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New Online Licensure and Certification System for Health and Residential Care Providers

The Wisconsin Department of Health (DHS) Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) is launching a new online system for licensure/certification, background checks, plan reviews, and other provider applications. It's called the DHS DQA Provider Portal. The DHS DQA Provider Portal will allow users to track their application, submit revisions, request amendments, see the licensure/certification decision, and perform other required functions.

The DHS DQA Provider Portal will allow users to:

  • Submit an initial application.
  • Submit renewal/annual-biennial reports.
  • Request amendments to their license, certification, or registration.
  • Pay required fees.
  • Track feedback from DQA.
  • Submit revisions.
  • View the licensing, certification, or registration decision in the system.
  • Submit construction plans for building/life safety code plan reviews.
  • Submit applications for background checks required to be completed by DQA.
  • Communicate with DQA staff directly through the DHS DQA Provider Portal. 

Transition to the DHS DQA Provider Portal

Transition to the DHS DQA Provider Portal will occur in phases for different users.

Effective December 15, 2025, the following provider types must use the DHS DQA Provider Portal for licensure, certification, and registration activities:

  • Assisted living facilities1
  • Adult day care centers
  • Personal care agencies
  • Substance use and mental health treatment programs1

1Please see the full list of phase 1 users in the accordion below.

Certain provider types must submit construction plans through the DHS DQA Provider Portal. Those provider types who must submit through the DHS DQA Provider Portal include:

  • Community-based residential facilities (CBRF)
  • DHS 75 residential facilities
  • Residential care apartment complexes (RCAC) and any other occupancy types of buildings (e.g., business occupancy, hospital, nursing homes, and hospice) that are attached to a CBRF.

All users, regardless of transition phase, will use the DHS DQA Provider Portal to request background checks from DQA. This includes entity operators, non-client residents, and rehabilitation review applicants.

Additional provider types will transition to the DHS DQA Provider Portal later.

How do I prepare for the transition?

  • Licensure/certification applications and plan review materials will not be accepted electronically or postmarked as of November 22, 2025, as we transition to the new system for phase 1 users. We will accept applications and plan review materials starting December 15, 2025. Applications must be submitted using the DHS DQA Provider Portal.
  • If you haven't already, create your MyWisconsinID. Users will use their MyWisconsinID to access the DHS DQA Provider Portal. This is the same login information users currently use to access the Entity Background Check and Misconduct Reporting System. See the MyWisconsinID accordion below for more information.
    • Wisconsin state employees will not use MyWisconsinID to access the DHS DQA Provider Portal. Wisconsin state employees will use their state employee credentials to log into the portal.
  • Subscribe to our DQA Notifications and General Email Updates listserv to receive email updates on announcements and events to prepare for the transition. You can see any previously sent messages on our Regulations: Division of Quality Assurance Email Subscription webpage.
  • Read the rules and regulations for your provider type to learn the requirements and how to comply.
  • Join us at the DQA Forum on December 4, 2025, 12-1 p.m.
    • The forum will hold up to 1,000 attendees. The forum will be recorded and posted online.
    • Join Zoom forum. (Select this link to go straight to the room. No need for a meeting ID and password.)
      • Meeting ID: 161 060 6451
      • Passcode: 222929
    • Join by phone: 669-254-5252
      • Enter 161 060 6451 # when asked for the meeting ID
      • Enter 222929 # if asked for passcode
      • Enter # if asked for participant ID

Why are we making this change?

We license and certify over 40 different health and residential care types. The initial licensing/certification application and ongoing renewal process is not the same for all providers. Some providers apply and renew their license/certification using paper forms that are printed and submitted to us via mail or email. Some provider types apply and renew their license/certification online. The existing online system that certain providers use only allows them to submit applications and materials. 

The DHS DQA Provider Portal will make it easier for providers to submit required information for licensure, certification, and registration and pay required fees online. It also includes a new way to submit renewal/annual-biennial reports through the DHS DQA Provider Portal. It will also allow us to more effectively and efficiently process, track, and monitor providers' submissions.

  • Adult day care centers
  • Adult family homes
  • Community-based residential facilities
  • Mental health treatment programs
    • Emergency mental health service programs, DHS 34
    • Outpatient mental health clinics, DHS 35
    • Comprehensive community services, DHS 36
    • Day treatment services for children, DHS 40
    • Youth crisis stabilization facilities, DHS 50
    • Inpatient programs, DHS 61.71
    • Day treatment programs, DHS 61.75
    • Children and adolescent inpatient programs, DHS 61.79
    • Community support programs for chronically mental ill persons, DHS 63
    • Branch office or school branch office
  • Substance use treatment programs
    • Prevention service, DHS 75.14
    • Intervention service and intoxicated driver services, DHS 75.15
    • Outpatient substance use treatment services, DHS 75.49
    • Outpatient integrated behavioral health treatment services, DHS 75.50
    • Intensive outpatient treatment service, DHS 75.51
    • Day treatment or partial hospitalization treatment services, DHS 75.52
    • Transitional residential treatment services, DHS 75.53
    • Medically monitored residential treatment services, DHS 75.54
    • Medically managed inpatient treatment services, DHS 75.55
    • Adult residential integrated behavioral health stabilization services, DHS 75.56
    • Residential withdrawal management services, DHS 75.57
    • Residential intoxication monitoring services, DHS 75.58
    • Opioid treatment programs, including mobile unit applications, DHS 75.59
    • Office-based opioid treatment services, DHS 75.60
    • Branch office or school branch office
  • Personal care agencies
  • Residential care apartment complexes

2This is still in the rulemaking process.

MyWisconsinID is the state of Wisconsin's identity solution that allows citizens the ability to securely access participating online state services and systems using a single user ID and password.

  1. Visit the MyWisconsinID webpage.
  2. Click Create Your MyWisconsinID.
  3. Click on "Public User."
  4. If you already have a MyWisconsinID, enter your email address and password.
  5. If you do not already have a MyWisconsinID, click on "Sign Up."
  6. Enter your first name, last name, and email. Click "Sign Up."
  7. Set up your security methods including your email and your password for logging in.
  8. MyWisconsinID requires multi-factor authentication (MFA). Set up your authentication method of choice. You must set up at least one method.
  9. Once you have set up all MFA factors you wish to use, you can complete your sign up and will be automatically logged in.

If you forgot your password, go to the login page, enter your email address, click Next, and then click the forgot password link to reset through email. If you do not receive an account recovery email when using the forgot password link, it means you do not have a MyWisconsinID account associated with that email address. You need to create an account with the email address you want to use with MyWisconsinID. If you receive the error message, "A user with this Email already exists" when creating an account, call 608-471-6667 for assistance.

For more information, visit the MyWisconsinID FAQs webpage.

Contact us

All questions should be sent through the DHS DQA Provider Portal Communication Center. If you need assistance with creating your MyWisconsinID to access the DHS DQA Provider Portal, see the Division of Enterprise Technology MyWisconsinID webpage for more information or call 608-471-6667.

Glossary

 
Last revised November 14, 2025