State updates license fees with changes

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) has published an updated fee schedule that includes adjustments to initial license applications and renewals for some professions.

Every two years, DSPS reviews and, when necessary, adjusts fees based on the cost of work needed to license and regulate each profession. The Evers Administration lowered fees in 2019 and then lowered them again in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve always worked to align fees to the cost of work to support the profession,” said DSPS secretary Dan Hereth. “We’re keeping that approach and adjusting appropriately.”

Trades licenses will see no adjustment and the cost of most business and health licenses will also remain the same. Most impacted professions, like nurses and dentists, will see a fee adjustment of less than $20 for a twoyear renewal. Only physicians will see a more significant increase. Their fee for a Wisconsin license will rise to $120 every two years, remaining the lowest physician renewal rate in the nation.

“Most licenses will not experience a fee change and all license fees remain lower than they were in 2018,” Hereth explained.

Wisconsin DSPS is funded by fees and receives no tax dollars for licensing work, meaning the fees charged for initial applications and license renewals entirely fund the department’s credentialing and regulation of licensed professions.

The updated license fees are posted on the DSPS website at https://dsps.wi.gov/Credentialing/Renewal/RenewalDatesFees. pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_ source=govdelivery and take effect for initial and renewal applications that open in August.