Annual Certification and Registration Renewal

There is No Annual Application Form to Complete.

Once your laboratory becomes certified or registered with the Wisconsin DNR, you will need to actively renew your certification each year. Renewing your certification or registration involves submitting acceptable reference sample results and paying the appropriate renewal fees. The certification period runs for one year, from September 1 to August 31. Follow the checklist below to make sure that you have met all of the requirements for renewing your certificate for another year. If we are missing any one of the required items, your renewal will be delayed.

Key Dates to Remember

January 1
This date marks the date on which PT results count towards the upcoming fiscal year. So PT results reported after January 1 of a given year are applicable for certification renewal beginning September 1 of that year. PT results reported January 20, 2009 are applied towartds renewal of certification commencing September 1, 2009 and expiring August 31, 2010. Thus PT results reported in November 2008 would not be acceptable for certification renewal beginning September 1, 2009.

Late May/Early June
Certification/registration fee invoices for the upcoming fiscal year are mailed to facilities.

Mid-late June
Letters are sent to those facilities that have not complted their PT requirements reminding them what PT results need to be submitted. Letters are also sent to labs certified through reciprocity agreements that they need to provide us with updated reciprocity information in order to complete their renewal.

June 30
Certification renewal fees are due.

July 1
The new fiscal year begins. New fees go into effect at this time. Late fees for unpaid certification/registration renewal fees may be assessed at this time..

late July/early August
E-mail reminders may be sent to thos facilities that haven't responderd to earlier letters.

August 1
New certificates are printed for those labs that have satisfied all their renewal requirements.

August 15
Deadline for submitting PT requirements required for annual renewal. No PTs will be accepted after this point. This means certification for any affected parameters will lapse effective September 1 and re-application will be required.

August 31
Previous fiscal year certificates expire. All fees (including late fees), PT results (due August 15), and reciprocity information must have been recived by our office in order for certifications to be renewed. All remaining certificates are printed; as long as fees have been paid, some PT results have been submitted, and reciprocity information is up-to-date, a new certificate will be received, any tests for which certification cannot be renewed because of missing PT results will appear on a separate "Exception Report" on the certificate cover letter.

September 1
Re-application is now required for any tests for which we did not recieve PT results, or any lab that has not paid its fees in full, or submitted reciprocity information.

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Annual Renewal Requirements

Certified & Registered Labs

Expiration is August 31 every year. Please make sure that you have submitted acceptable PT results (for each analyte/ analyte group requiring one by Augist 15) and the appropriate renewal fees are paid prior August 31. Renewal is an excellent time to update your contact information in our database. To avoid paying a late fee, make sure you submit all of the necessary information prior to the deadline.

Reciprocity Labs

If your lab is accepted under a reciprocity agreement with another state, you must forward your certificate from the host state every year before we can extend reciprocity certification. You are also required to send copies of the host state's audit reports. You will receive the reciprocity bill in late May to early June. Reciprocity labs are not required to submit reference sample results to Wisconsin for certification, but are required to submit the most recent audit report of the host accrediting agency.

Renewal Checklist

	Did you receive your bill for the upcoming year's certification fees in May? All laboratories are billed in May, and the bills are due by June 30. If you do not receive your bill by the first week in June, contact the program to alert us of a potential problem.
	Has your lab/facility paid the required fees prior to the (June 30) deadline? If not, you must pay the late payment penalty along with your fees. If you fail to pay the total amount of your bill prior to the deadline for renewal, you will be required to resubmit an application for laboratory certification.
	Have you analyzed the necessary PT samples for all of the certified or registered parameters that you want to be renewed for? If so, do you have acceptable results for each analyte/analyte group? If you do not submit acceptable reference sample results prior to August 15, you will be required to submit a revised application to re-instate any affected accreditations.
	Are you covered under a Reciprocity agreement? Have you checked to be sure this office has a copy of a current, valid certificate from the reciprocal state? Most states have certification periods that do not coincide with ours. Remember to send us a copy of your new certificate when you receive one from the home state. Have you forwarded a copy of the reciprocal state's most recent audit report of your lab?
	Have you notified the Department of any matrices, technologiues, analytes (analyte groups), or methods (drinking water only) that you would like removed from your certificate? (e.g. your laboratory no longer offers a certain test). If you do not do so, and renewal requirements are not fulfilled, these tests will appear on the certificate "Exception Report".

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