What the rules mean

How much time does the department have to make a decision when an individual requests a chiropractic license?

The chiropractic examining board normally has 60 days to make a decision once it has received a completed application. An application is considered complete when all materials necessary to make a decision on the application have been received by the examining board.

What if the examining board misses their deadline?

If the examining board is delayed in making their decision, they must report the fact that they were late to the to the permit information center. However, even though the examining board was late in making their decision, it does not give a person the right to practice chiropractic without a license or affect the examining board's authority in any way to grant or deny approval for the license.

Where can I get a copy of the fees to take an exam?

A list of all current examination fees may be obtained at no charge from the Office of Examinations, Department of Regulation and Licensing, 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708.

How are fees for examinations determined?

Fees for exams are set based on the department's best estimate of the actual cost of preparing, administering and grading the examination or obtaining and administering an approved examination from a service provider. Examinations are obtained from a service provider through competitive bidding. The exam fee includes an amount for department overhead, test development, and test administration services. Fees are changed as needed to reflect changes in cost.

Fees for exams ordered as part of a disciplinary proceeding or late renewals are the fee set for reexamination, plus a $10 application processing fee.

Fees for proctoring examinations of a chiropractor who is applying for a license in another state is the cost of administering the examination, plus any additional cost charged to the department by the service provider.

The fee for the supervised review of examination results conducted by the department is $28. The fee for review of examination results by a service provider is the fee established by the service provider.

When are refunds given?

A refund of all but $10 is given if any of the following occurs:

• An applicant is found to be unqualified for an exam.

• An applicant is found to be unqualified for a credential for which no exam is required.

• An applicant withdraws an application in writing at least 10 days in advance of the exam.

• An applicant who fails to take an exam submits a written explanation that their failure to take the exam resulted from extreme personal hardship.

An applicant who misses an exam as a result of being called to active military duty will receive a full refund if they supply a copy of their orders or a letter from the commanding, officer.

An applicant eligible for a refund may forfeit the refund and choose instead to take an exam within 18 months of the originally scheduled examination at no added fee.

Rule Excerpts

RL 4.01 Authorization.

The following rules are adopted by the department of regulation and licensing pursuant to ss. 440.05, 440.06 and 440.07, Stats.

RL 4.02 Definitions.

(1) "Applicant" means a person who applies for a license, permit, certificate or registration granted by the department or a board.

(2) "Authority" means the department or the attached examining board or board having authority to grant the credential for which an application has been filed.

(3) "Board" means the board of nursing and any examining board attached to the department.

(4) "Department" means the department of regulation and licensing.

(5) " Examination" means the written and practical tests required of an applicant by the authority.

(6) "Service Provider" means a party other than the department or board who provides examination services such as application processing, examination products or administration of examinations.

RL 4.03 Time for review and determination of credential applications.

(1) TIME LIMITS. An authority shall review and make a determination on an original application for a credential within 60 days after a completed application is received by authority unless a different period for review and determination is specified by law.

(2) COMPLETED APPLICATIONS. An application is completed when all materials necessary to make a determination on the application and all materials requested by the authority have been received by the authority.

(3) EFFECT OF DELAY. A delay by an authority in making a determination on an application within the time period specified in this section shall be reported to the permit information center under s. 227.116, Stats. Delay by an authority in making a determination on an application within the time period specified in this section does not relieve any person from the obligation to secure approval from the authority nor affect in any way the authority's responsibility to interpret requirements for approval and to grant or deny approval.

RL 4.04 Fees for examinations, reexaminations and proctoring examinations.

(1) EXAMINATION FEE SCHEDULE. A list of all current examination fees may be obtained at no charge from the Office of Examinations, Department of Regulation and Licensing, 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708.

(2) EXPLANATION OF PROCEDURES FOR SETTING EXAMINATION FEES.

(a) Fees for examination shall be established under s. 440.05 (1) (b), Stats., at the department's best estimate of the actual cost of preparing, administering and grading the examination or obtaining and administering an approved examination from a service provider.

(b) Examinations shall be obtained from a service provider through competitive procurement procedures described in ch. Adm 7.

(c) Fees for examination services provided by the department shall be established based on an estimate of the actual cost of the examination services. Computation of fees for examination services provided by the department shall include standard component amounts for contract administration services, test development services and written and practical test administration services.

(d) Examination fees shall be changed as needed to reflect changes in the actual costs to the department. Changes to fees shall be implemented according to par (e).

(e) Examination fees shall be effective for examinations held 45 days or more after the date of publication of a notice in application forms. Applicants who have submitted fees in an amount less than that in the most current application form shall pay the correct amount prior to administration of the examination. Overpayments shall be refunded by the department. Initial credential fees shall become effective on the date specified by law.

(4) REEXAMINATION OF PREVIOUSLY LICENSED INDIVIDUALS. Fees for examinations ordered as part of a disciplinary proceeding or late renewal under s. 44008 (3) (b), Stats., are equal to the fee set for reexamination in the most recent examination application form, plus $10 application processing.

(5) PROCTORING EXAMINATIONS FOR OTHER STATES.

(a) Examinations administered by an authority of the state may be protected for persons applying for credentials in another state if the person has been determined eligible in the other state and meets this state’s application deadlines. Examinations not administered by an authority of the state may only be proctored for Wisconsin residents or licensees applying for credentials in another state.

(b) Department fees for proctoring examinations of persons who are applying for a credential in another state are equal to the cost of administering the examination to those persons, plus any additional cost charged to the department by the service provider.

RL 4.05 Fee for test review.

(1) The fee for supervised review of examination results by a failing applicant which is conducted by the department is $28.

(2) The fee for review of examination results by a service provider is the fee established by the service provider.

RL 4.06 Refunds.

(1) A refund of all but $10 of the applicant's examination fee and initial fee submitted to the department shall be granted if any of the following occurs:

(a) An applicant is found to be unqualified for an examination administered by the authority.

(b) An applicant is found to be unqualified for a credential for which no examination is required.

(c) An applicant withdraws an application by written notice tot he authority at least 10 days in advance of any scheduled examination.

(d) An applicant who fails to take an examination administered by the authority either provides written notice at least 10 days in advance that the applicant is unable to take the examination, or if written notice was not provided, submits a written explanation satisfactory to the authority that the applicant's failure to take the examination resulted from extreme personal hardship.

(2) An applicant eligible for a refund may forfeit the refund and choose instead to take an examination administered by the authority within 18 months of the originally scheduled examination at no added fee.

(3) An applicant who misses an examination as a result of being called to active military duty shall receive a full refund. The applicant requesting the refund must supply a copy of the call up orders or a letter from the commanding, officer attesting to the call up.

(4) Applicants who pay fees to service providers other than the department are subject to the refund policy established by the service provider.