License; compact privilege; renewal
Wis. Stat. § 448.974
in effect(1)
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the board shall grant an initial license to practice as a physician assistant to any applicant who is found qualified by three-fourths of the members of the board and satisfies all of the following requirements, as determined by the board:
1. The applicant submits an application on a form provided by the department and pays the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).
2. The applicant is at least 18 years of age.
3. The applicant provides evidence of one of the following:
a. That the applicant has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants or physician associates that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor or, prior to 2001, by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
b. If the applicant does not satisfy subd. 3. a., that the applicant, prior to January 1, 1986, successfully passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
4. The applicant passes the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants examination or an equivalent national examination adopted by the board.
5. The applicant provides a listing with all employers, practice settings, internships, residencies, fellowships, and other employment for the past 7 years.
6. Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record.
(b) Paragraph (a) 3. does not apply to an applicant if the applicant provides evidence that he or she is licensed as a physician assistant or physician associate in another state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and the board determines that the requirements for obtaining the license in that state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under par. (a).
(1m) The board shall grant a compact privilege to any applicant who satisfies all of the following:
(a) The applicant holds a qualifying license, as defined in s. 448.988 (2) (r), in another state that is a party to the compact and satisfies all other requirements under s. 448.988 (4).
(b) The individual applies for the compact privilege in the manner prescribed by the department.
(c) The individual pays any fee established by the department under s. 448.9885 (2).
(2)
(am)
1. The renewal date for a license issued under this subchapter is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fees for such licenses are determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Renewal of a license is subject to subd. 2.
2. An applicant for the renewal of a license under this subchapter shall submit with his or her application for renewal proof of having satisfied the continuing education requirements imposed by the board under s. 448.973 (1) (b). This subdivision does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the board initially granted the license.
(bm) Renewal of a compact privilege shall be governed by s. 448.988 (4) (b), except that the board may impose requirements for prescribing controlled substances in accordance with s. 448.988 (4) (d).
(3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), an individual who, on April 1, 2022, was licensed by the medical examining board as a physician assistant under subch. II of ch. 448, 2019 stats., shall be considered to have been licensed under sub. (1) for purposes of this subchapter.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/448.974Fetched: 10/7/2026