Graduation Season Is Nearly Here – Start Early And Apply for DSPS Credentials

Spring graduation season is right around the corner, with 85 colleges and universities handing out diplomas to a significant portion of the state’s more than 330,000 students.

A number of these graduates are applying for professional licenses and certifications and the state’s Department of Safety and Professional Services will likely receive a record number of initial license applications again this year. In June 2025 the Department issued 6,775 new licenses. June is DSPS’ busiest month of the year, when a surge of new graduates apply for their licenses so that they can start work in their new career.

As we prepare for this surge in applications, students expecting to graduate in June who will need a license issued by DSPS should start the application process early, especially if the applicant has anything convictions or pending charges in their history. These instances need to be reported to the Department with copies of the police reports or criminal complaints, and they need to be reviewed more extensively by Department staff and potentially the Board which oversees the profession. This review takes more time, and the Boards meet only at set times.

If you run into questions during the application process be sure to reach out to staff at DSPS or Eric, Sr. Vice President of Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs at WHCA/WiCAL. Reach out to Eric if you have applied for a license and in the application look up, there does not appear to be any movement or change after several weeks. Eric is here to help navigate the license process and to advocate with DSPS on your behalf. Additionally, if staff from the facility or company are assisting several current or future staff on licensing and running into issues, we are happy to help with multiple applications at once, whether working with the applicant directly or other staff.

When reaching out on licensing issues, please make sure you provide the following information: Full Name, Mailing Address, Phone Number, Email Address, License Applied For, Date you Applied, and the Application number (PAR-XXXXXXXX).

Helpful Links/Resources:

DSPS Self- Service
LicenseE Applicant User Guide
LicenseE FAQs
LicenseeE Application Status Lookup
DSPS Form 2252 – Conviction & Pending Charges Form – Initial Application for most health and business professions
DSPS Form 2254 – Conviction & Pending Charges Form – APRN, LPN, RN Applicants, and renewals for other health and business professions