Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) today announced the launch of its Workforce Ready Wisconsin website, dedicated to highlighting regulatory innovations that address growing demand for licensed workers.
“Our mission will always include protecting the public by enforcing professional standards, but it also includes promoting economic growth and stability through effective regulation,” said DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth. “We have been working to further Governor Tony Evers’ efforts to address our state’s workforce challenges, using novel collaborations, technology, and data to speed up the transition from classroom to job site.”
DSPS’s Occupational Licensing performance dashboard shows the department is reviewing application materials in an average of 3-5 calendar days, and a recent audit found the amount of time to receive a professional credential in Wisconsin decreased considerably in FY 2023 despite a 60% increase in applications for credentials.
Workforce Ready Wisconsin features DSPS decisions and initiatives designed to further streamline licensing and empower applicants to take steps that speed their entry into the state’s workforce. An example is the department’s recent announcement of the Accelerate Wisconsin Initiative, a collaboration with participating nursing schools across the state to offer their students a faster path into the Wisconsin workforce. The initiative involves nursing programs inside the Universities of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Wisconsin Technical College System.
“Collaborations like Accelerate Wisconsin, where we work carefully with our stakeholders on mutually beneficial innovations, can help bolster the state workforce without compromising on professional requirements and the guardrails designed to keep Wisconsin citizens safe,” Hereth said.
Other initiatives featured on the Workforce Ready Wisconsin site include work to increase access to trade exams and the LicensE Educator Access Portal, among others. Helpful links allow licensed professionals, employers, educators, and the general public to learn more about each initiative.
The Workforce Ready Wisconsin site is at www.workforceready.wi.gov and is also accessible from the DSPS homepage. The department will add information about future collaborations and initiatives as they are developed and finalized.
About DSPS: DSPS issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, and maintains the Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, DSPS is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With five offices and 250 employees throughout Wisconsin, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.
