diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/build-inline-draft-create-input.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/build-inline-draft-create-input.ts
index bebd1255..1724dc1e 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/build-inline-draft-create-input.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/build-inline-draft-create-input.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function resolveInlineDraftSchedule(draft: WorkOrderTableDraft) {
   return {
     scheduleWeekOnly,
     status: resolveCreationStatus({
-      status: draft.status || "Incomplete",
+      status: draft.status || "Pending",
       scheduledOn: draft.scheduledOn,
       scheduleWeekOnly,
     }),
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-inline-row-cells.tsx b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-inline-row-cells.tsx
index 319333ac..a5a89611 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-inline-row-cells.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-inline-row-cells.tsx
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ export function WoTableInlineRowCells({
           dispatcherId={draft.dispatcherId}
           users={users}
           onSave={(id) => {
-            onPatch({ dispatcherId: id, status: draft.status || "Incomplete" });
+            onPatch({ dispatcherId: id, status: draft.status || "Pending" });
           }}
         />
       </InlineFieldCell>
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-draft.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-draft.ts
index c0d45525..add130ff 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-draft.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-draft.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ export function useNewWoWizardDraft(open: boolean) {
   const [step, setStep] = useState(1);
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState<WorkOrderWizardDraft>({
     ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT,
-    status: "Incomplete",
   });
   const [svcOpen, setSvcOpen] = useState(false);
   const [svcSearch, setSvcSearch] = useState("");
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ export function useNewWoWizardDraft(open: boolean) {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (open) {
       setStep(1);
-      setDraft({ ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT, status: "Incomplete" });
+      setDraft({ ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT });
       setSvcOpen(false);
       setSvcSearch("");
       setShowErrors(false);
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-state.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-state.ts
index 8f6b1e66..79c81e59 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-state.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/use-new-wo-wizard-state.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ export function useNewWoWizardState({
   const [showErrors, setShowErrors] = useState(false);
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState<WorkOrderWizardDraft>({
     ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT,
-    status: "Incomplete",
   });
   const [pocAutoFilledFor, setPocAutoFilledFor] = useState("");
 
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ export function useNewWoWizardState({
     if (open) {
       setStep(1);
       setShowErrors(false);
-      setDraft({ ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT, status: "Incomplete" });
+      setDraft({ ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT });
       setPocAutoFilledFor("");
       setDuplicateRow(null);
     }
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary-rows.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary-rows.ts
index e49e267a..4db322aa 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary-rows.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary-rows.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,6 @@ export function buildWizardSidebarSummaryRows(draft: WorkOrderWizardDraft): [str
     ["Technician", draft.vendorName || "—"],
     ["Company", draft.vendorName || "—"],
     ["Appt time", draft.apptStart ? formatApptRange(draft.apptStart, draft.apptEnd) : "—"],
-    ["Status", draft.status || "Incomplete"],
+    ["Status", draft.status || "Pending"],
   ];
 }
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary.tsx b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary.tsx
index e330f575..63529f73 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-sidebar-summary.tsx
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ import { ColorDot } from "@/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard
 
 export function WizardSidebarSummary({ draft }: { draft: WorkOrderWizardDraft }) {
   const summary = buildWizardSidebarSummaryRows(draft);
-  const statusLabel = draft.status || "Incomplete";
+  const statusLabel = draft.status || "Pending";
   const statusValue = statusLabel as WizardWOStatus;
-  const statusDotColor = WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS[statusValue] ?? WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS.Incomplete;
+  const statusDotColor = WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS[statusValue] ?? WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS.Pending;
 
   return (
     <div style={{ marginTop: "auto", paddingTop: 44 }}>
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-step-vendor-time.tsx b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-step-vendor-time.tsx
index 208bb513..5f386d20 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-step-vendor-time.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/wizard/wizard-step-vendor-time.tsx
@@ -194,8 +194,8 @@ export function WizardStepVendorTime({
     draft.technicianAssigned === false
       ? undefined
       : vendors.find((v) => String(v.id) === draft.vendorId);
-  const statusValue = (draft.status || "Incomplete") as WizardWOStatus;
-  const statusDotColor = WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS[statusValue] ?? WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS.Incomplete;
+  const statusValue = (draft.status || "Pending") as WizardWOStatus;
+  const statusDotColor = WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS[statusValue] ?? WIZARD_STATUS_DOTS.Pending;
   const selectedDistance = formatVendorDistance(selectedVendor?.distanceMiles);
   const closabilityGaps = getClosabilityGaps(wizardDraftToClosabilityInput(draft));
 
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-ui-state.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-ui-state.ts
index 196bfe69..da2bf21b 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-ui-state.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-ui-state.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export function useWorkOrdersTableUiState(weekMonday: string) {
       setDraft({
         ...EMPTY_TABLE_DRAFT,
         scheduledOn,
-        status: scheduledOn ? "Scheduled" : "Incomplete",
+        status: scheduledOn ? "Scheduled" : "Pending",
       });
     },
     [weekMonday],
diff --git a/src/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.ts b/src/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.ts
index f1f046f9..4e837c84 100644
--- a/src/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.ts
+++ b/src/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.ts
@@ -8,11 +8,7 @@ import {
   WORK_ORDER_TYPE_API,
 } from "@/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-board";
 
