Building Motivational Interviewing Competency Certificate
A page within Motivational Interviewing
Earn your competency certificate in Motivational Interviewing!
New Format! This 38-hour blended certificate course (in-person on UW-Madison campus, live Zoom sessions, anytime Canvas course site) is for participants wanting to learn or relearn the knowledge and skills necessary to reach proficiency in the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI). The new format includes four-days of in-person training on the UW-Madison campus, with exciting opportunities to build skills and network with colleagues.
- Online self-study (14 hours): Sep. 29–Nov. 13, 2025
- 4 - Live-in person sessions in Madison, WI (18 hours)
- Thursday, October 9: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (lunch on your own)
- Friday, October 10: 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, December 4: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (lunch on your own)
- Friday, December 5: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Three, 2-hour highly interactive live online webinars (6 hours)
- Thursday, October 16: Noon–2 p.m.
- Thursday, October 30: Noon–2 p.m.
- Thursday, November 13: Noon–2 p.m.
What is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a well-established, evidence-based communication practice for addressing behavioral change across multiple settings and systems. This 38-hour group-paced certificate is for participants wanting to learn or relearn the knowledge and skills necessary to reach proficiency in the use of MI.
Throughout the certificate course, you will be observing, practicing, and applying the person-centered MI skills of:
- Engaging
- Focusing
- Evoking
- Planning
At completion, participants will be able to demonstrate the requisite attitudes, knowledge and skills (competency) to practice MI with fidelity and begin the initial integration of MI into their routine practices.
In this group-paced online course, you will:
- Develop your competencies in MI through 24 hours of highly interactive lectures (18 hours of in-person training and 6 hours of live-online Zoom sessions).
- Participate in partner work, small and large group discussions, and instructor-guided practice.
- Enhance your learning with up to 14hours of independent self-study on the Canvas online course site including pre-captured video lectures.
- Review pre-captured video lectures and workbook readings.
- Demonstrate your skill development through written assignments and practice recorded simulated client audio samples.
- Participate in two recorded simulated client practice audio samples.Evaluate your progress via knowledge checks, skills observation with individualized fidelity feedback and a summative competency quiz.
- Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will earn the noncredit "MI Competency-Based Certificate" (see Overview: Extra Information below for more details).
Registration Fee: $1,499
Register through: October 1, 2025
The registration fee includes two practice sessions with a simulated client with simulated client and instructor feedback, 18 hours of in-person live instruction, 6 hours of live Zoom sessions, and access to an online learner management system for 14 hours of self-paced online work. The course workbook is not included (see summary for details on where to purchase the textbook).
University of Wisconsin-Madison Continuing Studies:
- Is the course provider.
- Will process your registration.
Cancellation policy: If you withdraw three business days prior to the start date of the class, you'll receive a full refund of your tuition minus a $25 administrative fee. No refund is given after that date.
Course format:
This program will be a mix of in-person sessions held at the Pyle Conference Center on the UW-Madison campus, live online sessions using the Zoom platform, and self-study in the Canvas online course site.
Required text:
As a learner of this course, you are required to purchase a copy of Building Motivational Interviewing Skills: A Practitioner Workbook, Second Edition by David B. Rosengren (2017) by the start of class. Many online vendors sell this required textbook. Please look for ISBN number 9781462532063. It is generally available at Guilford Press or Amazon.
38-Hour Group-Paced Certificate
- Online self-study (14 hours): Sep. 29–Nov. 13, 2025
- 4 - Live-in person sessions in Madison, WI (18 hours)
- Thursday, October 9: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (lunch on your own)
- Friday, October 10: 8:30–11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, December 4: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (lunch on your own)
- Friday, December 5: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Three, 2-hour highly interactive live online webinars (6 hours)
- Thursday, October 16: Noon–2 p.m.
- Thursday, October 30: Noon–2 p.m.
- Thursday, November 13: Noon–2 p.m.
All times are shown in Central Time (CT).
Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
This program will be a mix of live online session(s) using the Zoom platform, and self-study in the Canvas online course site. As a learner of this course, you are required to purchase a copy of Building Motivational Interviewing Skills: A Practitioner Workbook, Second Edition by David B. Rosengren (2017) by the start of the class. Many online vendors sell this required textbook. Please look for ISBN number 9781462532063. It is generally available at Guildford Press or Amazon.
The 38-hour online group-paced course includes:
- Four, 3-hour highly interactive live online webinars (12 hours total)
- 26 hours of independent self-study on the Canvas online course site
Minimum Course Requirements:
Participants will receive 38 hours of continuing education by meeting the following requirements:
Competency Certificate
Participants will receive the UW-Madison MI Competency-Based Certificate by meeting the following requirements:
Evaluation of your progress will be measured with knowledge checks, skill observation with individualized fidelity feedback and a summative competency quiz. Participants who successfully complete all course requirements will earn the noncredit "MI Competency-Based Certificate" from University of Wisconsin-Madison Continuing Studies.
By participating in this UW-Madison Continuing Studies class you will earn:
| Instructional Hours | 38 |
| University of Wisconsin Continuing Education Units | 3.8 |
| American Psychological Association - Continuing Education Credit | 38 |
| Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Substance Abuse Counselors - Continuing Education Credit Hours | 38 |
| Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Marriage and Family Therapists - Continuing Education Credit Hours | 38 |
| Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Social Workers - Continuing Education Credit Hours | 38 |
| Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Licensed Professional Counselors | 38 |
Explanation of UW-Madison Continuing Education Hours
APA Approved Sponsor logoUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison Continuing Studies is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. University of Wisconsin–Madison Continuing Studies maintains responsibility for programs and their content.
Instructor
Laura SaundersLaura A. Saunders, M.S.S.W.
Member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers
Laura A. Saunders, M.S.S.W., is with the Great Lakes Addictions, Mental Health and Prevention Technology Centers serving as the State Project Manager for Wisconsin. Her position is housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she’s worked since 1988. Since 2001, Laura has provided Motivational interviewing training to physicians, nurses, medical students, psychologists, specialty addiction treatment providers, social workers, physical therapists, health promotion specialists, health educators and staff who work in correctional settings. Laura designs, facilitates, and delivers training and coaching in person, online, and via distance learning in the fields of health care, human services, public health, public safety and criminal justice. She has delivered over 120 beginning, intermediate, advanced-skills and code workshops. She has provided feedback and coaching to hundreds of social workers, correctional staff and other human service providers who are interested in using MI to fidelity. She joined the International group of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2006 (Sophia, Bulgaria) and is an active member of the Wisconsin MINT group.