Chapter 440

440.094(1)(c)2. 2. A chiropractor licensed under ch. 446.

440.094(1)(c)3. 3. A dentist or dental therapist licensed under ch. 447.

440.094(1)(c)4. 4. A physician, perfusionist, or respiratory care practitioner licensed or certified under subch. II of ch. 448.

440.094(1)(c)5. 5. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under subch. III of ch. 448 or who holds a compact privilege under subch. IX of ch. 448 [subch. XI of ch. 448].

440.094 Note NOTE: The correct cross-reference is shown in brackets. Corrective legislation is pending.

440.094(1)(c)6. 6. A podiatrist licensed under subch. IV of ch. 448.

440.094(1)(c)7. 7. A dietitian certified under subch. V of ch. 448.

440.094(1)(c)8. 8. An athletic trainer licensed under subch. VI of ch. 448.

440.094(1)(c)9. 9. An occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed under subch. VII of ch. 448.

440.094(1)(c)9m. 9m. A physician assistant licensed under subch. IX of ch. 448.

440.094(1)(c)10. 10. An optometrist licensed under ch. 449.

440.094(1)(c)11. 11. A pharmacist licensed under ch. 450.

440.094(1)(c)12. 12. An acupuncturist certified under ch. 451.

440.094(1)(c)13. 13. A psychologist licensed under ch. 455.

440.094(1)(c)14. 14. A social worker, marriage and family therapist, or professional counselor certified or licensed under subch. I of ch. 457 or a clinical substance abuse counselor certified under s. 440.88.

440.094(1)(c)15. 15. A speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under subch. II of ch. 459.

440.094(1)(c)16. 16. A massage therapist or bodywork therapist licensed under ch. 460.

440.094(2) (2) Practice by health care providers from other states.

440.094(2)(a) (a) Notwithstanding ss. 441.06 (4), 441.15 (2), 441.16, 446.02 (1), 447.03 (1) and (2), 448.03 (1) (a), (b), and (c) and (1m), 448.51 (1), 448.61, 448.76, 448.961 (1) and (2), 449.02 (1), 450.03 (1), 451.04 (1), 455.02 (1m), 457.04 (4), (5), (6), and (7), 459.02 (1), 459.24 (1), and 460.02, a health care provider may provide services within the scope of the credential that the health care provider holds and the department shall grant the health care provider a temporary credential to practice under this section if all of the following apply:

440.094 Note NOTE: Section 448.03 (1) (b) was repealed by 2021 Wis. Act 23. Corrective legislation is pending.

440.094(2)(a)1. 1. The health care provider applies to the department for a temporary credential under this section within 30 days of beginning to provide health care services for a health care employer. The health care provider shall include in the application an attestation of all of the following:

440.094(2)(a)1.a. a. The date on which the health care provider first provided health care services in this state under this section.

440.094(2)(a)1.b. b. That the health care provider holds a valid, unexpired credential granted in another state.

440.094(2)(a)1.c. c. The health care provider is not currently under investigation and no restrictions or limitations are currently placed on the health care provider’s credential by the credentialing state or any other jurisdiction.

440.094(2)(a)1.d. d. The health care provider has applied for a permanent credential granted by the department or an examining board, as applicable, under chs. 440 to 480. This subd. 1. d. does not apply to a health care provider who provides health care services only during the period covered by a national emergency declared by the U.S. president under 50 USC 1621 in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or during the 30 days immediately after the national emergency ends.

440.094(2)(a)2. 2. If the health care provider provides services other than services provided through telehealth as described in sub. (3), the health care employer of the health care provider attests to all of the following to the department within 10 days of the date on which the health care provider begins providing health care services in this state under this section:

440.094(2)(a)2.a. a. The health care employer has confirmed that the health care provider holds a valid, unexpired credential granted by another state.

440.094(2)(a)2.b. b. To the best of the health care employer’s knowledge and with a reasonable degree of certainty, the health care provider is not currently under investigation and no restrictions or limitations are currently placed on the health care provider’s credential by the credentialing state or any other jurisdiction.

440.094(2)(b) (b) A health care provider who practices within the scope of a temporary credential granted under this section has all rights and is subject to all responsibilities, malpractice insurance requirements, limitations on scope of practice, and other provisions that apply under chs. 440 to 480 to the practice of the health care provider.

440.094(2)(c) (c)

440.094(2)(c)1. 1. A temporary credential granted under this section becomes effective on the date identified in the attestation under par. (a) 1. a. that the health care provider first provided health care services in this state under this section.

440.094(2)(c)2. 2.

440.094(2)(c)2.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 2. b., a temporary credential granted under this section expires on the date that the department, or an examining board in the department, as applicable, grants or denies the application under par. (a) 1. d. for a permanent credential submitted by the health care provider.

440.094(2)(c)2.b. b. If a health care provider provides health care services only during the period covered by a national emergency declared by the U.S. president under 50 USC 1621 in response to the 2019 novel coronavirus or during the 30 days immediately after the national emergency ends, a temporary credential granted under this section to the health care provider expires 30 days after the national emergency ends.

