Healthcare organizations forming entities in Wisconsin must navigate unique statutory requirements that differ significantly from other states. Wisconsin does not use "Professional Corporation" terminology. Instead, Wisconsin requires "Service Corporations" with specific name designations under Wis. Stat. § 180.1907. The state enforces one of the nation's strictest Corporate Practice of Medicine doctrines and same-field ownership requirements under § 180.1911 that prohibit multi-discipline professionals from co-owning practice entities.
You've got two main entity choices: Service Corporations (not PCs) governed by Wisconsin Statutes Ch. 180, Subchapter XIX, or Limited Liability Partnerships under Ch. 178. Wisconsin doesn't have a separate PLLC framework. This means if you use the wrong terminology on your filing, Wisconsin DFI will reject it.
Wisconsin Statute § 180.1903 requires Service Corporations to be formed exclusively by licensed healthcare professionals. All shareholders, directors, and officers must hold active professional licenses in the same field of practice. Section 180.1911 establishes strict ownership restrictions, mandating that every owner maintains current Wisconsin professional licensure. This requirement extends beyond formation, creating ongoing compliance obligations tied to individual license renewal cycles.
Corporate governance requirements under § 180.1909 mandate Articles of Incorporation filing with Wisconsin DFI before commencing operations. The Articles must include explicit declarations of professional service status, statements that only licensed individuals will render professional services, and automatic conversion clauses addressing scenarios where no licensed shareholder remains.
Wisconsin Statute § 180.1907 establishes specific naming requirements for Service Corporations. The corporate name must include "chartered," "limited," "service corporation," or the abbreviations "ltd." or "S.C." Healthcare entities using "PC" designations without including statutorily required terms risk filing rejection by Wisconsin DFI.
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 178 governs Limited Liability Partnerships, with liability provisions detailed in §§ 178.0406 and 178.0407. While healthcare professionals may organize as LLPs, this structure is less common than Service Corporations for medical practices in Wisconsin. Both provide liability protection while maintaining pass-through tax treatment, though Service Corporations are the statutorily preferred structure for healthcare professionals.
Healthcare-specific statutory cross-references include Chapter 448 (Medical Practices), Chapter 155 (Power of Attorney for Health Care), and Chapter 146 (Health), connecting LLP formation requirements to broader healthcare regulatory frameworks.
Wisconsin definitively enforces a Corporate Practice of Medicine (CPOM) doctrine that prohibits for-profit corporations and non-physician entities from practicing medicine or employing physicians to provide medical services. Wisconsin Statute § 448.08(4) provides the statutory foundation:
"Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, it is lawful for 2 or more physicians, who have entered into a bona fide partnership for the practice of medicine or surgery, to practice medicine or surgery as a partnership. Such partnership may be incorporated under ch. 180, but only for the purpose of practicing medicine or surgery. No other person may have an ownership interest in the partnership or corporation, except as otherwise provided in this section."
This prohibition extends to healthcare professions governed by similar licensing and practice restrictions. 75 Op. Att'y Gen. 200 (1986) confirmed the prohibition against corporate practice of medicine, surgery, and dentistry by for-profit corporations, establishing that only licensed individuals may practice medicine, surgery, and dentistry under Wisconsin law and that fee-splitting arrangements violate professional judgment requirements.
You must ensure 100% physician ownership for medical practices. Non-physician ownership, including by private equity firms, management companies, or other healthcare professionals, violates Wisconsin's CPOM doctrine and subjects entities to enforcement action.
Here's what you'll actually pay and what Wisconsin requires for formation:
Professional licensing or certification is required before DFI business entity filing under Wisconsin Statute 180.1911. You must obtain Wisconsin professional licenses through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) LicensE system before submitting entity formation documents.
The Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, operating under the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), administers physician licensure requirements that directly impact healthcare entity ownership and operation.
Wisconsin physicians must complete 30 hours of acceptable continuing medical education within each biennial registration period per Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Med 13. A minimum of 2 hours must address prescribing opioids and other controlled substances, applicable to all physicians holding DEA registration numbers.
Acceptable CME accrediting bodies include the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, American Medical Association (AMA), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). One clock hour of attendance equals one hour of acceptable CME credit.
