Chapter 440

440.996   Prohibited conduct.

440.9965   Criminal penalties.

440.997   Civil remedies.

440.9975   Administrative forfeiture.

440.998   Uniformity of application and construction.

440.9985   Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

440.999   Rules.

Ch. 440 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also SPS, Wis. adm. code.

subch. I of ch. 440 SUBCHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

440.01 440.01 Definitions.

440.01(1) (1) In chs. 440 to 480, unless the context requires otherwise:

440.01(1)(ab) (ab) “Asynchronous telehealth service” means telehealth that is used to transmit medical data about a patient to a health care provider when the transmission is not a 2-way, real-time interactive communication.

440.01(1)(ad) (ad) “Automated external defibrillator” means a defibrillator device to which all of the following apply:

440.01(1)(ad)1. 1. It is approved for commercial distribution by the federal food and drug administration.

440.01(1)(ad)2. 2. It is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia and of determining without intervention by the user of the device whether defibrillation should be performed.

440.01(1)(ad)3. 3. After having determined that defibrillation should be performed, it is capable, either at the command of an operator or without intervention by an operator, of delivering an electrical shock to an individual.

440.01(1)(ag) (ag) “Defibrillation” means administering an electrical impulse to an individual’s heart in order to stop ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia.

440.01(1)(aj) (aj) “Department” means the department of safety and professional services.

440.01(1)(am) (am) “Financial institution” has the meaning given in s. 705.01 (3).

440.01(1)(b) (b) “Grant” means the substantive act of an examining board, section of an examining board, affiliated credentialing board or the department of approving the applicant for credentialing and the preparing, executing, signing or sealing of the credentialing.

440.01(1)(bm) (bm) “Interactive telehealth” means telehealth delivered using multimedia communication technology that permits 2-way, real-time, interactive communications between a health care provider at a distant site and the patient or the patient’s health care provider.

440.01(1)(c) (c) “Issue” means the procedural act of the department of transmitting the credential to the person who is credentialed.

440.01(1)(d) (d) “Limit,” when used in reference to limiting a credential, means to impose conditions and requirements upon the holder of the credential, to restrict the scope of the holder’s practice, or both.

440.01(1)(dg) (dg) “Remote patient monitoring” means telehealth in which a patient’s medical data is transmitted to a health care provider for monitoring and response if necessary.

440.01(1)(dm) (dm) “Renewal date” means the date, specified in s. 440.08 (2), on which a credential expires and before which the credential holder must submit a complete renewal application under s. 440.08 (2m) (a) in order to maintain without interruption the rights, privileges and authority conferred by the credential.

440.01(1)(e) (e) “Reprimand” means to publicly warn the holder of a credential.

440.01(1)(f) (f) “Revoke,” when used in reference to revoking a credential, means to completely and absolutely terminate the credential and all rights, privileges, and authority previously conferred by the credential.

440.01(1)(g) (g) “Secretary” means the secretary of safety and professional services.

440.01(1)(h) (h) “Suspend,” when used in reference to suspending a credential, means to completely and absolutely withdraw and withhold for a period of time all rights, privileges, and authority previously conferred by the credential.

440.01(1)(hm) (hm) “Telehealth” means a practice of health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, or transfer of medically relevant data by means of audio, video, or data communications that are used either during a patient visit or a consultation or are used to transfer medically relevant data about a patient. “Telehealth” includes asynchronous telehealth services, interactive telehealth, and remote patient monitoring.

440.01(1)(i) (i) “Ventricular fibrillation” means a disturbance in the normal rhythm of the heart that is characterized by rapid, irregular, and ineffective twitching of the ventricles of the heart.

440.01(2) (2) In this subchapter:

440.01(2)(a) (a) “Credential” means a license, permit, or certificate of certification or registration that is issued under chs. 440 to 480.

440.01(2)(b) (b) “Credentialing” means the acts of an examining board, section of an examining board, affiliated credentialing board or the department that relate to granting, issuing, denying, limiting, suspending or revoking a credential.

