Wisconsin AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Wisconsin law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | The person who makes an AED available for use is immune only if it makes sure the AED is maintained and tested per the manufacturer's operating guidelines. The owner's own immunity has no such condition, and no law requires maintenance outright (§ 895.48(4)(am)3.). |
| Train expected users | Limited | No general rule. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | No | Not in state law. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | No | Not in state law. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | No | Not in state law. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | No | No school plan rule. AB 362 and SB 317, which would have required school cardiac emergency response plans, failed when the session ended on March 23, 2026. |
| Other requirements | Limited | Fitness centers must post a notice stating the first aid, CPR and AED staffing rule and the penalty for breaking it, in the form set by state rules (§ 100.178(4)). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | No | Not in state law. |
Compare nearby states: Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
Only in certain settings. Wisconsin doesn’t require training for AED owners in general, but the law names some settings that must train people.
No general rule.
Fitness centers: an AED-proficient employee on site whenever open, or all staff trained within 90 days of hire (§ 100.178(2)).
Child care centers, group homes, shelter care and residential care centers: licensing rules must require AED proficiency (§ 48.67(1m)(c)).
Hospital emergency staff (§ 50.36(5)).
Specialized medical vehicle drivers (§ 49.45(3)(m)2.)
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Other Wisconsin AED rules
Fitness centers must post a notice stating the first aid, CPR and AED staffing rule and the penalty for breaking it, in the form set by state rules (§ 100.178(4))
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. Wisconsin law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
The person who makes an AED available for use is immune only if it makes sure the AED is maintained and tested per the manufacturer's operating guidelines. The owner's own immunity has no such condition, and no law requires maintenance outright (§ 895.48(4)(am)3.)
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require AED owners to register their AEDs or report where they are.
Telling your local EMS agency about your AEDs is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest one. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used.
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Wisconsin
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require AEDs at any particular kind of site.
That doesn’t make an AED optional everywhere: insurers, landlords, accreditors and other rules can still ask for one, and an AED is the only treatment that can restart a heart in cardiac arrest.
Does Wisconsin's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes. Under Wisconsin law, anyone using an AED in good faith is protected, and so is the AED’s owner, with only the usual exceptions.
What the Wisconsin (WI) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who gives emergency care in good faith at an emergency or accident is shielded from civil claims. The protection does not cover health care workers paid to give care in their usual job at a hospital, at the scene, on the way to a hospital, or in a doctor's office.
AED-specific protection: A person who uses an AED in good faith on someone who seems to be in cardiac arrest is immune unless grossly negligent, with no training needed. The AED's owner is immune too with no conditions, while a separate person who supplies the AED for use must show it was maintained and tested per the manufacturer.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Wisconsin’s official legislature or code website.
- Wis. Stat. § 895.48(1), (1g), (4): Civil liability exemption; emergency medical care (Good Samaritan and AED immunity)
- Wis. Stat. § 100.178: Fitness center staff requirements
- Wis. Stat. § 48.67(1m)(c): Rules for child welfare agencies, child care centers, group homes and shelter care facilities (AED proficiency)
- Wis. Stat. § 50.36(5): Hospitals: AED proficiency for emergency medical and nursing personnel
- Wis. Stat. § 118.076: Lifesaving skills instruction (grades 7 to 12)
- Wis. Stat. § 49.45(3)(m)2.: Medical assistance: specialized medical vehicle drivers and attendants (AED proficiency)
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Wisconsin
AED Log keeps the records Wisconsin law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Wisconsin AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Wisconsin?
No. Neither Wisconsin law nor federal OSHA requires businesses to have an AED. An insurer, landlord or accreditor may still ask for one.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Wisconsin?
Only in certain settings. Fitness centers: an AED-proficient employee on site whenever open, or all staff trained within 90 days of hire. Child care centers, group homes, shelter care and residential care centers: licensing rules must require AED proficiency. Hospital emergency staff.
Does Wisconsin law require AED inspections?
Yes, as a condition of civil immunity. The person who makes an AED available for use is immune only if it makes sure the AED is maintained and tested per the manufacturer's operating guidelines. The owner's own immunity has no such condition, and no law requires maintenance outright.
Do you have to register an AED in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require AED owners to register an AED or report where it is. Telling your local EMS agency is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest AED.
What does Wisconsin law require after an AED is used?
Wisconsin law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used. Call 911 anyway, then replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh.
Are AEDs required in Wisconsin schools?
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require AEDs in schools or at school sports.
Do gyms in Wisconsin need an AED?
No. Wisconsin law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the Wisconsin Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who gives emergency care in good faith at an emergency or accident is shielded from civil claims. The protection does not cover health care workers paid to give care in their usual job at a hospital, at the scene, on the way to a hospital, or in a doctor's office.
Does the Wisconsin Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes. A good-faith rescuer and the AED's owner are both protected unless grossly negligent, with no training or program duties; only a separate provider of the AED must show manufacturer maintenance and testing (Wis. Stat. § 895.48(4)).
Which Wisconsin laws cover AEDs?
Wisconsin’s AED rules come from Wis. Stat. § 895.48(1), (1g), (4); Wis. Stat. § 100.178; Wis. Stat. § 48.67(1m)(c); Wis. Stat. § 50.36(5); Wis. Stat. § 118.076; and Wis. Stat. § 49.45(3)(m)2., each linked to its official text on this page.