Physicians must certify CME completion when submitting license renewal applications. The Medical Examining Board conducts random biennial audits to verify CME compliance and may grant waivers for prolonged illness, disability, or exceptional circumstances.
Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Med 14 establishes biennial license renewal requirements with a unified deadline of October 31 of each odd-numbered year for all Wisconsin physicians regardless of initial license date. The renewal fee is $120. The next renewal deadline is October 31, 2025, followed by October 31, 2027.
Physician license renewals happen on October 31 of odd-numbered years for everyone, meaning every physician in your practice has the same deadline, requiring coordinated tracking to maintain entity ownership compliance.
You must maintain active, current licensure to legally own, operate, or serve as principals in professional Service Corporations. Wisconsin Statute 448.03 requires a license to practice medicine and surgery in Wisconsin, and Section 448.08 links licensure status to billing and practice authority. License lapses directly impact legal capacity to maintain ownership roles.
Wisconsin Statute § 180.1911 definitively prohibits different healthcare professions from co-owning a single professional entity. Each shareholder, director, and officer of a Service Corporation must be licensed, certified, or registered in the same field of endeavor as that practiced by the corporation.
Wisconsin Statute § 180.1919(1)(a) explicitly restricts multi-discipline ownership by requiring professionals to be licensed in the same field of endeavor, applying to both professional Service Corporations and professional limited liability companies.
You can't pursue integrated practice models through single entity ownership. A physician cannot co-own with a chiropractor, dentist, or any non-physician healthcare professional. Each professional discipline requires its own properly designated entity with same-field licensed owners.
The sole exception permits non-practicing spouses to hold ownership interests without violating same-field requirements under § 180.1911, which explicitly exempts nonparticipant spouses from licensing requirements.
No. Wisconsin Statute § 448.08(4) explicitly prohibits it. Only physicians can own medical practices—no private equity, no management companies, no other healthcare professionals. 75 Op. Att'y Gen. 200 (1986) confirmed this extends to fee-splitting arrangements that try to circumvent the restriction.
License lapses create immediate problems. Under Wis. Stat. §§ 448.08 and 180.1911, all Service Corporation owners must maintain active licenses. If someone's license lapses, they lose legal capacity to own. The entity must restructure or face enforcement. Wisconsin physician licenses expire October 31 in odd-numbered years, so track renewal deadlines carefully. Lapsed licenses can be reinstated within 5 years by paying the $120 fee and proving CME compliance.
Wisconsin uses quarterly anniversary-based deadlines, not calendar-year. Your annual report is due at the end of the quarter you incorporated: March 31 for Q1, June 30 for Q2, September 30 for Q3, December 31 for Q4. Filing costs $25 online or $40 paper. No monetary late fees, but failure to file triggers administrative dissolution. You'll also owe 7.9% franchise tax on the 15th day of the 4th month after your year-end.
Wisconsin doesn't use "Professional Corporation" in its statutes. The official term is "Service Corporation" under Wis. Stat. Ch. 180, Subchapter XIX. Your Articles of Incorporation must include "chartered," "limited," "service corporation," "ltd.," or "S.C." per § 180.1907. Using "PC" without these designations risks rejection by Wisconsin DFI. Formation costs $100 versus $130-$170 for Professional LLCs.
No. Wisconsin Statute § 180.1911 requires all shareholders, directors, and officers to be licensed in the same field of endeavor. Physicians and dentists have separate licenses, so they can't jointly own one entity. Each profession needs its own separate entity. The only exception: non-practicing spouses can hold ownership interests.
Tracking quarterly anniversary dates for multiple Wisconsin entities while juggling physician license renewals and franchise tax deadlines creates significant administrative complexity. One missed Service Corporation annual report triggers automatic dissolution, and you won't get a late fee notice warning you first.
Discern automates Wisconsin's unique quarterly anniversary system, license renewal tracking, and dual DFI/Department of Revenue filing requirements. Multi-entity healthcare practices can reduce compliance tracking from dozens of hours annually to minutes.
Ready to eliminate Wisconsin compliance complexity? Book a demo with Discern and see how we automate anniversary-based deadlines, license renewal tracking, and franchise tax coordination across all your entities.
.png){kind=small}