Digital Wallet Card a convenient, first-in-the-nation tool
Madison – The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) has partnered with Tyler Technologies to offer a new digital licensing tool that lets the state’s occupational license holders carry their credentials wherever they go.
DSPS is the first multi-occupation licensing agency in the country to offer a downloadable digital license for its credential holders.
“We’re very excited about this new Digital Wallet Card,” said DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth. “It gives license holders the convenience of carrying proof of licensure on their phone and also makes it easier for citizens to confirm professionals are properly licensed.”
DSPS engaged technology software and services company Tyler to develop the new digital license solution.
“It’s always exciting to work on new tools to enhance services to constituents and residents of Wisconsin,” said Chad Zadrazil, General Manager of Tyler’s Wisconsin State Enterprise. “It’s also very rewarding to work on a project that not only improves the efficiency of a service for hundreds of thousands of license holders in Wisconsin but also enhances resident safety through the easy verification of licensure. We’re proud to play a role in Wisconsin DSPS’ launch of a great new service.”
Wisconsin DSPS administers more than 240 professional licenses, from doctors and nurses, to realtors, to electricians. The Digital Wallet Card is free to professionals licensed through the department and is an additional option to a printed copy of the license.
Medical Examining Board Vice Chair, Semeet Goel, shared a story in a recent Board meeting that highlighted the convenience and importance of a digital license.
“I was on a flight when a few passengers alerted the flight attendant that the person sitting next to them seemed to have had a seizure. He asked if any passengers were able to help and I let him know I was a primary care physician. I was asked to show a copy of my medical license in order to access the medication box on the flight, which I did not have,” said Goel, adding that, fortunately, medication was not needed in the end.
To download a digital copy of their credential, license holders can simply log into their LicensE account from their cell phone, and in just a couple steps download a copy of their credential to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
“It’s just as easy as downloading concert or plane tickets to your phone’s wallet, and as easy to access,” explained Sec. Hereth. “We know professionals are performing more and more work on mobile devices and we wanted to provide a modern option that meets that demand.”
DSPS has posted on its website a simple guide for downloading a Digital Wallet Card.
The front of the card includes information like name, profession, license number, and license status. The back side has more information on any specialties and license expiration date. A person can scan the QR code on the Card to go directly to the license holder’s License Look-up page on the DSPS website.
Moving forward, all emails sent to license holders about their credential status will include information about how to take advantage of this option.
The Digital Wallet Card is the latest modernization project DSPS has undertaken under the leadership Sec. Hereth and Governor Tony Evers. Previous work over the last two years includes moving all licensing and renewal services to a self-service, online platform. Other recent modernization initiatives include an automation project that streamlines data sharing to help get new clinicians to work and seeing patients more quickly, and the creation of an online portal that allows educational institutions to become a partner in supporting the efficient licensure of students graduating from their health care programs.