What is the Veterans License Fee Waiver Program?
Wisconsin Act 209 (effective July 1, 2012) requires that the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs establish and maintain a program under which 13 state licensing agencies including the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection grant fee waivers to qualified veterans when issuing certain initial licenses. (DATCP licenses eligible for the fee waiver program are listed below.)
Under this program:
- Only one initial license fee waiver from any agency will be allowed per qualified applicant.
- The fee waiver applies only to licenses that are issued to individuals, and not to licenses issued to businesses or other entities.
- Waivers are not permitted for license renewals; they are for one initial license only.
How to Apply for a Waiver
The WDVA determines eligibility for this program. To be qualified for a fee waiver, a veteran must be a Wisconsin resident and must have been honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces. The WDVA will issue a voucher to applicants who are deemed eligible for a fee waiver. To apply for a voucher, visit the WDVA’s Eligibility web page.
Redeem Your Voucher
You may redeem your voucher for one of the license categories below when you apply for your initial license. Each licensing program has guidelines and procedures in place regarding licenses they issue. For details on these procedures, click on the relevant license category.
DATCP Licenses Eligible for the Veterans Fee Waiver Program
Division of Agricultural Resource Management
Nursery Grower
Nursery Dealer
Christmas Tree Grower
Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Division of Agricultural Development
Ginseng Dealer
Division of Animal Health
Fish Farms
Fish Import Permit
Farm-Raised Deer Keeper
Division of Food and Recreational Safety
Bulk Milk Weigher & Sampler
Milk and Cream Tester
Cheese Maker
Butter Maker
Cheese Grader
Butter Grader
Milk Producer
Division of Trade & Consumer Protection - Bureau of Weights and Measures
Aboveground Tank System Installers
Cathodic Protection Testers
Corrosion Experts
Tank Specialty Firms
Tank System Inspectors
Tank System Removers and Cleaners
Tank System Site Assessors
Tank System Tightness Testers
Underground Tank System Installers
Underground Tank System Liners
Weights and Measures Service Companies
Weights and Measures Service Technicians
Veterinary Examining Board
Veterinarian
Veterinary Technician
Related Information
For the license types listed above, Wisconsin Act 120 (effective July 1, 2012) enables veterans to request consideration that their military training/education/experience be used to satisfy licensure requirements, if an applicant can demonstrate equivalency to the requirements for license issuance. For more information about how this applies to a particular license type, click on the above links.
For information about other license/certification types affected by Act 120 (but not part of the license fee waiver program), visit Department of Health Services: Certification, Licensing, and Permitting.