-import type {
-  WizardWOStatus,
-  WOType,
-  WorkOrderWizardDraft,
-} from "@/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-wizard";
+import type { WOType, WorkOrderWizardDraft } from "@/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-wizard";
 
 import { fmtDateRange } from "@/domain/work-orders/utils/wizard-date-utils";
 
@@ -20,6 +16,7 @@ import { assignWizardScheduleFields } from "@/domain/work-orders/mappers/assign-
 import { assignWizardVendorApptFields } from "@/domain/work-orders/mappers/assign-wizard-vendor-appt-fields";
 import { assignWizardServicePocFields } from "@/domain/work-orders/mappers/assign-wizard-service-poc-fields";
 import { resolveIsAddOnForCreate } from "@/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-addon-cutoff";
+import { resolveCreationStatus } from "@/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions";
 
 const WO_TYPE_TO_API: Record<WOType, WorkOrderTypeApi> = {
   PM: WORK_ORDER_TYPE_API.PM,
@@ -114,7 +111,7 @@ export function mapWizardDraftToBoardCreatePayload(
   };
 
   if (draft.status) {
-    payload.lifecycleStatus = LIFECYCLE_STATUS_API[draft.status as WizardWOStatus];
+    payload.lifecycleStatus = LIFECYCLE_STATUS_API[resolveCreationStatus(draft)];
   }
 
   if (draft.woNumber.trim()) {
diff --git a/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-table-row.ts b/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-table-row.ts
index 9b973ebf..2e2c4464 100644
--- a/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-table-row.ts
+++ b/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-table-row.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ export const EMPTY_TABLE_DRAFT: WorkOrderTableDraft = {
   techPhone: "",
   apptStart: "",
   apptEnd: "",
-  status: "Incomplete",
+  status: "Pending",
   pocName: "",
   pocPhone: "",
   pocNotes: "",
diff --git a/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-wizard.ts b/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-wizard.ts
index 3a3416e1..ae2b3ff3 100644
--- a/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-wizard.ts
+++ b/src/domain/work-orders/types/work-order-wizard.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ export const EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT: WorkOrderWizardDraft = {
   vendorNotes: "",
   apptStart: "",
   apptEnd: "",
-  status: "Incomplete",
+  status: "Pending",
   pocName: "",
   pocPhone: "",
   pocNotes: "",
diff --git a/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts b/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts
index bbef896a..0a5a0064 100644
--- a/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts
+++ b/src/domain/work-orders/utils/wo-lifecycle-transitions.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ export const CREATION_INLINE_STATUSES: readonly WizardWOStatus[] = [
 
 export const SCHEDULED_NEEDS_DATE_MSG =
   "Set a Schedule On date before marking this work order as Scheduled.";
+export const INCOMPLETE_NEEDS_DATE_MSG =
+  "Set a Schedule On date before marking this work order as Incomplete.";
 export const PENDING_NEEDS_NO_DATE_MSG =
   "Clear the Schedule On date before marking this work order as Pending.";
 
@@ -134,6 +136,9 @@ export function getStatusOptionState(
   status: WizardWOStatus,
   closabilityGaps: string[],
 ): StatusOptionState {
+  if (status === "Incomplete" && !hasConcreteScheduleDate(row)) {
+    return { disabled: true, title: INCOMPLETE_NEEDS_DATE_MSG };
+  }
   if (status === "Pending" && hasConcreteScheduleDate(row)) {
     return { disabled: true, title: PENDING_NEEDS_NO_DATE_MSG };
   }
@@ -211,5 +216,8 @@ export function resolveCreationStatus(row: ScheduleDateInput & { status: string
   if (autoStatus === "Scheduled" || autoStatus === "Pending") {
     return autoStatus;
   }
-  return (row.status || "Incomplete") as WizardWOStatus;
+  if (!row.status || (row.status === "Incomplete" && !hasConcreteScheduleDate(row))) {
+    return "Pending";
+  }
+  return row.status as WizardWOStatus;
 }
diff --git a/src/test/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.test.ts b/src/test/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.test.ts
index cb5dca07..a9d41ed6 100644
--- a/src/test/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/domain/work-orders/mappers/work-order-board-mapper.test.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ describe("mapWizardDraftToBoardCreatePayload", () => {
 
       isAddOn: false,
 
-      lifecycleStatus: 1,
+      lifecycleStatus: 2,
     });
   });
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ describe("mapWizardDraftToBoardCreatePayload", () => {
     expect(payload.scheduledDate).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it("keeps Incomplete on week-only create and omits scheduledDate", () => {
+  it("normalizes Incomplete to Pending on week-only create and omits scheduledDate", () => {
     const payload = mapWizardDraftToBoardCreatePayload({
       ...EMPTY_WIZARD_DRAFT,
       type: "PM",
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ describe("mapWizardDraftToBoardCreatePayload", () => {
       targetWeek: "2026-06-22",
     });
 
-    expect(payload.lifecycleStatus).toBe(LIFECYCLE_STATUS_API.Incomplete);
+    expect(payload.lifecycleStatus).toBe(LIFECYCLE_STATUS_API.Pending);
     expect(payload.scheduleWeekOnly).toBe(true);
     expect(payload.targetWeek).toBe("2026-06-22");
     expect(payload.scheduledDate).toBeUndefined();