Wisconsin DSPS Recognized for Innovation

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) recently earned recognition for its innovative approach to licensing at the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s 33rd Salute to Local Government Awards.

The state regulatory agency won the La Follette/Gladfelter Award for Innovation in State Government in recognition of the digital license option it began offering state license holders earlier this year.

“We think of licensing not as a static public protection tool, but an active public protection tool. Tools like the digital license give us a chance to put important safety information in the hands of the public,” DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth said.

DSPS announced in February that professionals licensed through the agency would have the option of downloading a digital copy of their license to their Apple or Google wallet, making Wisconsin the first to offer a digital license option to all license holders.

Taking a few minutes to download a digital credential makes it easy for license holders to carry proof of licensure wherever they go, while also making it easier for citizens to confirm professionals are properly licensed. The front of the card includes information like name, profession, license number, and license status. The back side has more information on any specialties and license expiration date. Customers can also scan a QR code on the digital license to go to the professional’s public page on the DSPS website.

“(This) provides live access to our database to see if a professional has any restrictions on their credential, certain tasks they cannot perform,” DSPS Assistant Deputy Secretary Niko Ruud explained.

The La Follette/Gladfelter Award, established with a gift from government reporter Lloyd D. Gladfelter, honors a state government employee or program that demonstrates use of an innovative solution or management technique to address a challenge and produce budgetary savings and/or programmatic improvements.

“The La Follette School is honored to be part of this annual celebration of the thoughtful and inspiring work happening every day in the public sector across our state,” La Follette School Director and Professor Susan Webb Yackee said when the award winners were announced in the Fall. “We are excited to celebrate the innovation and customer-focused efficiencies developed by the team at DSPS.”

“Providing better, more efficient service to our customers has been a focus for DSPS under the Evers Administration, and this award helps validate all the work our staff has done to improve offerings for Wisconsin’s licensed workforce,” Hereth added.

DSPS developed the digital license solution with Tyler Technologies, the leading provider of integrated software and technology services for the public sector. During his acceptance remarks, Sec. Hereth thanked the team at Tyler as well as individual DSPS staff members who worked to develop the digital license tool.

“It takes every one of those people to make a project go smoothly. So, I’m immensely proud to work with them every day to make lives a little bit better for folks in the state of Wisconsin,” Hereth said while accepting the award at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.

The Salute Awards honor local governments and school districts. Winners in other categories this year include the Forest County Potawatomi, Ashland and Bayfield counties, and the City of Milwaukee. You can see the full list of winners on the Wisconsin Policy Forum website.

The DSPS digital license project has also been honored with a national Government Experience Award.

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 two offices and roughly 250 employees, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.