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Female pharmacist helping man decide what pills to purchase his health.
Professions

Pharmacist

Understand the requirements of this profession to be a credential holder in WI. 

Credential Statute:  Wis. Stat. Sec. 450 
Credential Code:  Code Phar

  • Disclaimer: Please review WI statute for full professional requirements. 

Related Boards: Pharmacy Examining Board


Overview

This page contains all information required for the Pharmacist credential. Each way to apply has a special subsite denoting specific requirements. Renewal information, forms, and legal information can be found on this page.

Application Methods

Licensure by Examination

For applicants who have taken and passed, or will need to pass, the required examinations to become licensed and have not been licensed in another state.

Licensure by Endorsement

For applicants who hold an active license in another state or are granted a license by virtue of recommendation by professional organization or institution.

Renewal After 5 Years

For applicant who reapplies after licensure has lapsed 5 or more years due to a license revocation, voluntary license surrender, board order specifically requiring reapplication, or five years have passed since previously-held license expired.

Military Reciprocity

For service members, former service members, and spouses credentialed in another jurisdiction may apply for a reciprocal credential.

Bridge Temporary Credential

This license can be issued to a provider from another state during a national public health emergency. This license can also be issued to providers who are licensed in good standing in another state who also apply for a permanent license at the same time.

Pre-Credential Education Information

Applicants must graduate from a school or college of pharmacy approved by the board or have taken and passed the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination given by the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Commission (FPGEE).

Renewal Information

Renewal Information

For a list of renewal dates please see: Renewal Date Page

To Renew:

You will be able to renew your credential approximately 4 weeks prior to your license expiring. You will receive an email to the email address on file with instructions on how to renew.

  1. ​Online Log In: Go to LicensE

  2. Select "Renew My License"

  3. Complete the application

  4. Upload any required documents

  5. Submit payment

  6. See fees list here: Credential Fees

Pharmacist licenses must be renewed by 05/31 of even years for a $74 renewal fee. If a license is renewed after 05/31 of even years, renewal with late fee will be $99, which includes a $25 late fee.

Should you receive your initial credential in the months leading up to this date, you are still required to renew your license by the statutorily defined date.

30 hours through ACPE. This includes credits earned in ACPE approved post-graduate degree programs (1 credit = 10 hours).

NOTE: Does not apply to the biennium when license was first issued.

Renewal Period

The two-year reporting period runs from:

June 1 of an even-numbered year through May 31 of the next even-numbered year

(example: June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2028).

Practice Information

According to Wisconsin Statute chapter 450.06 (1) no pharmacist or person engaged in the practice of pharmacy under chapter 450.03 (1) (f), (g), or (i) may dispense at any location in this state that is not licensed as a pharmacy by the board. No person in this state may use or display the title “pharmacy," “drugstore," “apothecary," or any other title, symbol, or insignia having the same or similar meanings, except for a place of practice which is licensed under this section as a pharmacy by the board.

Pharmacist Internships

The DSPS does not issue internship credentials. See Wisconsin Statute chapter 450.03(1) for license exceptions.

Per Wisconsin Administrative Code section Phar 17.035, a record of internship hours shall be maintained by the school of pharmacy or the supervising pharmacist. Any requests for these verifications should be directed to either one of those parties.

Payment Information

  • You can pay all fees associated with your credential by going to LicensE. 

  • You will be asked to pay automatically at the end of your application. 

  • You can pay with a credit or debit card, or via an automated clearing house or (ACH) payment.  

Please note, using an ACH payment can increase credential processing times by 3-5 business days.

You can view a list of fees for initial credentials and renewing your credential here: 

Credential Fees

Predetermination & Legal Information

The term credential is used universally to mean license, certification, permit, registration, enrollment and authorization.

  • Applicants with convictions, who do not already have a credential, may apply for a predetermination. Predetermination is an optional, first step that happens before you would submit an initial credential application while meeting all credentialing requirements (e.g., education, training, examination, etc.)

    • To apply for a predetermination, log into LicensE.

    • If you have not created an account, you will first need to register.

    • After creating your account, log in, and select “Apply for a Pre-Determination.”

    •   Select the type of credential you would like to apply for.

    •   Follow all application instructions and upload all required documents.

  • If the Department decides your record would not disqualify you, you can then apply for the actual credential and meet all the typical requirements like education, training, and exams.

  • You may skip the predetermination process and submit your initial application for your credential. You must complete all steps to meet the credentialing requirements such as education, training, exams, and disclose your conviction record on your application.  Convictions and pending charges will be reviewed as part of the application process.

  • Some applications require review by Department Legal staff.   

  • This can be for a number of reasons, including but not limited to disclosure of convictions or pending charges, professional discipline, malpractice, termination, medical condition, supervised experience and application via reciprocity/endorsement.   

  • Applications that require legal review will require additional processing time.  

  • An application in the status “Legal File Preparation” is with DSPS and under review. 

Contact Us

Support Ticket
Submit a support ticket on LicensE and click "request support." Please provide as much detail as possible regarding your concern so we can work to answer your question with a one touch resolution. 

Call
608-266-2112

Email
dsps@wisconsin.gov

Office Hours
7:45am-4:30pm
Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI, 53705

Note: The in-person office does not process same day.

LicensE

  • LicensE at (license.wi.gov) is a self-guided online system where you can manage your professional credential from start to finish. 

  • You will still need to review the requirements for the credential you are applying to. These can be found on the A-Z profession page. 

  • With LicensE you can: 

    • Apply for a credential for the first time, with steps guiding you to upload your application documents, and pay all required fees.  

    • Renew an existing credential when it is time, to keep your credential active.  

    • View or download your credential for your records or verification.  

    • Update your personal information, including your phone number, email, and mailing address 

    • Submit support tickets and receive responses to your email from our staff experts.  

    • Allow third parties to review and upload required documents on your behalf 

    • Check the status of someone's credential using the public LicensE look up. 

  • If you have never held a credential, you will need to create an account the first time you are on LicensE. 

    • To create an account, visit LicensE. You will then select “register for an individual” if you are applying for a license held by an individual, or “register for an organization” if you are applying for a license held by an organization.  

    • If you are not sure if the license you are applying for is an individual or organization license, please visit our A-Z professions page and review the profession page for more information.  

  • When you create an account, please be sure to use an email you will always have access to.  

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