Chapter N 2

subch. I of ch. N 2 Subchapter I — Authority; Definitions

N 2.01 N 2.01 Authority.

N 2.01(1) (1) This chapter is adopted pursuant to authority of ss. 15.08, 227.11, and 441.01 (3), Stats.

N 2.01 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84; am. (2), Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 5-1-90; correction in (1) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; CR 14-002: r. and recr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

N 2.02 N 2.02 Definitions. As used in this chapter:

N 2.02(1) (1) “Board” means board of nursing.

N 2.02(1m) (1m) “Board-approved prelicensure education program” means a nurse prelicensure program from a Wisconsin-approved school or a prelicensure program approved by another state board of nursing.

N 2.02(2) (2) “Board-approved school” means any of the following:

N 2.02(2)(a) (a) A school in Wisconsin which has been approved by the board or the board has granted authorization to admit students under ch. N 1.

N 2.02(2)(b) (b) A school which participates in the electronic application process.

N 2.02(3) (3) “Certificate of approval” means the verification from a school of nursing that the applicant has been approved to take the NCLEX prior to receiving a diploma in practical nursing or professional nursing.

N 2.02(4) (4) “Certificate of completion” means the verification from a school of nursing that the applicant has completed the portion of the program equivalent to a diploma in practical nursing or professional nursing.

N 2.02(5) (5) “Comparable school” means any of the following:

N 2.02(5)(a) (a) A school holding nursing accreditation by a board-recognized nursing accreditation organization.

N 2.02(5)(b) (b) A school located in the United States approved by the board of nursing for that jurisdiction.

N 2.02(5)(c) (c) A school located in a U.S. territory or a province of Canada which is approved by the board of nursing for that jurisdiction and meets the standards of the Wisconsin board of nursing.

N 2.02(6) (6) “Department” means the department of safety and professional services.

N 2.02(7) (7) “Direct supervision” means immediate availability to coordinate, direct and inspect the practice of another.

N 2.02(8) (8) “LPN” means licensed practical nurse.

N 2.02(8m) (8m) “Multistate license” means a license to practice as a registered or licensed practical nurse issued by Wisconsin that authorizes the licensed nurse to practice in all nurse licensure compact party states under a multistate licensure privilege.

N 2.02(9) (9) “NCLEX” means national council licensure examination.

N 2.02(9m) (9m) “Party state” means any state that has adopted the nurse licensure compact.

N 2.02(10) (10) “RN” means registered nurse.

N 2.02(11) (11) “Single state license” means a license issued by Wisconsin that does not include a multistate licensure privilege to practice in any other nurse licensure compact party state.

N 2.02 History History: Cr. Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84; renum. (1), (2), (4) to (6) to be (2), (1), (5), (6) and (4) and am. (2), (4) and (5) am. (3), Register, May, 1990, No. 413, eff. 6-1-90; CR 01-049: am. (2), cr. (5m), Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01; correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671; CR 14-002: r. and recr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; CR 18-030 cr. (1m), (8m), (9m), (11) Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; correction in (1m) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.

subch. II of ch. N 2 Subchapter II — Licensure By Examination

N 2.10 N 2.10 Qualifications for licensure.

N 2.10(1) (1) Registered nurse applicants for a single state license. An applicant is eligible for a registered nurse single state license if the applicant complies with all of the following requirements:

N 2.10(1)(a) (a) Graduates from a high school or its equivalent.

N 2.10(1)(b) (b) Does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, Stats.

N 2.10(1)(c) (c) Graduates from any of the following:

N 2.10(1)(c)1. 1. A board-approved school of professional nursing.

N 2.10(1)(c)2. 2. A comparable school of professional nursing.

N 2.10(1)(d) (d) In lieu of meeting the requirement in par. (c), evidence of general and professional educational qualifications comparable to those required in this state at the time of graduation.

N 2.10(1)(e) (e) Passes the NCLEX.

N 2.10(1m) (1m) Registered nurse applicants for a multistate license. An applicant is eligible for a registered nurse multistate license if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

N 2.10(1m)(a) (a) Graduated from one of the following:

N 2.10(1m)(a)1. 1. A board-approved prelicensure education program.

N 2.10(1m)(a)2. 2. A foreign-registered nurse prelicensure education program that has been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and has been verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a board-approved prelicensure education program.

N 2.10(1m)(b) (b) If a graduate from a foreign prelicensure education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes the components of reading, speaking, writing, and listening.

N 2.10(1m)(c) (c) Successfully passed an NCLEX or recognized predecessor examination.

N 2.10(1m)(d) (d) Is eligible for or holds an active, unencumbered license.

N 2.10(1m)(e) (e) Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law.

N 2.10(1m)(f) (f) Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a misdemeanor offense related to the practice of nursing.

N 2.10(1m)(g) (g) Is not currently enrolled in an alternative program.

N 2.10(1m)(h) (h) Is subject to self-disclosure requirements regarding current participation in an alternative program.

N 2.10(1m)(i) (i) Holds a valid United States social security number.

N 2.10(2) (2) Licensed practical nurse applicants for a single state license. An applicant is eligible for a single state practical nurse license if the applicant complies with all of the following requirements:

N 2.10(2)(a) (a) Completed two years of high school or its equivalent.

N 2.10(2)(b) (b) Is 18 years or older.

N 2.10(2)(c) (c) Does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335.

N 2.10(2)(d) (d) Graduates from any of the following:

N 2.10(2)(d)1. 1. A board-approved school of practical nursing.

