Student Services

Training Requirements for School Staff

Training Requirements

Wisconsin law and federal requirements require certain school staff to complete specific trainings. Use the list below to find information about required trainings, who must complete them, and how often they must be completed.

Need to complete a required training?

Many Department of Public Instruction trainings are available through LearnProfessional, the DPI's online learning management system. Visit the DPI's LearnProfessional learning management system to access available courses, complete trainings, and to view your course history.

The trainings listed below are required by state or federal law for some or all school staff. School districts may also have additional training requirements based on local policies, employee responsibilities, or grant requirements.

Required Trainings

Grooming and Professional Boundaries Training for School Employees

This training covers how to identify, prevent, and report grooming and professional boundary violations.

  • Training frequency: Required annually for all public and private school employees.
  • School staff and volunteers should determine if their employer requires access to the training through the DPI's learning management system, LearnProfessional. This training module is available in LearnProfessional.
  • A web-based version of this training module is also available for those not using LearnProfessional, including community members and parents/guardians (web-based training module).
  • Statutory Authority: Wis. Stat. sec. 118.07(7)

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

Required for every school employee and for employees of private schools participating in the Private School Choice Programs or the Special Needs Scholarship Program. Learn more about Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect on the DPI's website.

Mandatory Reporting of Threats of School Violence (Act 143)

Required for every school employee and for employees of private schools participating in the Private School Choice Programs or Special Needs Scholarship Program.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Required for school employees who can reasonably be anticipated to be exposed to blood, including employees of private schools who meet this standard.

Physical Restraint

Required for at least one person per building where physical restraint may be used and for any individual who uses physical restraint, except in emergency situations. This requirement also applies to private schools participating in the Special Needs Scholarship Program if physical restraint is used.

Medication Administration

Required for employees and volunteers assigned to administer medication through certain routes, including injection, inhalation, intranasal, rectal, nasogastric tube, gastrostomy tube, or jejunostomy tube.

Safety Plan

The local school board or private school governing board determines who must complete school safety plan training.

Student Records and Confidentiality

Required for individuals who collect or use personally identifiable information. Training addresses pupil records, including access, disclosure, storage, retention, transfer, destruction, and annual notice requirements.

  • Training frequency: Determined by local school district policy.
  • Learn more about Student Data Privacy training.
  • Statutory Authority: 34 CFR § 300.623(c). This federal training requirement applies only to private schools in specific circumstances involving students with disabilities. 

Suicide Prevention Model Notice

Wisconsin law requires each school board and private school governing body to annually inform professional staff about available suicide prevention resources.

Training Completion and Certificates

How do I get proof that I completed a training?

If you need proof of completion, please follow the instructions provided with the specific training. When a training is completed through LearnProfessional, you can use your course history and available completion documentation to verify that you completed the course.

What if I do not receive a confirmation email?

For trainings that use an email confirmation process, ensure you:

  • Complete all required questions in the Email Confirmation section at the end of the training.
  • Check your spam or junk email folder.
  • Make sure all email addresses are entered correctly.
  • Separate multiple email addresses with commas.

If you still do not receive a confirmation email, follow the instructions provided for that specific training to resubmit your information

Where should I send my proof of completion?

The DPI does not maintain individual employee training records. Follow your school or district's instructions for submitting proof of completion. This may include sending documentation to a supervisor, principal, or human resources office.

Keep a copy of your completion documentation for your records.

Important Information

This page is not a complete list of every training requirement that may apply to school districts or individual employees. Other requirements may apply under stat or federal law, including requirements related to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

School district leaders should review applicable state and federal laws, regulations, grant requirements, and local policies to determine which trainings are required for their employees. Districts and schools may also establish additional training requirements based on local needs.