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wisconsindmv.gov
Occupational License Information
BDS361 4/2021
An occupational license is a restricted driver license.
Unlike a regular license, you are limited in where
and when you can drive. You may only drive to and
from work or church or other places indicated on
the license and during specific times of the day. You
may not use an occupational license for recreational
purposes or to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Your total driving time is limited to 12 hours each
day and no more than 60 hours for the entire week.
If you operate outside those specific hours or for a
purpose not permitted on the license, you may be
cited for operating after suspension or revocation.
If you need to drive in another state, you need to
ensure that the other state allows operation with
a Wisconsin occupational license. All states may
not honor a Wisconsin occupational license.
WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE
If you are a Wisconsin resident, you may be
eligible to obtain an occupational license if your
operating privilege was revoked or suspended
under the following circumstances:
• A trac oense under Ch. 343 Wis. Stats.
• A drug conviction under s.961.50 (except juveniles).
• Nonpayment of child support under s.767.303.
• An Habitual Trac Oender (HTO)
or Repeat Habitual Trac Oender
(RHT) under Ch. 351 Wis. Stats.
WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE
An occupational license cannot be issued:
• If you are a juvenile who committed
oenses under Ch. 938 Wis. Stats.
• If you are under suspension for failing
to pay a forfeiture (such as a trac
ticket or municipal citation).
• If your license has been canceled (rather
than revoked or suspended).
• If you have never held a driver license.
• If you are eligible to reinstate your driver
license after revocation or suspension.
• If you have two or more revocation/suspension
cases from separate incidents in a one-year period.
• If you have not served all mandatory waiting
periods for an occupational license.
• If you have a lifetime revocation.
REQUIRED WAITING PERIODS
Some revocation/suspension cases require that you
serve a mandatory waiting period before you are
eligible for an occupational license. e waiting period
begins on the eective date of your revocation/
suspension case. If you have multiple revocation/
suspension cases, you must serve all waiting periods.
e waiting period may vary depending on your
previous driving history and the reason for the current
revocation/suspension. All revocation/suspension cases
require a 15-day waiting period exc ept the following:
• Demerit points – no waiting period
• Underage alcohol operation – no waiting period
• HTO or Repeat HTO (RHT) – after 2 years
• Drug Convictions
› First – no waiting period
› Second – after 60 days
› ird or more – after 90 days
• Nonpayment of child support – no waiting period
• Wisconsin OWI-type violations
› Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
– no waiting period
› Wisconsin operating while intoxicated
(OWI or PAC) convictions
» First – no waiting period
» Second and subsequent – after 45 days
› Causing injury while intoxicated – after 60 days
› Implied consent refusal
» First – after 30 days
» Second – after 90 days
»ird or more – after 120 days
› Negligent homicide while intoxicated
or great bodily harm – after 120 days
› Multiple convictions may extend
your waiting period.
EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDER
If you are employed by a unit of government, public
utility, medical service provider or provide services
to one of these entities, you may be allowed to
operate outside the hours listed on your occupational
license. When operating at a time not listed on your
occupational license, you must be providing life-
sustaining services during an emergency. Emergency
operation during unlisted hours is only allowed to
and from home, work and any emergency site.
An emergency service provider must list less
than 60 hours for non-emergency operation
to allow for driving time during an emergency.
Total hours of operation for both emergency
(unlisted hours) and non-emergency (listed hours)
cannot exceed 12 hours per day/60 per week.
If requested by law enforcement, you must be able to
prove you are providing life-sustaining service during
an emergency when operating during unlisted hours.
Occupational License Information, BDS361 (continued) page 2 of 2
HOW TO APPLY
You may visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s
web page wisconsindmv.gov/occupational to find out
if you are eligible for an occupational license.
You may apply for an occupational license at any DMV Customer
Service Center (excluding DMV Renewal Oces). Plan to arrive
at the DMV Customer Service Center at least two hours before
the center is scheduled to close. You need to do the following:
• Complete a Wisconsin Driver License Application MV3001.
If you are under 18 years old, a sponsor signature is required.
• Complete an Application for Occupational
Operator License MV3027.
