The Department of Safety and Professional Services is announcing a two-week blackout period for initial license applications for 72 license types (the list of affected licenses is available HERE – https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/LicensE.aspx). This black-out is part of the transition to LicensE, the department’s new self-guided, online platform that is replacing paper-based applications for occupational licenses.
The department will accept no new initial applications for the 72 license types from 12 p.m. on April 29 through 11:59 p.m. on May 15. The black-out period is a critical step to ensuring the successful launch of this new system. Applications received after 12 p.m. on April 29 will not be processed. Paper applications postmarked after this date will be returned to applicants. Current applications awaiting decisions will be evaluated in the order they were received.
LicensE will launch on May 16, and all initial applicants for the 72 license types will be able to use the new platform. Other licenses (initial applications and renewals) will transition to LicensE in subsequent phases.
Renewals are not included in the blackout, and any license types in active renewal during the blackout window can renew during their entire renewal period. Temporary licenses related to the pandemic are also not included in the blackout.