Direct answer
The responsible authority is Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services. Use the verified contact details and task-specific official links on this page.
Wisconsin source-reviewed jurisdiction snapshot
| Item | Reviewed detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services |
| Public verification | Wisconsin License Search |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial by credential |
| Renewal deadline | RN: February 28/29 in even-numbered years. LPN: April 30 in odd-numbered years. |
| Continuing competence | DSPS does not publish a routine general CE contact-hour total for standard RN or LPN renewal. Advanced-practice prescriber and specialty credentials have separate education rules. |
| Fees | Confirm the current renewal fee in LicensE; DSPS publishes a $25 late-renewal surcharge in relevant reinstatement situations. |
| Compact status | NLC member jurisdiction |
| Credentials | RN, LPN, APRN/APNP, Nurse Midwife |
| Phone | (608) 266-2112 |
| Physical location | P.O. Box 8366, Madison, WI 53708-8366 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 8366, Madison, WI 53708-8366 |
| Primary official domains | dsps.wi.gov, licensesearch.wi.gov, license.wi.gov |
For Wisconsin, 5 primary official source records and 9 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide.
Responsible licensing authority
Wisconsin nursing credentials are administered by DSPS under the Board of Nursing. Public License Search and LicensE account services are separate systems.
P.O. Box 8366, Madison, WI 53708-8366Open map ↗
Confirm current service hours and walk-in availability before visiting.
Which office or system should you use?
| Goal | Route | Why and what to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Verify current license status | Wisconsin License Search | Use the reviewed Wisconsin primary-source route to confirm legal name, credential, status, expiration and public restrictions. Search by license number when available and document the live Wisconsin result date. |
| Renew or reactivate a license | Wisconsin Licensed Practical Nurse | Wisconsin renewal eligibility, declarations and payments belong in the official account or renewal system. Follow this published timing: RN: February 28/29 in even-numbered years. LPN: April 30 in odd-numbered years. |
| Check CE or continuing competence | NCSBN License Verification Guidance | Wisconsin rules can differ by credential, first renewal, practice hours, mandatory topics or national certification. Review the exact requirement before buying coursework: DSPS does not publish a routine general CE contact-hour total for standard RN or LPN renewal. Advanced-practice prescriber and specialty credentials have separate education rules. |
| Apply by endorsement | NCSBN License Verification Guidance | The Wisconsin destination authority decides application eligibility, documents, fingerprints, fees and any temporary authority. Nursys or direct verification as DSPS instructs. |
| Use the account or transaction portal | Wisconsin LicensE | Authenticated Wisconsin transactions and messages should occur only in the authority-named system. Confirm the browser domain is one of the reviewed official domains: dsps.wi.gov, licensesearch.wi.gov, license.wi.gov. |
| Check complaints or public discipline | official complaint and discipline resource | License status and public discipline are separate questions in Wisconsin. For Wisconsin, open any public order or restriction linked by the authority; do not rely on social posts or an old screenshot. |
| Contact the licensing authority | Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services | For Wisconsin, use the responsible office for a missing document, status discrepancy, credential routing or application message. Call (608) 266-2112 with the credential, license or application number available; do not email sensitive documents unless given a secure route. |
| Use national verification or monitoring | Nursys QuickConfirm / e-Notify when accepted | Nursys can support participating-board national verification, endorsement verification and monitoring, but the Wisconsin authority remains the source for local requirements. Wisconsin is recorded as an operational Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction in this dataset. Verify that the individual public record is actually designated multistate and that the nurse maintains Wisconsin or another qualifying compact state as the primary state of residence. |
Complete official task destinations
Wisconsin License Search ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Wisconsin LicensE ↗
Applications, renewals and support
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Wisconsin Licensed Practical Nurse ↗
LPN renewal date, applications and forms
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Wisconsin Registered Nurse ↗
RN renewal date, applications and forms
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Wisconsin Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
National compact resource used with the Wisconsin status recorded as NLC member jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCLEX Official Website ↗
Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services; passing the exam does not itself create a Wisconsin license.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗
National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Wisconsin source remains Wisconsin License Search.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗
National participating-board service used alongside Wisconsin License Search for Wisconsin; follow Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services instructions for endorsement or monitoring.
National official service · reviewed July 28, 2026Before contacting the authority
- Confirm which credential and authority apply, especially in split-board jurisdictions.
- Have the application type, license number or transaction reference available.
- Ask a specific question about a missing item, renewal eligibility, status or credential assignment.
- Do not email Social Security numbers, payment-card details or background documents unless the authority explicitly instructs a secure method.
- Record the date, office or unit contacted and the response.
- Verify final license status in the public lookup system.
Frequently asked questions
Which office handles nursing licenses in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Board of Nursing / Department of Safety and Professional Services.
What is the published phone number?
(608) 266-2112
Is there a separate mailing address?
P.O. Box 8366, Madison, WI 53708-8366
What should I prepare before contacting the authority?
Have the credential, application type, license number or transaction reference ready, but do not send sensitive records to an unverified address.
Is phone guidance proof of licensure?
No. Verify the final license status in the official public lookup system.
Should I visit the office without checking first?
No. Confirm office hours, walk-in availability and the correct unit before traveling.