Home / State requirements / Wisconsin
Wisconsin CME and nursing CE requirements
Continuing education and license renewal rules for physicians, advanced practice clinicians and nurses licensed in Wisconsin, as recorded by ClinLicense for planning.
Planning aid only. ClinLicense is not legal or compliance advice. Boards change rules between cycles, so confirm every requirement with the board before you rely on it.
- Licensing board
- Wisconsin Medical Examining Board
- License lookup
- Public license verification
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
MD CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-10-31 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-10-31. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details below are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 30 hours every 2 years, with at least 30 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Opioid prescribing guideline for those who prescribe controlled substances; confirm |
Notes. 30 hours per 2 years.
DO CME requirements
Not yet verified Not yet verified, confirm with the board. This entry has not been checked against the board’s own published rules.
- Total hours
- 30 hours every 2 years, with at least 30 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | DEA registrants | Opioid prescribing guideline for those who prescribe controlled substances; confirm |
Notes. Copied from the MD block as a planning default; the osteopathic rules were not separately confirmed. Confirm with the board.
NP CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details below are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 16 hours every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 16 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | Clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to area of practice, per biennium (Oct 1 even year to Sept 30 even year) |
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | Responsible prescribing of controlled substances; part of the 16 hours |
Notes. Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05: every advanced practice nurse prescriber completes 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics, including at least 2 hours on responsible prescribing of controlled substances. DSPS announced that APNP credentials convert to a new APRN license on September 1, 2026 and the CE requirement carried over, but the new APRN renewal page is not confirmed here. Applies to NPs who hold prescriber authority. Confirm with the board.
PA CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 30 hours every 2 years, with at least 30 in Category 1 or the equivalent
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | At least 2 of the 30 hours on responsible controlled-substances prescribing (the rule is not limited to opioids) |
Notes. Wis. Admin. Code PA 2.04 (Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board, Register insert eff. 12-1-2024; the insert states it may not be current one month after its date): a licensee attests to at least 30 hours of CME classified as Category 1 (NCCPA definition or board-approved), including at least 2 hours on responsible controlled-substances prescribing. Not required at the first renewal after issuance. Active NCCPA certification is accepted as meeting the 30 hours (sub. 6). License renews on the biennial schedule of ss. 440.03(9)(a) and 440.08(2)(a); records kept 4 years.
CRNA CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details below are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- 16 hours every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
| Topic | Hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 16 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | Clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to area of practice, per biennium (Oct 1 even year to Sept 30 even year) |
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | Some licensees, see the note | Responsible prescribing of controlled substances; part of the 16 hours |
Notes. Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05: every advanced practice nurse prescriber completes 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics, including at least 2 hours on responsible prescribing of controlled substances. DSPS announced that APNP credentials convert to a new APRN license on September 1, 2026 and the CE requirement carried over, but the new APRN renewal page is not confirmed here. Applies to CRNAs only if they hold prescriber authority; CRNA renewal otherwise depends on national certification (not confirmed). Confirm with the board.
CAA CME requirements
Reviewed 2026-11-01 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-01. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Always confirm with the board before you rely on it.
- Total hours
- Not recorded every 2 years
- License renewal
- Every 2 years
Required topics
No mandated topics are recorded for this profession in this state. That is not the same as the board having none, so confirm with the board.
Notes. Wis. Stat. 448.13(3) (2023 statutes): each licensed anesthesiologist assistant includes with the biennial registration application proof of meeting the criteria for recertification by the National Commission on Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (or a successor), including its continuing education requirements. No separate state hour count; the hours follow NCCAA maintenance. DSPS lists renewal by 9/30 of even-numbered years at $75.
Wisconsin nursing CE requirements
Nursing boards usually count continuing education in contact hours rather than CME credits, and the nursing license renews on its own schedule, which may differ from the medical board dates above. Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists have their own sections above.
Nurse Licensure Compact Wisconsin has implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact. A registered or practical nurse whose primary state of residence is Wisconsin can hold a multistate license issued by Wisconsin, which carries the privilege to practice in the other compact states, and a nurse with a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Wisconsin under that privilege. Renewal and CE for a multistate license follow the rules of the home state that issued it. The compact covers RN and LPN/LVN licenses only, and advanced practice authority is still granted state by state. This compact list was last reviewed on November 3, 2026. Read the compact guide for RNs and LPNs.
Registered nurses (RN)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- The board requires no continuing education for this license.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (02-29)
- Board
- Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services)
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Notes. DSPS RN page states there is no continuing education required for this license type. Renewal is by 02/29 of even-numbered years (DSPS renewal dates page), with a Department of Workforce Development survey.
Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPN/LVN)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval.
- Continuing education
- The board requires no continuing education for this license.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (04-30)
- Board
- Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services)
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Notes. DSPS LPN page states there is no continuing education required for this license type. Renewal is by 04/30 of odd-numbered years (DSPS renewal dates page).
Certified nurse-midwives (CNM)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them.
- Continuing education
- 16 contact hours every 2 years
- Other ways to meet it
- DSPS APRN page: every APRN completes 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics, at least 2 on responsible prescribing of controlled substances, plus current national certification.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (02-29)
- Board
- Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services)
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 16 | Every cycle | Everyone | Clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to area of practice, per biennium |
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | Responsible prescribing of controlled substances; part of the 16 hours |
Notes. DSPS APRN page: every APRN completes 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics, at least 2 on responsible prescribing of controlled substances, plus current national certification. The page lists CNM and CNS as APRN roles and says APRN licenses begin September 1, 2026. Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05 may limit the hour count to prescribers, so confirm.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
Reviewed 2026-11-03 This entry was last reviewed on 2026-11-03 against the source linked below. That date records our own review and is not a board approval. Some details are marked for confirmation, so treat those as unverified until the board confirms them.
- Continuing education
- 16 contact hours every 2 years
- Other ways to meet it
- DSPS APRN page: every APRN completes 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics, at least 2 on responsible prescribing of controlled substances, plus current national certification.
- Nursing license renewal
- Every 2 years, based on a fixed calendar date (02-29)
- Board
- Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services)
- Source
- The board page this entry was checked against
Required topics
| Topic | Contact hours | How often | Applies to | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 16 | Every cycle | Everyone | Clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to area of practice, per biennium |
| Opioid & controlled-substance prescribing | 2 | Every cycle | Everyone | Responsible prescribing of controlled substances; part of the 16 hours |
Notes. DSPS APRN page: every APRN completes 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics, at least 2 on responsible prescribing of controlled substances, plus current national certification. The page lists CNM and CNS as APRN roles and says APRN licenses begin September 1, 2026. Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05 may limit the hour count to prescribers, so confirm.
See nursing CE requirements by state to compare Wisconsin with other states.
Plan this renewal
Use the free opioid CME planner to see the controlled-substance rules for Wisconsin next to other states, or the license cost calculator to estimate fees. Read how multi-state CME works if you hold more than one license.
Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants usually also maintain national certification, which has its own cycle. The recertification basics guide explains how that fits alongside state rules. Nurses who hold licenses in more than one state can read the Nurse Licensure Compact for RNs and LPNs.
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