Registered Nurse

Predetermination

Pursuant to 2017 Wisconsin Act 278, beginning August 1, 2018, prior to submitting an application for a credential, an individual may apply to the Department for a determination of whether the individual would be disqualified from obtaining the credential due to his or her conviction record.  To apply for a predetermination, please fill out Form #3085 and submit all required documentation specified on the form.  Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 111.335(4)(e), the offenses or kinds of offenses that may result in a refusal, bar, or termination of licensure are published under Additional Resources on the left side of this page.

License Information

As of June 11, 2018, at 12:01 a.m. CST, any nurse with the multi-state privilege will no longer be able to practice nursing in the state of Rhode Island under the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) or the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). In order to practice nursing in Rhode Island, you must obtain a Rhode Island nursing license.

Per Wis. Stat. § 440.08 (2), the required renewal date for the Registered Nurse credential is 02/28 or 2/29/even years.  Should you receive your initial credential in the months leading up to this date, you are still required to renew your license by the statutorily defined date.

OLAS (Online Licensure Application System) is available to WI Board of Nursing-approved schools only.

Exam Applicants: You must also register for the NCLEX Exam.

To be eligible for a WI multi-state license, your primary state of residency must be Wisconsin or you must indicate on the application that you plan on moving to Wisconsin. 

Fee Reduction

Pursuant to 2017 Wisconsin Act 319, beginning August 1, 2018, an applicant for an initial credential may apply for a reduction of the initial credential fee that is equal to 10% of the initial fee.  Qualification is based on the federal adjusted gross income being at or below 180% of the federal poverty guideline prescribed for the applicant's family household size by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. To determine eligibility please visit the United States Department of Health and Human Services website at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines, prior to submitting Form 3217.

Temporary Permit and Examination

• Before sitting for the examination, an applicant may receive a temporary permit.  Completion of all requirements, except examination, submittal of Form 2434 and payment of a $10.00 fee are required to receive a temporary permit.

• The temporary permit allows the applicant to practice practical nursing under the direct supervision of a registered nurse until a credential is granted. A temporary permit is valid for a period of three months or until the holder receives failing examination results, whichever is shorter.  A temporary permit may be renewed once for an additional three-month period.

Licensure By Endorsement (Applicant who Holds an Active License in Another State)

• To be eligible for a WI multi-state license, your primary state of residency must be Wisconsin or you must indicate on the application that you plan on moving to Wisconsin. 

• Verification of their initial state license and a current state license is required. If initial state license is still active only one license verification is needed.  If the license(s) needed are verifiable through NURSYS (i.e. the states that participate in the NURSYS Nurse Licensure Verification Service), the applicant should not need a temporary permit. Endorsement applicants can apply for a temporary permit only if the initial exam state or current state of licensure does not participate in NURSYS license verification.

Nurse Refresher Course Information (for Endorsement or Re-Registration Applicants - this does not apply to Exam applicants)

• An applicant, who does not have current nursing education or has not been employed in a position that requires a nursing license within the last five (5) years, may apply to the Board for a limited license to enable the applicant to complete a nursing refresher course(s) approved by the Board. Upon successful completion of an approved nursing refresher course(s), the license holder may petition the Board for full licensure. Board Approved Nursing Refresher Courses can be found below.

Information for Providers

• To have a nursing refresher course considered for approval, it is necessary to submit the course curriculum along with a completed and signed request form, Request for Approval of a Nursing Refresher Course, Form 3066OEE.  If the course is approved, it will be added to the list of approved nursing refresher courses posted to the DSPS website (please see web links to lists below).

NCLEX Annual Pass Rates

Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter N 1.09 lists information and requirements for meeting NCLEX pass rate standards for professional nursing schools and practical nursing schools.

Please Note: The Board of Nursing shall consider both the Registered Nurse (RN) NCLEX and Practical Nurse (PN) NCLEX annual pass rates when evaluating a school of professional nursing that grants a certificate of completion for practical nursing

Renewal Information

Requirements

• FEE (See Renewal Dates and Fees)
• SVY (Nursing Workforce Survey is required to renew and is available during the open renewal period.) (After this time frame, the survey is shortened and incorporated into the renewal     questions.*-Please see below.)
• RES (Report State of Primary Residency)
• If your legal status as a qualified alien or nonimmigrant lawfully present in the United States has changed since the issuance of your credential or your last renewal, please contact the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services at (608) 266-2112 or dsps@wisconsin.gov.

*On November 14, 2013, the Wisconsin Board of Nursing moved to allow the DSPS and the DWD to accept a shortened version of the survey outside of the active renewal cycle, which begins 7-8 weeks prior to the renewal deadline.  After the renewal deadline, licensees will need to complete the shortened survey to fulfill the renewal requirements.  The shortened version of the survey will be incorporated into the renewal questions and will not be provided as a separate link.

The survey is mandated under Chapter 106.30 of the Wisconsin Statutes for all registered nurses (RNs) in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Center for Nursing publishes the results.

Wisconsin is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, please visit the NCSBN website for more details.

If you also hold a Wisconsin Nurse Midwife license, please renew that license first.  Doing so will automatically renew your Registered Nurse license, unless you are a Primary Resident of another Compact State.

Renewal Methods

• Online log in here: License Renewal Online
• Request a Paper Renewal Form: (608) 266-2112

Wisconsin Act 210 (effective June 1, 2012)

This Act extends the license of a service member if the license expires while they are on active duty from 90 days to 180 days from the date of discharge. The same applies to a spouse of a service member if the spouse does not practice under their license while the service member is on active duty and does not practice because the service member is on active duty.

This Act repeals a provision of prior law that required a service member to meet all of the requirements for license extension or renewal, except for continuing education requirements, in order to have the license extended.

Service members and spouses may request extensions of licenses beyond 180 days from discharge and may request a waiver or extension of time to complete continuing education requirements due to hardship.  Please view Active Duty/Discharge Renewal Extension Form R210.