Chapter 448 — MEDICAL PRACTICES

448.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (2) “Disease” means any pain, injury, deformity or physical or mental illness or departure from complete health or the proper condition of the human body or any of its parts. (3) “International medical program” means any medical school, reside…

448.015 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1b) “Anesthesiologist” means a physician who has completed a residency in anesthesiology approved by the American Board of Anesthesiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology, holds an unrestricted license, and is actively …

448.02 Authority. (1) LICENSE. The board may grant licenses, including various classes of temporary licenses, to practice medicine and surgery, to practice as an administrative physician, to practice perfusion, and to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant. (2) CERTIFICATE. Th…

448.03 License or certificate required to practice; use of titles; civil immunity; practice of Christian Science. (1) LICENSE REQUIRED TO PRACTICE. (a) No person may practice medicine and surgery, or attempt to do so or make a representation as authorized to do so, without a lice…

448.033 Temporary practice at camps. (1) Notwithstanding s. 448.03 (1) (a), a person may at a recreational and educational camp licensed under s. 97.67 (1) practice medicine and surgery to provide treatment to campers and staff for not more than 90 days in any year without holdin…

448.035 Expedited partner therapy. (1) In this section: (a) “Certified advanced practice nurse prescriber” means a nurse who is certified under s. 441.16 (2). NOTE: Par. (a) is repealed eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. (b) “Antimicrobial drug” means a drug identified for the trea…

448.037 Prescriptions for and delivery of opioid antagonists. (1) In this section: (a) “Administer” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (1). (b) “Deliver” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (5). (c) “Dispense” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (7). (d) “Opioid antagonist” has the…

448.038 Maintenance and detoxification treatment under federal waiver. (1) In this section, “waiver” means a waiver issued by the federal department of health and human services under 21 USC 823 (g) (2) (A). (2) With respect to the ability of a physician assistant to obtain and p…

448.04 Classes of license; certificate of licensure. (1) CLASSES OF LICENSE. (a) License to practice medicine and surgery. A person holding a license to practice medicine and surgery may practice as defined in s. 448.01 (9) and as provided in s. 448.035. (ab) Compact license. The…

448.05 (2) by possessing a medical degree that was conferred by a medical school recognized and listed as such by the World Health Organization of the United Nations. (b) Except as provided in s. 257.03, no person not possessing the degree of doctor of osteopathy may use or assum…

448.06 License or certificate granted, denied. (1) GRANT OF LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE. Subject to s. 448.05 (1) (d), if three-fourths of the members of the board find that an applicant who has passed the required examinations is qualified, the board shall so notify the applicant and…

448.063 Notification requirements for certain li- MEDICAL PRACTICES 448.08 censes. (1) If the holder of a license granted under the authority of s. 448.05 (2) (a) 2. b. or (b) 4. b. subsequently discontinues his or her postgraduate training program at any time prior to the comple…

448.07 Renewal. (1) RENEWAL. (a) Renewal applications for a license, certificate, or respiratory care compact privilege issued under this subchapter shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department on or before the applicable renewal date specified under …

448.075 Provisional licenses. Every 6 months or upon request of the board, the holder of a provisional license under s. 448.04 (1) (br) shall submit to the board a statement certifying whether the license holder is still employed as a physician in this state and whether the licen…

448.08 Fee splitting; separate billing required, part- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 448.08 MEDICAL PRACTICES nerships and corporations; contract exceptions. (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section: (a) “Hospital” means an institution providing 24-ho…

448.09 Penalties; appeal. (1) PENALTIES. A person who violates s. 448.08 (3) may be fined not more than $250. Except as provided in sub. (1m), a person who violates any other provision of this subchapter may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months …

448.10 Previous practice. Notwithstanding s. 448.05 (2), a person who, on April 1, 2015, possessed a valid license to practice medicine and surgery under s. 448.05 (2) or 448.065, 2011 stats., may retain, practice under, and continue to renew that license, subject to any other pr…

448.11 Injunction. If it appears upon complaint to the board by any person or if it is known to the board that any person is violating this subchapter, or rules adopted by the board under this subchapter, the board or the attorney general may investigate and may, in addition to a…

448.115 Duty to report. (1) A physician who has reason to believe any of the following about another physician shall May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 13 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. promptly submit a written report to the board that shall include facts rela…

448.12 Malpractice. Anyone practicing medicine, surgery, osteopathy, or any other form or system of treating the sick without having a valid license shall be liable to the penalties and liabilities for malpractice; and ignorance shall not lessen such liability for failing to perf…

448.13 Biennial training requirement. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), each physician shall include with his or her application for renewal under s. 448.07 proof of attendance at and completion of all of the following: 1. Continuing education programs or courses of study a…

448.14 Annual report. Annually, no later than March 1, the board shall submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3) a report that identifies the average length of time to process a disciplin…

448.22 Anesthesiologist assistants. (1) In this section, “supervision” means the use of the powers of direction and decision to coordinate, direct, and inspect the accomplishments of another, and to oversee the implementation of the anesthesiologist’s intentions. (2) An anesthesi…

