Illinois vs Wisconsin for RN Licensing

Total Fees

$310

$325

Timeline

2-4 wks

Renewal Fee

$60

$75

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category	Illinois	Wisconsin
Total Fees	$310 ✓	$325
Application Fee	$50 ✓	$75
Exam Fee	$200	$200
Processing Time	2-4 weeks	2-4 weeks
Renewal Cycle	2 years	2 years
Renewal Fee	$60 ✓	$75
CE Hours	20 hrs	N/A
NLC Compact Member	No	Yes

Key Differences

→

Cost

Illinois is $15 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Illinois

→

NLC Compact

Wisconsin is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: Wisconsin

→

Renewal Cost

Illinois has lower renewal fees at $60 per cycle.

Winner: Illinois

Category Winners

Lower Cost

Illinois $310

vs Wisconsin ($325)

Faster Processing

Illinois 2-4 wks

vs Wisconsin (2-4 wks)

Cheaper Renewal

Illinois $60

vs Wisconsin ($75)

Illinois Board

Illinois Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Full Illinois RN requirements →

Wisconsin Board

Wisconsin Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Full Wisconsin RN requirements →

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