440.01(2)(bm) (bm) “Credentialing board” means an examining board or an affiliated credentialing board in the department.

440.01(2)(c) (c) “Examining board” includes the board of nursing.

440.01(2)(cs) (cs) “Minority group member” has the meaning given in s. 16.287 (1) (f).

440.01(2)(cv) (cv) “Psychotherapy” has the meaning given in s. 457.01 (8m).

440.01(2)(d) (d) “Reciprocal credential” means a credential granted by an examining board, section of an examining board, affiliated credentialing board or the department to an applicant who holds a credential issued by a governmental authority in a jurisdiction outside this state authorizing or qualifying the applicant to perform acts that are substantially the same as those acts authorized by the credential granted by the examining board, section of the examining board, affiliated credentialing board or department.

440.01 History History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 34; 1979 c. 175 s. 53; 1979 c. 221 s. 2202 (45); 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 102, 107; 1995 a. 233, 333; 1997 a. 35 s. 448; 1997 a. 237 ss. 532, 539m; 1999 a. 9 s. 2915; 2001 a. 80; 2007 a. 104, 143; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 196; 2021 a. 121; 2023 a. 33.

440.02 440.02 Bonds. Members of the staff of the department who are assigned by the secretary to collect moneys shall be bonded in an amount equal to the total receipts of the department for any month.

440.03 440.03 General duties and powers of the department.

440.03(1) (1) The department may promulgate rules defining uniform procedures to be used by the department, the real estate appraisers board, and all examining boards and affiliated credentialing boards attached to the department or an examining board, for receiving, filing and investigating complaints, for commencing disciplinary proceedings and for conducting hearings.

440.03(1c) (1c) The department shall promulgate rules specifying a procedure for addressing allegations that a credential holder has practiced while impaired by alcohol or other drugs or that his or her ability to practice is impaired by alcohol or other drugs, and for assisting a credential holder who requests to participate in the procedure. In promulgating rules under this subsection, the department shall seek to facilitate early identification of chemically dependent credential holders and encourage their rehabilitation. The rules promulgated under this subsection may be used by the department, the real estate appraisers board, and all examining boards and affiliated credentialing boards attached to the department or an examining board in conjunction with the procedures established under sub. (1). The department may contract with another entity to administer the procedure specified under the rules promulgated under this subsection.

440.03(1m) (1m) The department may promulgate rules specifying the number of business days within which the department or any examining board or affiliated credentialing board in the department must review and make a determination on an application for a permit, as defined in s. 227.116 (1g), that is issued under chs. 440 to 480.

440.03(2) (2) The department may provide examination development services, consultation and technical assistance to other state agencies, federal agencies, counties, cities, villages, towns, national or regional organizations of state credentialing agencies, similar credentialing agencies in other states, national or regional accrediting associations, and nonprofit organizations. The department may charge a fee sufficient to reimburse the department for the costs of providing such services. In this subsection, “nonprofit organization” means a nonprofit corporation as defined in s. 181.0103 (17), and an organization exempt from tax under 26 USC 501.

440.03(3) (3) If the secretary reorganizes the department, no modification may be made in the powers and responsibilities of the examining boards or affiliated credentialing boards attached to the department or an examining board under s. 15.405 or 15.406.

440.03(3m) (3m) The department may investigate complaints made against a person who has been issued a credential.

440.03(3q) (3q) Notwithstanding sub. (3m), the department of safety and professional services shall investigate any report that it receives under s. 146.40 (4r) (em).

440.03(4) (4) The department may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents or other materials prior to the commencement of disciplinary proceedings.

440.03(4m) (4m) Except as otherwise permitted in chs. 440 to 480, the department may require a credential holder to submit proof of the continuing education programs or courses that he or she has completed only if a complaint is made against the credential holder.

440.03(5) (5) The department may investigate allegations of negligence by physicians licensed to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448.

