Wisconsin Board of Nursing

The agency that licenses and disciplines nurses in Wisconsin — how to reach it, what it charges, and what it requires to keep a licence active.

NLC Compact State

Contact the board

Website dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/RN/Default.aspx

Phone (608) 266-2112

Contact via online forms

Verify a Wisconsin licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in Wisconsin, with what it costs to get and what it takes to keep. Initial cost totals application, examination, and fingerprinting fees.

Credential	Initial cost	Renewal	CE hours
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant	$168	— every 2 yrs	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$307	$73 every 2 yrs	None
RN Registered Nurse	$307	$73 every 2 yrs	None
NP Nurse Practitioner	$57	$73 every 2 yrs	16
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	$57	$73 every 2 yrs	16
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	$57	$73 every 2 yrs	16
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$57	$73 every 2 yrs	16

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Wisconsin nurse aide registry, run by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Nurse Aide Registry — a separate agency from the nursing board.

Multistate practice

Wisconsin is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate licence issued by this board lets you practise in other NLC member states without a separate application in each one.

Wisconsin is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state since December 2017. With a multistate license issued by Wisconsin, you can practice in all other NLC member states without obtaining additional licenses.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the Wisconsin Board of Nursing?

Phone: (608) 266-2112. Website: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/RN/Default.aspx. The board is the authoritative source for licence status, disciplinary records, and application questions. Contact it directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, including this one.

What licences does the Wisconsin Board of Nursing issue?

It handles Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Wisconsin nurse aide registry, run by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Nurse Aide Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is Wisconsin a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Wisconsin is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence issued here lets you practise in other NLC member states without applying separately in each one.

How do I verify a Wisconsin nursing licence?

Use the board's public verification tool, which is free and does not require an account. It shows current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary action. Nursys also carries Wisconsin data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do Wisconsin nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 2 years, LPN/LVN every 2 years, RN every 2 years, NP every 2 years, CNM every 2 years, CNS every 2 years, CRNA every 2 years. Continuing education requirements are set per credential and are listed in the table above.

Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team

Based on 7 official sources • Last verified: July 2026

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