work and desired outcomes.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.c. c. Collect, organize, and interpret client data.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.d. d. Develop mutually agreed upon intervention goals and objectives.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.e. e. Select appropriate intervention strategies.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.f. f. Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.g. g. Implement prevention interventions that enhance client capacities.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.h. h. Help clients resolve problems.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.i. i. Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.j. j. Facilitate transitions and endings.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)2.k. k. Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)3. 3. Practice assessment which focuses on the examination of client strengths and problems in the interaction among individuals and between people and their environments.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)4. 4. Knowledge, values and skills to enhance human well-being and amelioration of the environmental conditions that affect people adversely.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)5. 5. Approaches and skills for practice with clients from differing social, cultural, racial, religious, spiritual and class backgrounds and with systems of all sizes.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)6. 6. Differential assessments and intervention skills to serve diverse at-risk populations.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)7. 7. An evaluation of the student’s ability to demonstrate competence in interviewing, using empathy and interpersonal skills. The student shall be able to demonstrate skill in collecting, organizing, and interpreting client data; assessing client strengths and limitations; developing mutually agreed upon intervention goals and objectives; and selecting appropriate intervention strategies.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)8. 8. Each social work methods course shall include content on social work values and ethics including the application of the standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics to Social Work practice.

MPSW 3.13(2)(b)9. 9. Each social work methods course shall include content on cultural competence in social work practice, based on the National Association of Social Workers Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice.

MPSW 3.13(2)(c) (c) Human behavior in the social environment, including human growth and development, and social systems theory. At least one course of at least 3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours academic credit. Qualifying course work in this area shall include theories and knowledge of human biological, sociological, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development across the life span; the range of social systems, including individual, family, group, organizational, and community, in which people live, and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being.

MPSW 3.13(3) (3) Internship and employment. To qualify to take the national social work examination, a training certificate holder shall demonstrate to the section, by written certification from his or her supervisor sent directly to the section, that he or she engaged in and successfully completed one of the following:

MPSW 3.13(3)(a) (a)

MPSW 3.13(3)(a)1. 1. A human services internship of at least 400 hours that was part of the program leading to the degree the certificate holder specified to satisfy the requirement in s. 457.09 (1) (c) and (4m) (b), Stats., or completed while holding the training certificate, and involved direct practice with clients and that was supervised by a social worker certified under s. 457.08, Stats., and who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work and provides direct, on-site supervision of the intern. A human services internship shall be under the auspices of an accredited college or university.

MPSW 3.13(3)(a)2. 2. A human services internship completed prior to August 1, 1995, that otherwise qualifies under par. (a), may be approved by the section if it was supervised by a person holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work and in good professional standing, but who was not certified under s. 457.08, Stats.

MPSW 3.13(3)(b) (b) One year of social work employment completed while holding the training certificate, which involved at least 400 hours of face-to-face client contact in not less than 12 months, and that was supervised by a social worker certified under s. 457.08, Stats., who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work and who provides direct, on-site supervision of the certificate holder during the time the certificate holder is at work.

MPSW 3.13(3m) (3m) Demonstrated competency. A human services internship or one year of social work employment shall be approved by the section provided that the supervising social worker certifies on forms provided by the department that the internship or employment provided training and experience, and the applicant demonstrated competency, in each of the following areas:

MPSW 3.13(3m)(a) (a) Demonstrate the ability to: engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in regard to strengths and difficulties in biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual functioning.

MPSW 3.13(3m)(b) (b) Demonstrate intervention skills, including: collecting, organizing, and interpreting client data; assessing client strengths and limitations; using empathy and other interpersonal skills; developing mutually agreed upon intervention goals and objectives; determining and implementing appropriate intervention strategies; and referring clients to other qualified resources when appropriate.

MPSW 3.13(3m)(c) (c) Develop a mutually agreed upon focus of work and desired outcomes, which may include: implementing prevention interventions that enhance client outcomes; helping clients resolve problems; negotiating, mediating, and advocating for clients; and facilitating transitions and endings; referring to community resources; facilitating organizational change to meet social needs based on evaluation and assessment as described in par. (a); and critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate interventions.

MPSW 3.13(3m)(d) (d) Knowledge of other disciplines and resources relevant to the evaluation of clients, plans and policies to alleviate client difficulties, and intervention planning.

MPSW 3.13(3m)(e) (e) Demonstrate cultural competence, based on the National Association of Social Workers Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice, by intervening effectively on behalf of diverse populations and populations most vulnerable and discriminated against; providing culturally competent services, and collaborating with others to develop services.

MPSW 3.13(3m)(f) (f) Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics in the delivery of social work services to clients, and applying relevant Wisconsin laws and administrative rules, as applicable.

MPSW 3.13(4) (4) Supervision requirements. In addition to the minimum qualifications for supervisors specified in sub. (3), supervision of qualifying human services internship or employment shall include the direction of social work practice in a face-to-face individual session of at least one hour duration during each week of supervised practice of social work, and shall further comply with s. MPSW 4.01 (1) and (3). Supervision may be exercised by a person other than an employment supervisor. For supervised educational internships or employment experiences that begin 6 months after the effective date of this rule change, the supervisor and student or employee shall complete and sign a learning contract within the first 40 hours of the internship or employment that shall describe the goals of the student or employee’s supervised experience and list basic expectations for both the applicant and the supervisor.

MPSW 3.13(5) (5) Granting social worker certification. Subject to s. 457.26 (2), Stats., the section shall grant a social worker certificate to a training certificate holder who has demonstrated social worker degree equivalency, completed a supervised human services internship or social work employment, and passed the national social worker examination and state law examination, all as required under this section and s. 457.09, Stats.

MPSW 3.13(6) (6) Approval of courses for social worker degree equivalency.

MPSW 3.13(6)(a) (a) The section may approve in advance courses offered by an accredited college or university which may be taken by a social worker training certificate holder to satisfy the requirements of sub. (2) (a) to (c).

MPSW 3.13(6)(b) (b) To obtain advance section approval under par. (a), an accredited college or university shall submit course syllabi at least 6 months prior to the commencement of the class. Section approval shall continue for 2 years unless the course content, format, delivery method, or instructor changes. After 2 years, course syllabi shall be resubmitted for approval.

MPSW 3.13 History History: Cr. Register, November, 1996, No. 491, eff. 12-1-96; cr. (1) (a) 1. to 3., am. (3) (a) (intro.) and (b) (intro.), Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 3-1-00; CR 01-059: cr. (6), Register March 2002 No. 555, eff. 4-1-02; CR 05-098: am. (3) (a) Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 08-089: am. (3) (a) (intro.) Register June 2009 No. 642, eff. 7-1-09; CR 11-028: r. and recr. (1) (a) 1., am. (2) (intro.), (b) (intro.), (c), (4), (6) (b), renum. (2) (b) 1., (3) (b) (intro.) to be (2) (b) 2., (3) (b) and am., renum. (2) (b) 2., 3., 4., (3) (a) (intro.) to be (2) (b) 3., 4., 5., (3) (a) 1., r. (2) (b) 5., (3) (a) 1., (b) 1., 2., cr. (2) (b) 1., 7., 8., 9., (3m) Register September 2011 No. 669, eff. 10-1-11; corrections in (3) (a) 1. and (3m) (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register September 2011 No. 669.; CR 19-116: r. and recr. (1) (c) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; correction in (1) (c) 1., 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register ay 2020 No. 773.