440.03(5m) (5m) The department shall maintain a toll-free telephone number to receive reports of allegations of unprofessional conduct, negligence or misconduct involving a physician licensed under subch. II of ch. 448. The department shall publicize the toll-free telephone number and the investigative powers and duties of the department and the medical examining board as widely as possible in the state, including in hospitals, clinics, medical offices and other health care facilities.

440.03(6) (6) The department shall have access to any information contained in the reports filed with the medical examining board, an affiliated credentialing board attached to the medical examining board and the board of nursing under s. 655.045, as created by 1985 Wisconsin Act 29, and s. 655.26.

440.03(7) (7) The department shall establish the style, content, and format of all credentials and of all forms for applying for any initial credential or credential renewal. All forms shall include a place for the information required under sub. (11m) (a). Upon request of any person who holds a credential and payment of a $10 fee, the department may issue a wall certificate signed by the governor.

440.03(7m) (7m) The department may promulgate rules that establish procedures for submitting an application for a credential or credential renewal by electronic transmission. Any rules promulgated under this subsection shall specify procedures for complying with any requirement that a fee be submitted with the application. The rules may also waive any requirement in chs. 440 to 480 that an application submitted to the department, an examining board, or an affiliated credentialing board be executed, verified, signed, sworn, or made under oath, notwithstanding ss. 440.26 (2) (b), 440.91 (2) (intro.), 443.06 (1) (a), 443.10 (2) (a), 445.04 (2), 445.095 (1) (a), 448.05 (7), 450.09 (1) (a), 452.10 (1), and 480.08 (2m).

440.03(8) (8) The department may promulgate rules requiring holders of certain credentials to do any of the following:

440.03(8)(a) (a) Display the credential in a conspicuous place in the holder’s office or place of practice or business, if the holder is not required by statute to do so.

440.03(8)(b) (b) Post a notice in a conspicuous place in the holder’s office or place of practice or business describing the procedures for filing a complaint against the holder.

440.03(9) (9) 

440.03(9)(a) (a) Subject to pars. (b) and (c) and s. 458.33 (2) (b) and (5), the department shall, biennially, determine each fee for an initial credential for which no examination is required, for a reciprocal credential, and for a credential renewal and any fees imposed under ss. 447.51 (2), 448.986 (2), 448.9875 (2), 448.9885 (2), 457.51 (2), and 459.71 (2) by doing all of the following:

440.03(9)(a)1. 1. Recalculating the administrative and enforcement costs of the department that are attributable to the regulation of each occupation or business under chs. 440 to 480.

440.03(9)(a)2. 2. Not later than January 31 of each odd-numbered year, adjusting for the succeeding fiscal biennium each fee for an initial credential for which an examination is not required, for a reciprocal credential, and, subject to s. 440.08 (2) (a), for a credential renewal, and any fees imposed under ss. 447.51 (2), 448.986 (2), 448.9875 (2), 448.9885 (2), 457.51 (2), and 459.71 (2), if an adjustment is necessary to reflect the approximate administrative and enforcement costs of the department that are attributable to the regulation of the particular occupation or business during the period in which the initial or reciprocal credential, credential renewal, or compact privilege is in effect and, for purposes of each fee for a credential renewal, to reflect an estimate of any additional moneys available for the department’s general program operations as a result of appropriation transfers that have been or are estimated to be made under s. 20.165 (1) (i) during the fiscal biennium in progress at the time of the deadline for an adjustment under this subdivision or during the fiscal biennium beginning on the July 1 immediately following the deadline for an adjustment under this subdivision.

440.03(9)(b) (b) The department may not recommend an initial credential fee that exceeds the amount of the fee that the department recommends for a renewal of the same credential, if no examination is required for the initial credential.

440.03(9)(c) (c) The cemetery board may by rule impose a fee in addition to the renewal fee determined by the department under this subsection for renewal of a license granted under s. 440.91 (1).

