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Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin Medical License Renewal, 2026

Biennial (2 years) renewal through the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS). All physicians renew by October 31 of each odd-numbered year, statewide. Verified from the board's own pages, August 2026.

Renew at the WI board portal →
Quick Facts: Wisconsin Medical License Renewal
Medical Board Wisconsin Medical Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS)
Renewal Cycle Biennial (2 years)
CME Hours Required 30 hours
Renewal Fee $120 (Medicine and Surgery, MD or DO, 2-year renewal). Same $120 applies to the Compact (IMLC-issued) MD and DO credentials and to Administrative Medicine and Surgery licenses. Per the DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees schedule (RDAF, rev. 08/07/2025); DSPS's August 8, 2025 news release confirms the physician fee rose to $120 effective for applications opening in August 2025.
Processing Time DSPS does not publish a physician renewal processing time on its site. The board page notes that a timely-filed renewal keeps the license valid while under review (Wis. Stat. 227.51(2)), and employers can confirm active status via DSPS Public Look-Up. At a September 30, 2025 DSPS renewal webinar (reported by the Wisconsin Hospital Association), DSPS said legal file reviews take about one week once all requested information is received.
Renewal Due October 31, odd years
Late fee $25 late renewal fee, making the total $145 with the renewal fee

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i Deadlines, fees, and what happens if you are late

When it is due
October 31 of each odd-numbered year, for all physicians statewide (Wis. Stat. 440.08(2)). The board states this applies even if the initial license was issued in the months just before the date: a license issued shortly before October 31 of an odd year still must be renewed by that date. Next renewal deadline: October 31, 2027.
Fee
$120 (Medicine and Surgery, MD or DO, 2-year renewal). Same $120 applies to the Compact (IMLC-issued) MD and DO credentials and to Administrative Medicine and Surgery licenses. Per the DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees schedule (RDAF, rev. 08/07/2025); DSPS's August 8, 2025 news release confirms the physician fee rose to $120 effective for applications opening in August 2025.
Late fee
$25 late renewal fee, making the total $145 with the renewal fee (Wis. Stat. 440.08(3)(a); RDAF schedule shows $145 "with late fee" for MD and DO).
If you miss the deadline
No practice grace period: the license expires October 31 if no renewal was filed. However, under Wis. Stat. 227.51(2) (quoted on the DSPS physician page), if the renewal application and fee are submitted by 11:59 pm on the deadline, the existing license remains valid until DSPS finishes acting on the application. After expiration, the credential can be restored at any time by paying the renewal fee plus the $25 late fee (Wis. Stat. 440.08(3)(a)). If expired more than 5 years, the board may impose additional restoration requirements to establish competency, not to exceed initial-licensure education/exam requirements (Wis. Stat. 440.08(3)(b)). DSPS may also summarily deny a renewal to protect public health, safety, or welfare, with a 30-day window to request a hearing (Wis. Stat. 440.08(4)).
Processing time
DSPS does not publish a physician renewal processing time on its site. The board page notes that a timely-filed renewal keeps the license valid while under review (Wis. Stat. 227.51(2)), and employers can confirm active status via DSPS Public Look-Up. At a September 30, 2025 DSPS renewal webinar (reported by the Wisconsin Hospital Association), DSPS said legal file reviews take about one week once all requested information is received.

1 Step-by-Step: Renewing Your Wisconsin Medical License

Follow these steps to renew your medical license with the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS):

  1. Complete your CME for the cycle (30 hours) (see details below)
  2. Log in to the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) renewal portal
  3. Complete the renewal application and answer the attestation questions
  4. Pay the renewal fee ($120 (Medicine and Surgery, MD or DO, 2-year renewal))
  5. Submit and save your confirmation

2 Wisconsin CME Requirements

30 hours per 2-year cycle.

Tracking your CME across multiple states is one of the most time-consuming parts of credential management. CredentialDOMD automatically monitors your CME progress and alerts you when you're falling behind, so you never miss a requirement.

3 Common Pitfalls to Avoid

These are the mistakes Wisconsin physicians most commonly make during renewal:

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The reminder email above covers this renewal. The app goes further: it watches your WI renewal window, counts your CME hours against the requirement, and tracks your DEA registration alongside your license. Built by a practicing neurosurgeon who uses it daily. Free during beta.

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4 Frequently Asked Questions

When is my Wisconsin medical license renewal due? ▾
October 31 of every odd-numbered year, for every MD and DO regardless of when the license was first issued (Wis. Stat. 440.08(2); DSPS physician page). The next deadline is October 31, 2027.
How much does renewal cost? ▾
$120 for the 2-year renewal for both MDs and DOs, per the DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees schedule (rev. 08/07/2025). DSPS raised the fee to $120 in August 2025 and notes it remains the lowest physician renewal fee in the nation.
Where do I renew? ▾
Online through the LicensE portal at license.wi.gov (log in, My Approved Licenses, choose Renew from the Action dropdown). Physicians licensed through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact renew at imlcc.com/renew instead. A paper route exists via the Medicine and Surgery Renewal Addendum, Form 4570.
Can I keep practicing if DSPS has not finished processing my renewal by November 1? ▾
Yes, if you submitted the application and paid the fee by 11:59 pm on October 31. Under Wis. Stat. 227.51(2), a timely and sufficient renewal keeps the existing license valid until DSPS finally acts on it. You must stay responsive to any DSPS requests, and your employer can verify status on DSPS Public Look-Up; DSPS will not issue written confirmation.
What happens if I miss the deadline? ▾
The license expires and you cannot practice on it, but you can restore it by paying the $120 renewal fee plus a $25 late fee ($145 total) under Wis. Stat. 440.08(3)(a). If the license has been expired more than 5 years, the board may require additional competency-related requirements before restoring it (Wis. Stat. 440.08(3)(b)).
What CME do I need to attest at renewal? ▾
30 hours of Category 1 CME (AMA, AOA, or ACCME-approved) per biennium, including 2 hours on prescribing opioids and other controlled substances for physicians holding a DEA number (Wis. Admin. Code MED ch. 13). You attest at renewal and keep proof for the board's random post-renewal audits; for the 2025 cycle DSPS said CE Broker is used for audits, not for the renewal itself.

Medical License Renewal in Nearby States

CA California License Renewal TX Texas License Renewal FL Florida License Renewal NY New York License Renewal

✓ Where this comes from

From the board's own pages, August 2026. These are the primary sources we read:

Boards change fees and rules; always confirm on the board page before you pay. Report anything out of date to [email protected].

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