440.094(3) (3) Telehealth. A health care provider who practices within the scope of a temporary credential granted under this section may provide services through telehealth to a patient located in this state.

440.094 History History: 2021 a. 10; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 55, 81, 87.

440.11 440.11 Communications with department.

440.11(1) (1) An applicant for or recipient of a credential who changes his or her name or moves from the last address provided to the department shall notify the department of his or her new name or address within 30 days of the change in writing or in accordance with other notification procedures approved by the department.

440.11(1m) (1m) 

440.11(1m)(a) (a) An applicant for or recipient of a credential shall provide the department with a current electronic mail address at the time of application or renewal that may be used to receive electronic communications from the department. An applicant for or recipient of a credential who changes his or her electronic mail address or whose current electronic mail address becomes inactive shall notify the department of such change within 30 days of the change in writing or in accordance with other notification procedures approved by the department.

440.11(1m)(b) (b) Electronic communications under this subsection cannot be substituted for the service of any process, notice, or demand under sub. (2).

440.11(1m)(c) (c) Notwithstanding par. (a), an applicant for or recipient of a credential who does not have reasonable access to the Internet may maintain paper communication with the department.

440.11(2) (2) The department or any examining board, affiliated credentialing board or board in the department may serve any process, notice or demand on the holder of any credential by mailing it to the last-known address of the holder as indicated in the records of the department, examining board, affiliated credentialing board or board.

440.11 History History: 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 107; 1997 a. 27; 2017 a. 329; 2021 a. 58.

440.12 440.12 Credential denial, nonrenewal and revocation based on tax or unemployment insurance contribution delinquency. Notwithstanding any other provision of chs. 440 to 480 relating to issuance or renewal of a credential, the department shall deny an application for an initial credential or credential renewal or revoke a credential if any of the following applies:

440.12(1) (1) The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant or credential holder is liable for delinquent taxes.

440.12(2) (2) The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant or credential holder is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions.

440.12 History History: 1997 a. 237; 2013 a. 36.

440.12 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. SPS 9, Wis. adm. code.

440.121 440.121 Credential denial, nonrenewal, and revocation based on incompetency. Notwithstanding any other provision of chs. 440 to 480 relating to issuance or renewal of a credential, the department shall deny an application for an initial credential or credential renewal or revoke a credential issued to an individual for whom the department receives a record of a declaration under s. 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. stating that the individual is incompetent to apply for a credential under chs. 440 to 480.

440.121 History History: 2005 a. 387.

440.13 440.13 Delinquency in support payments; failure to comply with subpoena or warrant.

440.13(1) (1) In this section:

440.13(1)(b) (b) “Memorandum of understanding” means a memorandum of understanding entered into by the department of safety and professional services and the department of children and families under s. 49.857.

440.13(1)(c) (c) “Support” has the meaning given in s. 49.857 (1) (g).

440.13(2) (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of chs. 440 to 480 relating to issuance of an initial credential or credential renewal, as provided in the memorandum of understanding:

440.13(2)(a) (a) With respect to a credential granted by the department, the department shall restrict, limit, or suspend a credential or deny an application for an initial credential if the credential holder or applicant is delinquent in paying support or fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to support or paternity proceedings.

440.13(2)(b) (b) With respect to credential renewal, the department shall deny an application for renewal if the applicant is delinquent in paying support or fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to support or paternity proceedings.

440.13(2)(c) (c) With respect to a credential granted by a credentialing board, a credentialing board shall restrict, limit, or suspend a credential held by a person or deny an application for an initial credential when directed to do so by the department.

440.13 History History: 1997 a. 191, 237; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 258.

440.14 440.14 Nondisclosure of certain personal information.

440.14(1) (1) In this section:

440.14(1)(a) (a) “List” means information compiled or maintained by the department or a credentialing board that contains the personal identifiers of 10 or more individuals.

440.14(1)(b) (b) “Personal identifier” means a social security number, telephone number, street name and number, electronic mail address, or post-office box number.

440.14(2) (2) If a form that the department or a credentialing board requires an individual to complete in order to apply for a credential or credential renewal or to obtain a product or service from the department or the credentialing board requires the individual to provide any of the individual’s personal identifiers, the form shall include a place for the individual to declare that the individual’s personal identifiers obtained by the department or the credentialing board from the information on the form may not be disclosed on any list that the department or the credentialing board furnishes to another person. This subsection does not apply with respect to an application filed with the medical examining board pursuant to the interstate medical licensure compact under s. 448.980 (5).

440.14(3) (3) If the department or a credentialing board requires an individual to provide, by telephone or other electronic means, any of the individual’s personal identifiers in order to apply for a credential or credential renewal or to obtain a product or service from the department or a credentialing board, the department or the credentialing board shall ask the individual at the time that the individual provides the information if the individual wants to declare that the individual’s personal identifiers obtained by telephone or other electronic means may not be disclosed on any list that the department or the credentialing board furnishes to another person. This subsection does not apply with respect to an application filed with the medical examining board pursuant to the interstate medical licensure compact under s. 448.980 (5).

