By The Wisconsin Medical Society, reposted with permission
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) will open physician license renewal on Friday, September 12, 2025. To keep your license active, you must submit a completed renewal application with payment by 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2025. Once submitted, your license will remain active while your application is under review.
How to Renew
- Visit license.wi.gov and log in through the “Welcome Back” section.
- If you’ve forgotten your login credentials, check your renewal notice, which usually includes your username (but not your password).
- If your username isn’t available, select “request support” on the site and submit a help ticket for login assistance. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
- The renewal fee is $120.
Continuing Education Requirements
Physicians must attest to the completion of continuing medical education (CME) as part of the renewal process. Proof of CME completion is not required at the time of renewal but may be requested later if you are randomly selected for audit. Additional instructions for fulfilling audit requirements will be provided in early 2026 before the audit begins.
Updates to Renewal Questions
Physicians may notice that some renewal questions look slightly different this year. DSPS is working with the Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation to remove stigmatizing language from applications and renewals. This is an ongoing effort, and more information will be shared as the work continues.
The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) fully supports the efforts and changes made by DSPS in partnership with the Lorna Breen Foundation. WisMed is honored to serve on the steering committee for a grant from Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) on the effort to improve state license and hospital privileges questions for physicians. That grant is headed by the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), and is separate from the grant WisMed is leading to establish a Health Professional Assistance Program for physicians and other health care professionals.
Renewal Holds
Some physicians may see their renewal listed as “on hold.” This occurs when there are outstanding obligations to:
- The Department of Revenue (unpaid taxes), or
- The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, IPFCF).
Your renewal notice will include instructions for resolving these obligations. Currently, OCI reports that approximately 10% of physicians have outstanding IPFCF obligations. Physicians are strongly encouraged to address these matters promptly to avoid renewal delays.
Workforce Survey
A workforce survey is included with license renewal; physicians are strongly encouraged to complete it. The Department of Health Services (DHS) uses this data to secure Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations, which bring federal funding to Wisconsin to help increase access to care.
These funds support:
- Loan repayment programs for health care professionals
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- Other resources that expand care in underserved communities
Survey data is also shared with researchers and institutions for workforce analysis. For example, DSPS partnered with Marquette University on a report analyzing dental workforce trends using similar survey data.
More Information
Additional information is available at DSPS LicensE. Physician Continuing Education Requirement is available at DSPS.wi.gov.
For assistance see LicensE Customer Information or contact renewal staff at DSPSRenewal@wisconsin.gov or 608.266.2112.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.