The Wisconsin State Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and practical nurses. Wisconsin is a Nurse Licensure Compact (Compact) state, meaning that nurses licensed by another Compact state do not need to apply for licensure unless they plan to make Wisconsin their primary state of residency.
Select license type you’re applying for:
Registered Nurse - Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores not required to be resubmitted to CGFNS for CP Verification Letter
Exams scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES If your program was not taught in English
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL Overall Score: 83; Speaking Score: 26
- IELTS Academic Overall Score: 6.5; Speaking Score: 7.0
Notes
An applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLEY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.
Registered Nurse - Endorsement
Service(s) Required
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores not required to be resubmitted to CGFNS for CP Verification Letter
Exams scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS for CES If your program was not taught in English
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL Overall Score: 83; Speaking Score: 26
- IELTS Academic Overall Score: 6.5; Speaking Score: 7.0
Notes
*May be required by the Board of Nursing
An applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLEY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.
Licensed Practical Nurse - Initial Licensure
Service(s) Required
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL Overall Score: 79; Speaking Score: 26
- IELTS Academic Overall Score: 6.0; Speaking Score: 7.0
Notes
An applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLEY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.
Licensed Practical Nurse - Endorsement
Service(s) Required
English Language Proficiency Exam Results
Exam scores are required to be submitted to CGFNS
Accepted English Language Proficiency Test and Passing Exam Scores:
- TOEFL Overall Score: 79; Speaking Score: 26
- IELTS Academic Overall Score: 6.0; Speaking Score: 7.0
Notes
An applicant taught in English DOES NOT need to take an English exam or submit an ELP Report. All non-English applicants where the language of instruction and textbook was NOT SOLEY in English are required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) exam. If language of instruction and textbook have English and another language the applicant must take an ELP exam.