440.14(4) (4) The department or a credentialing board shall provide to an individual upon request a form that includes a place for the individual to declare that the individual’s personal identifiers obtained by the department or credentialing board may not be disclosed on any list that the department or credentialing board furnishes to another person.

440.14(5) (5) 

440.14(5)(a) (a) The department or a credentialing board may not disclose on any list that it furnishes to another person a personal identifier of any individual who has made a declaration under sub. (2), (3) or (4).

440.14(5)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a list that the department or a credentialing board furnishes to another state agency, a law enforcement agency or a federal governmental agency. In addition, par. (a) does not apply to a list that the department or the board of nursing furnishes to the coordinated licensure information system under s. 441.51 (6). A state agency that receives a list from the department or a credentialing board containing a personal identifier of any individual who has made a declaration under sub. (2), (3) or (4) may not disclose the personal identifier to any person other than a state agency, a law enforcement agency or a federal governmental agency.

440.14 History History: 1999 a. 88; 2001 a. 66; 2009 a. 388; 2015 a. 116; 2017 a. 135; 2019 a. 49 s. 1.

440.15 440.15 No fingerprinting. Except as provided under ss. 440.03 (13) (c), 441.51 (5) (a) 5., 447.50 (3) (a) 5., 448.980 (5) (b) 3., 448.985 (3) (a) 4., 448.987 (3) (a) 5. a. and (5) (b) 2. a., 448.988 (3) (a) 5., 450.071 (3) (c) 9., 450.075 (3) (c) 9., 455.50 (3) (e) 4. and (f) 4., 457.50 (3) (b) 3. and (5) (b) 2. a., and 459.70 (3) (b) 1., the department or a credentialing board may not require that an applicant for a credential or a credential holder be fingerprinted or submit fingerprints in connection with the department’s or the credentialing board’s credentialing.

440.15 History History: 2011 a. 255; 2015 a. 116; 2017 a. 135; 2019 a. 49 ss. 1, 2; 2019 a. 100; 2021 a. 25, 123, 131; 2023 a. 55, 56, 81, 88.

440.17 440.17 Telehealth. If the department, an examining board, or an affiliated credentialing board promulgates rules related to telehealth, the department, the examining board, or the affiliated credentialing board shall define “telehealth” to have the meaning given in s. 440.01 (1) (hm).

440.17 History History: 2021 a. 121.

440.19 440.19 Voluntary surrender of license, permit, or certificate. A person who holds a credential may voluntarily surrender that credential. The department, examining board, affiliated credentialing board, or board of the department that issued the credential may refuse to accept that surrender if a complaint has been filed or disciplinary proceeding has been commenced against the person under s. 440.20.

440.19 History History: 2011 a. 146; 2017 a. 331.

440.20 440.20 Disciplinary proceedings.

440.20(1) (1) Any person may file a complaint before the department or any examining board, affiliated credentialing board or board in the department and request the department, examining board, affiliated credentialing board or board to commence disciplinary proceedings against any holder of a credential.

440.20(3) (3) The burden of proof in disciplinary proceedings before the department or any examining board, affiliated credentialing board or board in the department is a preponderance of the evidence.

440.20(4) (4) 

440.20(4)(a) (a) The department or appropriate examining board, affiliated credentialing board, or board in the department may reprimand the holder of a credential or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke the credential of any person who intentionally violates s. 252.14 (2) or intentionally discloses the results of a blood test in violation of s. 252.15 (3m) (b) or (f) or (5m).

440.20(4)(b) (b) The grounds for discipline specified under par. (a) are in addition to any grounds for discipline specified in chs. 440 to 480.

440.20(5) (5) 

440.20(5)(a) (a) The department, or the appropriate credentialing board or other board in the department, may reprimand a credential holder, or may deny, limit, suspend, or revoke a credential, if the credential holder fails to respond, to the satisfaction of the department, credentialing board, or other board in the department, within 30 days to a request for information from the department, credentialing board, or other board in the department in connection with an investigation of alleged misconduct of the credential holder.

440.20(5)(b) (b) The grounds for discipline specified under par. (a) are in addition to any grounds for discipline specified in chs. 440 to 480.

440.20 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 34; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 31, 201; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 27, 102, 107, 490; 2009 a. 209; 2013 a. 124; 2017 a. 331.

440.20 Annotation The constitutionality of sub. (3) is upheld. Gandhi v. Medical Examining Board, 168 Wis. 2d 299, 483 N.W.2d 295 (Ct. App. 1992).

440.20 Annotation Laches is not available in any proceeding brought by the state in its sovereign capacity to protect a public right. A disciplinary proceeding is brought by the state in its sovereign capacity to protect a right of the public—the right to have licensed psychologists comply with the requirements of their licenses. Stein v. Psychology Examining Board, 2003 WI App 147, 265 Wis. 2d 781, 668 N.W.2d 112, 02-2726.