N 2.10(2)(d)2. 2. A comparable school of practical nursing.

N 2.10(2)(e) (e) In lieu of meeting the requirement in par. (d), evidence of general and professional educational qualifications comparable to those required in this state at the time of graduation.

N 2.10(2)(f) (f) Passes the NCLEX.

N 2.10(2m) (2m) Licensed practical nurse applicants for a multistate license. An applicant is eligible for a practical nurse multistate license if the applicant meets all of the following requirements:

N 2.10(2m)(a) (a) Graduated from one of the following:

N 2.10(2m)(a)1. 1. A board-approved prelicensure education program.

N 2.10(2m)(a)2. 2. A foreign practical nurse prelicensure education program that has been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and has been verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a board-approved prelicensure education program.

N 2.10(2m)(b) (b) If a graduate from a foreign prelicensure education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes the components of reading, speaking, writing, and listening.

N 2.10(2m)(c) (c) Successfully passed an NCLEX or recognized predecessor examination.

N 2.10(2m)(d) (d) Is eligible for or holds an active, unencumbered license.

N 2.10(2m)(e) (e) Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony offense under applicable state or federal criminal law.

N 2.10(2m)(f) (f) Has not been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a misdemeanor offense related to the practice of nursing.

N 2.10(2m)(g) (g) Is not currently enrolled in an alternative program.

N 2.10(2m)(h) (h) Is subject to self-disclosure requirements regarding current participation in an alternative program.

N 2.10(2m)(i) (i) Holds a valid United States social security number.

N 2.10 History History: CR 14-002: cr. Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; correction in (2) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2014 No. 703; CR 18-030: am. (1) (intro.), (2) (intro.), cr. (1m), (2m) Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; corrections in (1m) (a) 1., 2., (2m) (a) 1., 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762.

N 2.105 N 2.105 Application procedure for a multistate license.

N 2.105(1) (1) Each applicant for a multistate license shall complete and submit an application by the electronic application process or on forms provided by the department, declare Wisconsin as the primary state of residence, and pay the fee.

N 2.105(2) (2) The educational administrator or designee for a board-approved prelicensure education program shall submit one of the following:

N 2.105(2)(a) (a) Via the electronic application process a verification that the applicant has graduated.

N 2.105(2)(b) (b) A certification of graduation.

N 2.105(2)(c) (c) An official transcript indicating graduation.

N 2.105(3) (3) If the applicant graduated from a foreign prelicensure education program, the applicant shall submit a certificate or report demonstrating verification from an independent credentials review agency that the prelicensure education program is comparable to a board-approved prelicensure education program.

N 2.105(4) (4) If the applicant graduated from a foreign prelicensure program that was not taught in English or if English is not the applicant’s native language, the applicant shall submit proof of successfully passing an English proficiency examination that includes the components of reading, speaking, writing, and listening.

N 2.105(5) (5) 

N 2.105(5)(a) (a) The board shall make the applicant eligible for admission to the NCLEX as of the date of the applicant’s graduation or upon the board receiving a certificate of approval from the school of nursing that allows the applicant to take the NCLEX before graduation. As part of the application process, the applicant shall report the name of the nursing school they are attending along with the anticipated date of graduation or, if applicant is seeking to take the NCLEX before graduation, the school of nursing shall provide a certificate of approval. The applicant shall notify the board if their anticipated date of graduation changes.

N 2.105(5)(am) (am) The applicant may not take or attempt to take the NCLEX before graduation or prior to a school of nursing providing a certificate of approval to the board.

N 2.105(5)(b) (b) The applicant shall contact the examination provider to schedule the NCLEX date and time within one year from the time the applicant is eligible to take the examination.

N 2.105(5)(c) (c) The board shall send notification of results to applicants who fail to earn a passing score on the NCLEX. An applicant may apply to the board for authorization to schedule reexamination. The reexamination may not occur earlier than 45 days after the most recent sitting for the NCLEX.

N 2.105(5)(d) (d) Failure to comply with the terms of this subsection may result in a denial of application for licensure.

N 2.105(6) (6) The applicant shall submit, through an approved process, fingerprints or other biometric-based information for the purpose of obtaining an applicant’s criminal history information from the federal bureau of investigation and the Wisconsin department of justice.

N 2.105(7) (7) If the applicant has been convicted or found guilty, or has entered into an agreed disposition, of a misdemeanor offense, the applicant shall provide the board all related information necessary for the board to determine whether the circumstances substantially relate to the practice of nursing.

N 2.105(8) (8) If a license is issued based on fraud, deceit, or material omission of fact, the board shall take any action it deems necessary pursuant to s. 441.07 (1g), Stats.

N 2.105 History History: CR 18-030: cr. Register June 2019 No. 762, eff. 7-1-19; corrections in (1), (2) (intro.), (3) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2019 No. 762; EmR2215: emerg. r. and recr. (5) (a), cr. (5) (am), am. (5) (b), cr. (5) (d), eff. 12-1-22; CR 23-022: r. and recr. (5) (a), cr. (5) (am), am. (5) (b), cr. (5) (d), (8) Register November 2023 No. 815, eff. 12-1-23.

N 2.11 N 2.11 Application procedure for a single state license for applicants from board-approved schools.

N 2.11(1) (1) Each applicant from a board-approved school shall complete and submit an application by the electronic application process or on forms provided by the department and shall pay the fee.