440.03(9)(d) (d) Not later than 14 days after completing proposed fee adjustments under par. (a), the department shall send a report detailing the proposed fee adjustments to the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance. If, within 14 working days after the date that the department submits the report, the cochairpersons of the committee notify the secretary that the committee has scheduled a meeting for the purpose of reviewing the proposed adjustments, the department may not impose the fee adjustments until the committee approves the report. If the cochairpersons of the committee do not notify the secretary, the department shall notify credential holders of the fee adjustments by posting the fee adjustments on the department’s Internet website and in credential renewal notices sent to affected credential holders under s. 440.08 (1).

440.03(11) (11) The department shall cooperate with the department of health services to develop a program to use voluntary, uncompensated services of licensed or certified professionals to assist the department of health services in the evaluation of community mental health programs in exchange for continuing education credits for the professionals under ss. 448.40 (2) (e) and 455.065 (5).

440.03(11m) (11m) 

440.03(11m)(a) (a) Each application form for an initial credential or credential renewal shall provide a space for the department to require an applicant for the initial credential or credential renewal, other than an individual who does not have a social security number and who submits a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation as required under par. (am), to provide his or her social security number. If the applicant is not an individual, the department shall require the applicant to provide its federal employer identification number.

440.03(11m)(am) (am) If an applicant specified in par. (a) is an individual who does not have a social security number, the applicant shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of children and families. A credential or license issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this paragraph is invalid.

440.03(11m)(b) (b) The real estate examining board shall deny an application for an initial credential or deny an application for credential renewal if any information required under par. (a) is not included in the application form or, in the case of an applicant who is an individual and who does not have a social security number, if the statement required under par. (am) is not included with the application form.

440.03(11m)(c) (c) The department may not disclose a social security number obtained under par. (a) to any person except for the following:

440.03(11m)(c)1. 1. The coordinated licensure information system under s. 441.51 (6).

440.03(11m)(c)1t. 1t. The coordinated database and reporting system under s. 447.50 (8), if such disclosure is required under the dentist and dental hygienist compact under s. 447.50.

440.03(11m)(c)2. 2. The coordinated licensure information system under s. 448.980 (8), if such disclosure is required under the interstate medical licensure compact under s. 448.980.

440.03(11m)(c)2c. 2c. The coordinated data and reporting system under s. 448.988 (8), if such disclosure is required under the PA licensure compact under s. 448.988.

440.03(11m)(c)2m. 2m. The coordinated database and reporting system under s. 448.985 (8), if such disclosure is required under the physical therapy licensure compact under s. 448.985.

440.03(11m)(c)2r. 2r. The coordinated database and reporting system under s. 448.987 (9), if such disclosure is required under the occupational therapy licensure compact under s. 440.987.

440.03(11m)(c)2s. 2s. The coordinated licensure information system under s. 455.50 (9), if such disclosure is required under the psychology interjurisdictional compact under s. 455.50.

440.03(11m)(c)2u. 2u. The coordinated database and reporting system under s. 457.50 (10), if such disclosure is required under the counseling compact under s. 457.50.

440.03(11m)(c)2w. 2w. The coordinated database and reporting system under s. 459.70 (9), if such disclosure is required under the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact under s. 459.70.

440.03(11m)(c)3. 3. The department of children and families for purposes of administering s. 49.22.

440.03(11m)(c)4. 4. For a social security number obtained under par. (a), the department of revenue for the purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301, administering the initial credential fee reduction under s. 440.052, and administering state taxes and the department of workforce development for the purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227.

440.03(12m) (12m) The department of safety and professional services shall cooperate with the departments of justice, children and families, and health services in developing and maintaining a computer linkup to provide access to information regarding the current status of a credential issued to any person by the department of safety and professional services, including whether that credential has been restricted in any way.

440.03(13) (13) 

440.03(13)(a) (a)

440.03(13)(a)1. 1. The department may conduct an investigation to determine whether an applicant for a credential satisfies any of the eligibility requirements specified for the credential, including whether the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record. In conducting an investigation under this paragraph, the department may require an applicant to provide any information that is necessary for the investigation, except that, for an investigation of an arrest or conviction record, the department shall comply with the requirements of pars. (b) and (c). Once all required information has been received and the department has completed its investigation, the application shall be considered complete.