Physician Assistant / Wisconsin
2026 data Wisconsin board official source

Wisconsin Physician Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Practices medicine under physician supervision. Requires PANCE exam and masters degree.

What the Wisconsin data shows for Physician Assistants

Wisconsin sets the entry bar for physician assistants at 3,486 training hours and a passing score on PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam). A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Wisconsin's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)".

Budget $197 to get started, plus $181 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 100-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For physician assistants, the reciprocity picture is: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
28/100
Physician Assistant · Wisconsin

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,486 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$197
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$91/yr
$181 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
50.0 hrs/yr
100 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Wisconsin

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree (MPAS or MMS)
3,486 hours
Exam Requirement
PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
Required
Initial License Fee
$197
Renewal Fee
$181
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
100 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Physician Assistant All Wisconsin licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Wisconsin licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Physician Assistant in Wisconsin? ▼
Wisconsin requires 3486 education/training hours, passing an exam (PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)), and an initial fee of $197. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Physician Assistant in Wisconsin? ▼
Wisconsin licenses physician assistants who complete its requirements (3486 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Wisconsin licensing board.
Can I transfer my Physician Assistant license to Wisconsin from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for physician assistants nationally works like this: PA Licensure Compact: adoption underway in many states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Wisconsin. Verify the specifics with the Wisconsin licensing board.
Does Wisconsin require a background check for Physician Assistant licensing? ▼
Wisconsin does require a background check before issuing a physician assistant license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Physician Assistant in Wisconsin? ▼
Wisconsin ties continued physician assistant licensure to 100 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $181 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this physician assistant license

Physician Assistant in Wisconsin, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a physician assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Wisconsin's physician assistant requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Physician Assistant in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state physician assistant license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Wisconsin's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Wisconsin overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Wisconsin licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.