448.23 Council on anesthesiologist assistants. The council on anesthesiologist assistants shall guide, advise, and make recommendations to the board regarding the scope of anesthesiologist assistant practice and promote the safe and competent practice of anesthesiologist assistan…

448.30 Informed consent. Any physician who treats a patient shall inform the patient about the availability of reasonable alternate medical modes of treatment and about the benefits and risks of these treatments. The reasonable physician standard is the standard for informing a p…

448.40 Rules. (1) The board may promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, including rules requiring the completion of continuing education, professional development, and maintenance of certification or performance improvement or continuing medical education p…

448.50 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1m) “Business entity” has the meaning given in s. 452.01 (3j). (1n) “Compact” means the physical therapy licensure compact under s. 448.985. (1o) “Compact privilege” means a compact privilege, as defined in s. 448.985 (2) (d), that is gran…

448.51 License required. (1) Except as provided in s. 448.52, no person may practice physical therapy unless the person is licensed as a physical therapist under this subchapter or holds a valid physical therapist compact privilege. (1e) No person may designate himself or herself…

448.52 Applicability. (1m) A license is not required under this subchapter for any of the following, if the person does not claim to render physical therapy or physiotherapy services: (a) Any person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certif…

448.522 Manipulation services. A physical therapist may not claim that any manipulation service that he or she provides is in any manner a chiropractic adjustment that is employed to correct a spinal subluxation. History: 2001 a. 70.

448.527 Code of ethics. The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing a code of ethics governing the professional conduct of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. History: 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.53 Licensure of physical therapists. (1) The examining board shall grant a license as a physical therapist to a person who does all of the following: (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department. (b) Pays the fee specified …

448.535 Licensure of physical therapist assistants. (1) The examining board shall grant a license as a physical therapist assistant to a person who does all of the following: (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department. (b) Pa…

448.54 Examination. (1) The examining board shall conduct or arrange for examinations for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licensure at least semiannually and at times and places determined by the examining board. (2) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3), examina…

448.55 Issuance of license; expiration and renewal. (1) The department shall issue a certificate of licensure to each person who is licensed under this subchapter. (2) The renewal dates for licenses granted under this subchapter, other than temporary licenses granted under rules …

448.56 Practice requirements. (1) WRITTEN REFERRAL. Except as provided in this subsection and s. 448.52, a person may practice physical therapy only upon the written referral of a physician, naturopathic doctor, physician assistant, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or advanced …

448.565 Complaints. The examining board shall promulgate rules establishing procedures and requirements for filing May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 448.565 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. MEDICAL PRACTICES complaints against licensees and compact privilege hol…

448.567 Performance audits. The examining board shall promulgate rules that require the examining board on a periodic basis to conduct performance self-audits of its activities under this subchapter. History: 2001 a. 70; 2009 a. 149.

448.57 Disciplinary proceedings and actions. (1) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the examining board may make investigations and conduct hearings to determine whether a violation of this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter has occurred. …

448.58 Injunctive relief. If the examining board has reason to believe that any person is violating this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter, the examining board, the department, the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county may investiga…

448.59 Penalties. Any person who violates this subchapter or any rule promulgated under this subchapter may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both. History: 1993 a. 107. SUBCHAPTER IV PODIATRY AFFILIATED CREDENTIALING BOARD Cross-reference…

448.60 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Affiliated credentialing board” means the podiatry affiliated credentialing board. (2) “Licensee” means a person who is licensed under this subchapter. (3) “Podiatrist” means an individual possessing the degree of doctor of podiatric m…

448.61 License required. Except as provided in ss. 257.03, 440.077, and 448.62, no person may practice podiatry, designate himself or herself as a podiatrist, use or assume the title “doctor of surgical chiropody”, “doctor of podiatry”or “doctor of podiatric medicine”, or append …

448.62 Applicability. This subchapter does not require a license for any of the following: (1) A person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government. (1m) An individual who is exempt from …

448.63 Licensure of podiatrists. (1) Subject to sub. (4), the affiliated credentialing board shall grant a license as a podiatrist to a person who does all of the following: (a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department. (b) Pay…

448.64 Examination. (1) The affiliated credentialing board shall conduct or arrange for examinations for podiatrist licensure at least semiannually and at times and places determined by the affiliated credentialing board. (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), examinations shall con…

448.65 Issuance of license; expiration and renewal; duplicate license. (1) The department shall issue a certificate of licensure to each person who is licensed under this subchapter. (2) The renewal date for a license granted under this subchapter, other than a temporary license …

448.655 Malpractice liability insurance. (1) A licensed podiatrist shall annually submit to the affiliated credentialing board evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the podiatrist satisfies one of the following: (a) The podiatrist has in effect malpract…

448.66 Malpractice. Except as provided in s. 257.03, a person who practices podiatry without having a license under this subchapter may be liable for malpractice, and his or her ignorance of a duty ordinarily performed by a licensed podiatrist shall not limit his or her liability…