Wisconsin

At a Glance

Category	Details
IMLC Member	Yes
FCVS	Accepted
NP Independent Practice	No
PA Independent Practice	No
Physician-Owned PC Allowed	No
Max NPs per Physician	No Limit
Max PAs per Physician	No Limit

Licensure

Item	Cost
Initial License	$75
Renewal Fee	$412
Renewal Cycle	Biennial
Annualized Cost	$206.00
Controlled Substance Registration	No

In-State Physician Requirement

MD must be licensed in WI.

APC Supervision

Nurse Practitioners

NPs require physician supervision in Wisconsin.

• Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit

Physician Assistants

PAs require physician supervision in Wisconsin.

• Maximum PAs per physician: No Limit

Additional Notes

Determined at the practice level.

CME & Training Requirements

Requirement	Details
Total CME	Contact board
Category 1 Minimum	See board
Cycle	Biennial
Opioid/Pain Mgmt	2 hrs/cycle
Human Trafficking	Required
Implicit Bias	Not required
Suicide Prevention	Not required
DEA MATE Act	8 hrs one-time (federal)
Jurisprudence Exam	Required

Fingerprint Requirements

Detail	Info
Required	Yes
FBI Check	Yes
Method	LiveScan / Fieldprint
Out-of-State Options	Contact board
Timing	With application

Quirks & Gotchas

Fees

• Initial application fee discrepancy**: One source cites $75, another lists $150 (or $165 if a state exam is needed, $125 if only USMLE Step 3 remains). Confirm current amounts directly with DSPS — fee tables are buried in a PDF (Renewal Dates and Fees doc) that is not web-readable.
• FSMB Uniform Application (UA) surcharge**: First-time UA users are hit with a separate $50 one-time service fee from FSMB on top of the state fee. Easy to miss.
• Renewal fee**: $60–$106 depending on source; biennial cycle ending October 31 of odd-numbered years.
• Fee reduction form exists**: Form 3217 (Application for Fee Reduction) is available but unadvertised — eligible applicants can request reduced fees.
• Oral exam fee**: $266, must be paid before you can even schedule the exam. See below.

Application Requirements

• Form 570** (Credentialing Information) is the core application, but multiple conditional supplemental forms apply:
• Form 12829** — required if you have any malpractice suits or claims, ever
• Form 2252** — required for any criminal convictions or pending charges
• Form 2167** — required for each hospital, facility, or employer
• Form 3074** — License Transition Addendum (for license type changes)
• Form 3220** — Sports Physician Licensure Exemption Extension
• Form 2165** — Post-graduate training certification (waivable only if using FCVS)
• Malpractice disclosure covers the past 10 years and requires copies of complaints, dispositions, and dismissals — not just a yes/no checkbox.

Jurisprudence Exam

• Wisconsin does not use a scored jurisprudence exam like some states. Instead, applicants must submit a verified written statement that they are familiar with Wisconsin state health laws and Department of Health Services rules related to communicable diseases (Med 1.02). It is an attestation, not a test — but it is a distinct, required document that trips people up because it reads like a throwaway line.

Fingerprints & Background Check

• Fingerprints are required for all new applicants. Wisconsin uses Fieldprint as the state vendor for LiveScan digital fingerprint submission.
• The check runs through both the Wisconsin DOJ and FBI (national criminal history). Form 2687 (FBI Information Authorization) is part of the application package.
• Background check is not required at renewal — only initial licensure.

Exam Requirements

• 3 attempts maximum** per USMLE Step (national standard allows 4). This is a hard cut-off.
• All three Steps must be completed within 10 years of passing Step 1 (12 years for MD/PhD or dual-degree holders).
• If Step 3 is failed within the attempt limit, the applicant must reapply and submit evidence of additional education or training before the board will consider the application further.
• COMLEX (DO) is treated equivalently with the same attempt and time constraints.

CME & Mandatory Training

• Minimum 24 months of accredited postgraduate training required — not 1 year as in some states.
• International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have the same 24-month requirement. No IMG-specific concession.
• The board may waive the PGT requirement for applicants already licensed elsewhere with substantial professional experience, but this requires board review and is not automatic.

Exam Requirements

• The board can mandate a board oral examination (fee: $266, scheduled monthly) for applicants with: prior discipline, substance use history, hospital privilege loss, non-LCME/COCA-approved school, controlled substance history, psychiatric diagnoses affecting practice, negligence patterns, or adverse employment actions.
• This is not disclosed upfront and can blindside applicants who answer “yes” to any background question. It adds time and cost unpredictably.
• The board may also order a SPEX or COMVEX competency assessment at any point.

CME & Mandatory Training

• 30 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 or AOA Category 1 CME** per two-year renewal cycle (by October 31 of odd years).
• Mandatory subset: 2 hours on responsible opioid prescribing per cycle. Required only for physicians who hold a DEA number. If you have no DEA number, this is waived — but the waiver must be specifically invoked.
• No mandatory implicit bias, sexual misconduct, or human trafficking training currently required (unlike many neighboring states). This may change — Wisconsin’s MEB has been active in rule-making.
• CME documentation does NOT need to be submitted with renewal — you attest compliance. However, DSPS runs audits and can demand proof at any time. Keep records.

Timeline

• Standard processing: 12–16 weeks minimum, sometimes 4–6 months depending on completeness and board workload.
• Board meets monthly; applications requiring oral exam approval wait for the next scheduled meeting.
• Temporary Practice Option**: Physicians with a valid out-of-state license can obtain a 180-day temporary credential while the permanent application processes — useful for locums or urgent starts.
• Grace period at renewal: If you submit and pay by 11:59 PM on October 31, your license stays valid during DSPS review. Miss that deadline by one minute and you are technically unlicensed.

Other Gotchas

• 48-hour rule**: Any criminal conviction judgment must be reported to DSPS by mail within 48 hours. Missing this is classified as unprofessional conduct — independent of the underlying conviction.
• 30-day rule**: Certified copies of conviction judgment and complaint must follow within 30 days.
• Adverse licensing actions in other jurisdictions or DEA sanctions must be reported proactively — not just at renewal.
• Failure to receive DSPS renewal notice is explicitly not an excuse for late renewal. You are responsible for knowing your renewal date.

Interstate / Special License Types

• Wisconsin participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), which can expedite licensing if Wisconsin is designated as your state of principal license.
• Administrative Physician license**: Exists for non-clinical roles (academic, administrative) — cannot examine patients or prescribe. Separate credential.
• Visiting Physician license**: One-year term, teaching/research only.
• Locum Tenens/Camp Physician**: 90-day initial term, renewable up to 3 times (270 days max).
• Resident Educational License (REL)**: Required for all post-graduate training programs — residents cannot practice on a full MD license.
• Physician - DSPS - Wisconsin.gov
• Wisconsin Administrative Code Med 1
• Wisconsin Medical License: Detailed Guide - medicallicensing.com
• Wisconsin Physician License - physicianlicensing.com
• Renewing a Physician Medical License in Wisconsin - GELS

Researched from state board websites and regulatory sources. Verify with the board directly before applying.

Resources

• Wisconsin Medical Examining Board
• FSMB State Licensure Directory
• Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Sources

Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings. Last updated June 2026.

Have a correction or update? Let us know.