Working in Wisconsin on an out-of-state nursing license
Last verified against Wisconsin Board of Nursing (DSPS).
The five facts
- Compact status
- Member (implemented), January 19, 2018
- Endorsement fee
- Not published on a current DSPS page — the LicensE portal shows the fee at checkout
- Temporary permit
- 3 months, renewable once for 3 more, $10, issue timing not stated by the board.
- Processing
- Not stated; applications are processed in order received. (not a board figure)
- Portal
- LicensE
Check your own licence against Wisconsin
Your Texas multistate license already authorizes practice in Wisconsin.
- No Wisconsin application, fee, or verification is required.
- You practice under Wisconsin's nurse practice act while your patient is located there.
- Keep your Texas license active and unencumbered; a restriction in any state suspends the multistate privilege everywhere.
- Earliest start
- Today
- Fee
- $0
Data as of September 2, 2026.
Nothing you enter here is stored. Trust keeps credentials on your phone, not on our servers.
If you hold a multistate license
Wisconsin honors it. You can work in Wisconsin today, in person or by telehealth, with no Wisconsin application, fee, or verification. You follow the Wisconsin nurse practice act while your patient is located in Wisconsin.
If you move your primary residence to Wisconsin you have 60 days after the move to apply for a Wisconsin license by endorsement (NLC Rule 402(2), effective January 2, 2024). Your former multistate license is deactivated when the Wisconsin license issues — you do not hold two.
Licensure by endorsement in Wisconsin
- 01
Open a LicensE account
Create your LicensE account and start the RN licensure-by-endorsement application with the Wisconsin Board of Nursing (DSPS).
- 02
Request Nursys verification
Request license verification through Nursys for every state that applies to you. Wisconsin accepts Nursys verification.
- 03
Clear the course requirements
Wisconsin mandates no additional course at endorsement.
- 04
Pay the application fee
The endorsement fee is Not published on a current DSPS page — the LicensE portal shows the fee at checkout. Confirm the amount on the board's fee page before you pay.
- 05
Request the temporary permit
Request the temporary permit: 3 months, renewable once for 3 more, $10, issue timing not stated by the board.
- 06
Wait for the permanent license
Not stated; applications are processed in order received. (not a board figure) Verify the license on the board's public lookup, then store the expiration in Trust.
Verification of the initial exam-state license AND the current license; the Nursys Quick Confirm report is not accepted and verifications sent by the applicant are rejected.
For a multistate license your primary residence must be Wisconsin or you must state that you are moving there.
What it costs, all in
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Endorsement application | Not published on a current DSPS page — the LicensE portal shows the fee at checkout |
| Temporary permit (Form 2434) — only when the exam or current state is not on Nursys | $10 |
| FieldPrint FBI fingerprinting — multistate applicants (Form 2687) | varies |
| Nursys verification | $30 |
How long it takes
Not stated; applications are processed in order received. (not a board figure)
The temporary permit is the difference between waiting and working: 3 months, renewable once for 3 more, $10, issue timing not stated by the board. Only for applicants whose exam state or current state is not on Nursys; practice under direct RN supervision. If your licenses verify through Nursys you should not need one.
The Wisconsin Board of Nursing (DSPS) publishes no processing commitment, so treat any timeline you read — including this one — as an estimate.
EMTs and paramedics
Wisconsin — EMS Compact: Not a member.
Wisconsin is not an EMS Compact member, so there is no privilege to practice. Apply for reciprocity through the Wisconsin state EMS office; most states ask for current NREMT certification and a background check.
After you’re licensed
A new license starts a new renewal clock. The Wisconsin RN renewal guide covers the cycle length, the CE the board counts, and the fee — read it once, then let Trust hold the date.
Questions people ask
Is Wisconsin a compact state?
Yes. Wisconsin is an implemented member of the Nurse Licensure Compact as of January 19, 2018, so a multistate license from another implemented member state authorizes practice there.
Can I work in Wisconsin with a multistate license from another state?
Yes, if your primary state of residence issued the multistate license and it is active and unencumbered. No Wisconsin application or fee is required, and you practice under Wisconsin's nurse practice act while your patient is there. Moving your residence to Wisconsin starts a 60-day clock to apply by endorsement.
How much does it cost to transfer an RN license to Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Board of Nursing (DSPS) endorsement fee is Not published on a current DSPS page — the LicensE portal shows the fee at checkout. Budget for the extras too: Temporary permit (Form 2434) — only when the exam or current state is not on Nursys $10, FieldPrint FBI fingerprinting — multistate applicants (Form 2687) (varies), Nursys verification $30.
Does Wisconsin offer a temporary permit while my endorsement is pending?
Yes. 3 months, renewable once for 3 more, $10, issue timing not stated by the board. Only for applicants whose exam state or current state is not on Nursys; practice under direct RN supervision. If your licenses verify through Nursys you should not need one.
How long does Wisconsin RN endorsement take?
Not stated; applications are processed in order received. (not a board figure) Treat it as an estimate, not a board commitment.
Do I need fingerprints for a Wisconsin nursing license?
Wisconsin's board does not publish a fingerprint requirement for endorsement applicants. Confirm with the board before you apply.
What courses does Wisconsin require before it issues an endorsement license?
Wisconsin mandates no additional course at endorsement.