Wisconsin Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Wisconsin does not require continuing education for RN license renewal, which happens every two years.
Registered nurse credentials renew every two years. DSPS states that the required renewal date for the registered nurse credential is February 28, or February 29 in a leap year, of each even numbered year. A nurse who receives an initial credential in the months before that date still has to renew on the statutory date. Renewal is filed through the LicensE online system.
Summary
Wisconsin does not require continuing education for RN license renewal, which happens every two years. Registered nurse credentials renew every two years. DSPS states that the required renewal date for the registered nurse credential is February 28, or February 29 in a leap year, of each even numbered year. A nurse who receives an initial credential in the months before that date still has to renew on the statutory date. Renewal is filed through the LicensE online system.
Wisconsin Registered Nurse renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Same date for every licensee, 02/28 each cycle |
| Continuing education required | No |
Wisconsin does not require continuing education to renew a registered nurse license. Wis. Admin. Code N 2.40(2) says a person renewing the credential within 5 years shall pay the renewal fee and the nursing workforce survey fee and complete the nursing workforce survey to the satisfaction of the board, and nothing else. N 2.40(3) adds, for a credential renewed after 5 years, either documentation of employment requiring a nursing license within the last five years or completion of a board approved nursing refresher course or equivalent education. The Board of Nursing chapters N 1, N 2, N 4, N 6, N 7, N 8, and N 9 contain no continuing education chapter for registered nurses or practical nurses; the only nursing continuing education requirement in the code is the 16 contact hours per biennium for advanced practice prescribers in ch. N 8.
Required CE topics for Wisconsin registered nurses
The Wisconsin Board of Nursing, Department of Safety and Professional Services pages and rules we read do not mandate specific subject areas for this license type. Hours may be in any approved subject.
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Not stated |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Wisconsin RN need to renew?
- Wisconsin does not require continuing education for RN license renewal, which happens every two years. Wisconsin does not require continuing education to renew a registered nurse license. Wis. Admin. Code N 2.40(2) says a person renewing the credential within 5 years shall pay the renewal fee and the nursing workforce survey fee and complete the nursing workforce survey to the satisfaction of the board, and nothing else. N 2.40(3) adds, for a credential renewed after 5 years, either documentation of employment requiring a nursing license within the last five years or completion of a board approved nursing refresher course or equivalent education. The Board of Nursing chapters N 1, N 2, N 4, N 6, N 7, N 8, and N 9 contain no continuing education chapter for registered nurses or practical nurses; the only nursing continuing education requirement in the code is the 16 contact hours per biennium for advanced practice prescribers in ch. N 8.
- How often does a Wisconsin RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in Wisconsin renew every two years. Registered nurse credentials renew every two years. DSPS states that the required renewal date for the registered nurse credential is February 28, or February 29 in a leap year, of each even numbered year. A nurse who receives an initial credential in the months before that date still has to renew on the statutory date. Renewal is filed through the LicensE online system.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Registered Nurse, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional ServicesState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. N 2, Licensure (N 2.40, Renewal), Board of NursingStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Wis. Stat. ch. 440, Department of Safety and Professional Services (440.08(2)(a)49, Nurse, registered: March 1 of each even-numbered year)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Wisconsin Administrative Code, Board of Nursing, chapter indexStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Board of Nursing, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional ServicesState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
The absence of a continuing education requirement was confirmed against the renewal rule itself, Wis. Admin. Code N 2.40, and against the Board of Nursing chapter index, which lists no continuing education chapter for RNs or LPNs. The two year cycle and the deadline come from the DSPS registered nurse page, which cites Wis. Stat. 440.08(2). The statute at 440.08(2)(a)49 lists the renewal date as March 1 of each even numbered year, and Wis. Stat. 440.01(2)(dm) defines the renewal date as the date on which a credential expires; DSPS translates that into a February 28 or February 29 deadline for licensees, which is the figure recorded here. Wisconsin sets a different date for practical nurses, so the LPN record is not a copy of this one. Documentation fields are null because a state with no continuing education requirement has no proof, retention, or audit rule to record.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Wisconsin Board of Nursing, Department of Safety and Professional Services before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.