Master of Science Licensure Requirement

Requirements for Licensure as a Registered Nurse in Wisconsin

Students must possess a Wisconsin registered nurse license before they will be authorized to enroll in the N613-N615 sequence or a N719 Independent Field Study in Clinical Nursing experience which involves direct patient care or supervision of others providing care. Upon admission and assignment of an advisor, students should confer with their program advisors to determine the type of clinical experience they will have as part of their master's program and whether Wisconsin licensure is required. If the N719 does not involve direct patient care or the supervision of others providing care, Wisconsin licensure is not required. However, in cases where licensure is not required, the on-site preceptor and agency must be notified in writing of the planned clinical experience and must be aware that the student is not licensed in the US and/or State of Wisconsin.

INFORMATION ON OBTAINING WISCONSIN LICENSURE

Licensure by Endorsement

Registered nurses holding a license in another state, U.S. territory, or province in Canada are eligible for licensure by endorsement. Individuals may obtain application materials from:

WI Board of Nursing
Department of Licensure and Regulation
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
(608) 266-0145
Fax: (608) 261-7083
E-mail: dorl@mail.state.wi.us

Licensure by Examination

International students are eligible for licensure by examination. This process requires satisfactory completion of the CGFNS (Council on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) examination and the state licensing examination (NCLEX). Students entering the M.S. program who expect to enroll in clinical(s) involving direct patient care should request a packet of information from CGFNS as soon as they have been admitted and make arrangements to take the examination in their home country or in Chicago once they are a student in Madison. The CGFNS exam is offered three times per year March, August and November. Applications are due approximately 4 months in advance of the exam. Once students have CGFNS certification they are eligible to write the NCLEX examination. Address for CGFNS and the State Board of Nursing are as follows:

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
3600 Market Street
Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651

WI Board of Nursing
Department of Licensure and Regulation
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
(608) 266-0145
E-mail dorl@mail.state.wi.us
Fax: (608) 261-7083

Updated July 26, 2007 4:36 PM . For feedback, questions, or accessibilty issues contact dbhopke@wisc.edu
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