Healthcare Recruiting
Wisconsin PA License 2026: Physician Assistant Requirements, FPA Authority, and Salary
Wisconsin enacted Full Practice Authority for physician assistants in 2024, removing the prior requirement to file supervision agreements with the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board (WMEB). Milwaukee and Madison anchor the two primary PA employment markets, served by Froedtert Health, Advocate Aurora, and UW Health — three of the Midwest's largest integrated systems.
Practice Model: Full Practice Authority (FPA since 2024)
- No supervision agreement required to be filed with WMEB as of 2024
- Collaborative practice determined at employer/practice level
- Prescriptive authority for Schedule II–V included (DEA registration required separately)
- Wisconsin's FPA is recent — some practice settings may still have internal collaboration policies carried over from prior law
Application Requirements
- Active NCCPA certification
- Accredited PA program graduation verification
- Background check via DSPS
- Application fee ~$82 (among the lowest nationally)
Processing Timeline
5–7 weeks typical; approximately 7–8 weeks total with concurrent DEA.
PA Salary in Wisconsin (2026)
| Setting | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / Inpatient (Milwaukee) | $118,000 | $8,000–$16,000 |
| Hospital / Inpatient (Madison) | $120,000 | $8,000–$16,000 |
| Surgical First-Assist | $130,000 | $10,000–$20,000 |
| Primary Care / Outpatient | $108,000 | $5,000–$12,000 |
Top PA Employers in Wisconsin
Froedtert Health (Milwaukee academic flagship — Level I trauma, major surgical PA programs), Advocate Aurora Health (Milwaukee and statewide — 27 hospitals post-merger), UW Health (Madison academic flagship — UW Hospital, American Family Children's), and Ascension Wisconsin (Milwaukee and Fox Valley) are the dominant systems. Rural Wisconsin carries HPSA loan repayment eligibility in multiple northern and western counties.
What We See at Ava Health
Wisconsin's 2024 FPA reform, combined with Advocate Aurora's scale and Froedtert's surgical programs, positions WI as an increasingly competitive Midwest PA market. Madison's tech and university-adjacent growth is creating new PA demand in outpatient and specialty settings. Low application fee ($82) is the lowest we see nationally.
Related: NP License Wisconsin 2026, PA Salary by State 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Wisconsin 2026.
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