Librarian certification for public library directors has been a part of Wisconsin law since 1921 when the legislature passed the first comprehensive state public librarian certification law. The concern was then, and continues to be, that the public libraries of the state be headed by qualified library personnel, assuring a high level of professional management and administration of Wisconsin’s library resources, programs and services.

Certification for Wisconsin public library directors is required to ensure that the public libraries in the state are administered by highly qualified library personnel. The division issues certificates to public librarians, per Wis. Stat. sec. 43.09(1). Qualifications for certification are based on education, training, and experience. The statutory grade level required of a director depends upon the population of the municipality(s) that established that library.

2024 Wisconsin Certification Manual

Levels of Certification

Find more information about each certification grade level in the Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors (2024).

A Grade I certificate is awarded to a public library director with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a master’s degree in library studies from an accredited library school.

Administrators of municipal, joint, and county public libraries with a municipal, joint municipal, or county population of 6,000 or more, and administrators of public library systems, are required to hold grade I certificates.

A Grade II certificate is awarded to a public library director holding a bachelor’s degree from a college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing, including or supplemented by 12 semester credits 8 Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors of coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in each of the
following areas:

  • Basic public library administration
  • Advanced public library administration
  • Organization and management of collections
  • Public and community services
    — OR —
  • Individuals who obtain a bachelor’s degree with a minor in library science may be certified at the grade II level upon completion of the Advanced Public Library Administration course.*

Administrators of municipal, joint, and county libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county population between 3,000 and 5,999 are required to hold at least grade II certificates.

A Grade III certificate is awarded to a public library director with 54 semester credits, half of which must be in the liberal arts and sciences, at a college or university approved by an accrediting association of more than statewide standing, including or supplemented by 12 semester credits of coursework or the equivalent, approved by the division, in the following areas:

  • Basic public library administration
  • Advanced public library administration
  • Organization and management of collections
  • Public and community services

Administrators of municipal, joint, and county libraries with a municipal, joint municipal or county population under 3,000 are required to hold at least grade III certificates.

A Temporary certificate is awarded to a public library director who must complete the library education requirements.

  • Only four temporary certificates may be awarded to a director.
  • Temporary certificates are valid through the last day of the month in which they expire.
  • Applicants must apply for temporary certification within three months of employment as a library director in order to be eligible for such certification.

Temporary certificates shall not be granted to allow applicants to complete the general education requirements for the applicable grade level.

Continuing Education Requirements

As defined in the Wisconsin Public Library Certification Manual, once a public library director has completed the four core courses (director’s holding master’s degrees are exempt from the four core courses), directors must:

  • Complete 100 contact hours of continuing education in a five-year period.
  • 10 hours of the continuing education contact hours must be technology training.
  • WVLS continuing education webinar and workshop descriptions include the number of contact hours awarded.

Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors

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Application / Renewal form

PI-2450 Certification Application – Use this form to apply for certification or renewal, regardless of grade level or type.

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Continuing Education Activity Report

PI-2453 Continuing Education Activity Report – Complete this form for each continuing education (CE) activity you complete.

Self-Directed Continuing Education Activity Proposal – This optional form may be used to propose Category C CE activities that require pre-approval from your system CE validator. Consult your system CE validator for information on their preferred process for Category C activities.

Annual Summation of Continuing Education Activities

PI-2454 CE Summations – Complete and submit this form annually or as directed by your system CE validator. When submitting, include a completed form PI-2453 for each activity listed. Retain the signed copy of this form returned by your CE validator to submit with your certification renewal application to DPI.

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Certification Overview Video

Filling out CE Activity Reports & Annual Summations (6.5 min. video)

Detailed Instructions (37 min. video)

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Contact Your System’s CE Validator

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The Library Services Team within the Division for Libraries & Technology serves as Wisconsin’s State Library Administrative Agency and works to empower Wisconsin’s libraries to best serve their communities’ needs.

Learn more about services and resources for Public Libraries.

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