Dept. of Safety and Professional Services: Moving more license applications online

Madison, Wis. – The Department of Safety and Professional Services continues its move away from paper forms and antiquated license application processes. On May 8, 2023, DSPS is adding 66 business credentials to LicensE, Wisconsin’s self-guided, cloud-based occupational license application and renewal platform. These professions join more than 70 health professions that are already available for application and renewal in LicensE (license.wi.gov).  

“LicensE has transformed the license application and renewal process in Wisconsin,” said DSPS Secretary-designee Dan Hereth. “We are excited to bring more credentials into the platform so that we can offer modern, online applications to more of our customers.” 

The Department will continue to move credential applications and renewals to LicensE. By the end of the year, all occupational credentials will be in the new system. 

LicensE launched in May 2022. The modern platform replaced paper forms, eliminated data entry, and automated some credentialing functions. These improvements enabled credentialing staff to focus more on higher-level tasks, including application evaluation and customer service, and dramatically reduced application processing timelines.  

“LicensE is a twenty-first century platform that offers improved service to applicants and greater efficiencies to agency staff,” Hereth said. “It shows that when we invest in the Department, we see great results. Continued support for processes, technology, and people will yield continued improvement and enable us to meet increasing demand for our services and quickly adapt to ever-changing workforce needs and expectations.”

The following is a list of new professions launching on May 8: 

Accounting Firm

Aesthetician

Aesthetics Establishment

Aesthetics Instructor

Agent for Burial Agreements

Appraisal Management Company

Architect

Auction Company

Auctioneer

Barber

Barber Apprentice

Barbering Establishment

Barbering Instructor

Cemetery Association

Cemetery Authority-Licensed

Cemetery Authority-Registered

Cemetery Preneed Seller

Cemetery Salesperson

Cemetery Warehouse

Certificate of Authorization

Certified General Appraiser

Certified Residential Appraiser

Cosmetologist

Cosmetology Apprentice

Cosmetology Establishment

Cosmetology Instructor

Certified Public Accountant

Crematory Authority

Designer of Engineering Systems

Electrologist

Electrology Establishment

Electrology Instructor

Engineer-in-Training

Firearms Certifier

Firearms Permit

Funeral Director

Funeral Director Apprentice

Funeral Establishment

Geology Firm

Home Inspector

Hydrology Firm

Interior Designer

Landscape Architect

Licensed Appraiser

Manicuring Establishment

Manicuring Instructor

Manicurist

Nursing Home Administrator

Peddler

Private Detective

Private Detective Agency

Private Security Person

Professional Engineer

Professional Geologist

Professional Hydrologist

Professional Land Surveyor

Professional Soil Scientist

Real Estate Salesperson

Real Estate Broker

Real Estate Business Entity

School of Aesthetics

School of Barbering

School of Cosmetology

School of Electrology

School of Manicuring

Soil Science Firm

Applicants for these professions are encouraged to wait until May 8, 2023, and apply for their credentials in LicensE. Because LicensE eliminates mail handling, data entry, and document matching, applicants in LicensE will see faster decisions than if they submit paper forms or use other application delivery methods (e.g., mail or email). The Department will process applications that arrive via other methods, but utilizing any application method other than LicensE may delay application decisions.  

About DSPS: The Department of Safety and Professional Services issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, runs the state fire prevention program, and maintains the award-winning Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, the Department of Safety and Professional Services is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With five offices and 250 employees throughout Wisconsin, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.