• Complete necessary tests, including vision screening.
• Provide proof of your identity.
• Provide an SR22 insurance certificate.
• Pay a $50 fee. Filing an application and paying a fee does
not guarantee issuance of an occupational license.
• If you have two or more OWI convictions and are
revoked for OWI, DMV must receive proof you have
completed an alcohol or other drug assessment
and are participating in a driver safety plan.
• If the court has ordered you to install an Ignition Interlock
Device (IID), provide proof of installation for every vehicle
titled or registered to you unless exempted by the court.
• If you have been revoked as a habitual trac oender
(HTO), the circuit court in your county of residence must
approve the issuance of your occupational license.
AFTER YOU APPLY
DMV sta at the Customer Service Center reviews your driver
record and application to determine if you are eligible for an
occupational license. e sta at the Customer Service Center
will immediately process most occupational applications.
If necessary, the DMV Customer Service sta will transmit
your application to the DMV Central Oce for a complete
review of your driver record and application. If Central
Oce sta determine that you are not eligible, you will be
notified that the license will not be issued and why.
Depending upon the hours the Customer Service Center is
open, you may receive your occupational license the same day.
If it is near the Customer Service Center’s closing time or if your
application is being reviewed by the DMV Central Oce, you may
be asked to return the next day or the next time that Customer
Service Center is open to have your occupational license issued.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR APPLICATION FOR
AN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE IS DENIED
If you are denied an occupational license because you have 3 OWI
type oenses within 5 years, or 24 or more demerit points within
one year, and provided all required waiting periods are over, you
can petition the circuit court in your county of residence for an
occupational license. e petition should include a copy of your
driver record, your denial letter from DMV, your occupational
license application and a nonrefundable fee. You can obtain a
copy of your driver record from the DMV by visiting
wisconsindmv.gov/ownrecord or writing to:
DMVCC, P.O. Box 7995, Madison, WI 53707-7995
If the court grants your request for an occupational license, take the
court order to a DMV Customer Service Center. If you meet all other
eligibility requirements, your occupational license will be issued.
If you are denied an occupational license because you have two
or more revocation/suspension cases from separate incidents
within a one year period, you can petition the circuit court in
your county of residence for an occupational license. However,
even if the court grants your request for an occupational
license, DMV will deny issuance of an occupational
license because the law prohibits issuing an occupational
license to a person with two revocation/suspension cases
from separate incidents, within a one year period.
HOW DO I MAKE CHANGES TO MY OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE
If you need to make changes to your occupational license, fill out
a new Wisconsin Driver License Application form MV3001 and
an Occupational Operator License Application form MV3027
and take them to a DMV Customer Service Center along with
proof of your identity. A $50 nonrefundable fee is required.
e $50 fee will be waived one time to change your hours so
you may complete your driver safety plan AND you did not list
driver safety plan as one of the uses on your current occupational
license. Any changes other than changes needed to enable
you to complete your driver safety plan require a $50 fee.
If your prior occupational application was approved
by the circuit court in the county of your residence,
the court must approve any changes.
HOW DO I GET A DUPLICATE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE
If you lose your occupational license or need to change your name
or address, you can get a duplicate occupational license. You
do not need to fill out a new Occupational Operator License
Application form MV3027. You need to bring proof of your
identity and complete a Wisconsin Driver License Application
form MV3001 for a duplicate license. ere is a $14 fee.
MANDATORY INSURANCE
No person may operate a motor vehicle in Wisconsin
unless the owner or driver of the vehicle has liability
insurance in eect for the vehicle being operated and
carries proof of insurance whenever driving.
Law Enforcement may ask for proof of insurance at any trac stop
or accident. Failure to have insurance could result in up to a $500
fine. Failure to have proof when requested could result in a $10 fine.
You do not need to provide proof of insurance to DMV unless
DMV specifically requested proof of financial responsibility
(SR-22) after a revocation or suspension or to apply for an
occupational license. Refer to Wis. Stats 344.61–344.65 for details.
Questions?
Call the DMV at:
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or send email to: wisconsindmv.gov/email
