Advanced practice registered nurses; civil liability exemption
Wis. Stat. § 441.09
in effect(1) License.
(a) An applicant who satisfies all of the following requirements may apply to the board for initial licensure by the board as an advanced practice registered nurse:
1. The applicant satisfies one of the following criteria:
a. The applicant holds a valid license to practice as a registered nurse issued under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m).
b. The applicant applies concurrently for a license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m) with the application for a license under this paragraph.
c. The applicant is a registered nurse who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued by a jurisdiction, other than this state, that has adopted the nurse licensure compact.
2. The applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she satisfies one of the following criteria:
a. The applicant has completed a graduate-level or postgraduate-level education program that is approved by the board and that prepares the applicant for the practice of advanced practice registered nursing in one of the 4 recognized roles, and the applicant holds a current certification by a national certifying body approved by the board.
b. On January 1, 2026, the applicant was licensed as a registered nurse in this state and was practicing in a recognized role, and the applicant satisfies additional criteria established by the board by rule under sub. (6) (a) 3. relating to practice, education, or certification.
3. The applicant pays the fee specified under s. 440.05 (1).
4. The applicant provides to the board evidence of any malpractice liability insurance coverage required under sub. (5).
5. If the applicant is applying to receive a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation under par. (b) 1., the applicant does all of the following:
a. Provides evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is currently certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board or its successor.
b. Files with the board any plan required under sub. (3m) (f).
6. The applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335.
7. The applicant meets any other criteria established by the board by rule under sub. (6) (a) 3. relating to the education, training, or experience required for each recognized role.
(b)
1.
a. Subject to subd. 3. and s. 441.07 (1g), the board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to an applicant the board determines meets the requirements under par. (a). The board shall also grant a person who is granted a license under this subd. 1. a. one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized roles for which the board determines that the person qualifies based on the person’s qualifications under par. (a).
b. The board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to each individual who, on August 31, 2026, was certified to issue prescription orders under s. 441.16, 2023 stats. The board shall also grant a person who is granted a license under this subd. 1. b. one or more specialty designations corresponding to the recognized roles for which the board determines that the person qualifies based on the person’s qualifications.
c. The board shall grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to each individual who, on August 31, 2026, was licensed as a nurse-midwife under s. 441.15, 2023 stats. The board shall also grant a person who is granted a license under this subd. 1. c. a nurse-midwife specialty designation.
2. Each specialty designation granted under subd. 1. shall appear on the person’s advanced practice registered nurse license.
3. The board may not grant an advanced practice registered nurse license to a person applying concurrently for a license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m), unless the board also grants the person the license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m).
4. The board may place specific limitations on a person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse as a condition of licensure.
5. If all of the following apply to a person, a notation indicating that the person may not issue prescription orders shall appear on the person’s advanced practice registered nurse license:
a. The person is granted an advanced practice registered nurse license under subd. 1. a. and satisfies only par. (a) 2. b. but not par. (a) 2. a., or the person is granted an advanced practice registered nurse license under subd. 1. c.
b. On January 1, 2026, the person did not hold a certificate under s. 441.16 (2), 2023 stats.
(c) On or before the applicable renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), an advanced practice registered nurse shall submit to the board on a form furnished by the board a statement giving his or her name and residence, the nursing workforce survey and fee required under s. 441.01 (7), evidence of having satisfied the continuing education requirements under sub. (4), evidence of any malpractice liability insurance coverage required under sub. (5), any plan required under sub. (3m) (f), current evidence that the person satisfies each of the requirements under par. (a) 1., 2., 5. a., and 7. that apply with respect to the person, and any other information that the board requires by rule, with the applicable renewal fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). The board shall grant to a person who satisfies the requirements under this paragraph the renewal of his or her advanced practice registered nurse license and specialty designations granted under par. (b) 1. and shall, if the person holds a license under s. 441.06 (1), (1c), or (1m), also grant the renewal of that license.
(2) Prescribing authority.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), an advanced practice registered nurse may issue prescription orders, subject to the rules promulgated under sub. (6) (a) 1. and 4., and may provide expedited partner therapy in the manner described in s. 441.092.
(b) An advanced practice registered nurse may not issue prescription orders if a notation under sub. (1) (b) 5. indicating that the advanced practice registered nurse may not issue prescription orders appears on the advanced practice registered nurse’s license.
(3) License required; use of titles.
(a)
1. The holder of a license issued under this section is an “advanced practice registered nurse,” may append to his or her name the title “A.P.R.N.,” and is authorized to practice advanced practice registered nursing.
2. The holder of a specialty designation for a recognized role granted under sub. (1) (b) 1. may append to his or her name the title and an abbreviation corresponding to that recognized role.
(b)
1. Except as provided in sub. (3m) (e) and s. 257.03, no person may practice or attempt to practice advanced practice registered nursing, nor use the title “advanced practice registered nurse,” the title “A.P.R.N.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is an advanced practice registered nurse unless he or she is licensed under this section.
2. Except as provided in s. 257.03, no person may do any of the following:
a. Use the title “certified nurse-midwife,” the title “C.N.M.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a certified nurse-midwife unless he or she has been granted a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.
b. Use the title “certified registered nurse anesthetist,” the title “C.R.N.A.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a certified registered nurse anesthetist unless he or she has been granted a certified registered nurse anesthetist specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.
c. Use the title “clinical nurse specialist,” the title “C.N.S.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a clinical nurse specialist unless he or she has been granted a clinical nurse specialist specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.
d. Use the title “nurse practitioner,” the title “N.P.,” or anything else to indicate that he or she is a nurse practitioner unless he or she has been granted a nurse practitioner specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1.
(3m) Practice requirements and limitations.
(a)
1. An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section may, except as provided in subd. 2. and par. (b), practice advanced practice registered nursing only in collaboration with a physician or dentist.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation.
(b) An advanced practice registered nurse to whom par. (a) 1. applies may, except as provided in pars. (bg) 1. and (c), practice advanced practice registered nursing in a recognized role without being supervised by or collaborating with, and independent of, a physician or dentist if the board verifies, upon application of the advanced practice registered nurse, that the advanced practice registered nurse satisfies all of the following:
1. The advanced practice registered nurse has completed 3,840 hours of professional nursing in a clinical setting. Clinical hours completed as a requirement of a nursing program offered by a qualifying school of nursing under s. 441.06 (1) (c) may be used to satisfy the requirement under this subdivision. Hours completed to satisfy a requirement of an education program described in sub. (1) (a) 2. a. may not be used to satisfy the requirement under this subdivision.
2. At least 24 months have elapsed since the advanced practice registered nurse first began completing the clinical hours required by a nursing program described under subd. 1.
3. The advanced practice registered nurse has completed 3,840 clinical hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice in that recognized role while working with a physician or dentist who was immediately available for consultation and accepted responsibility for the actions of the advanced practice registered nurse during those 3,840 hours of practice. The advanced practice registered nurse may substitute additional hours of advanced practice registered nursing working with a physician or dentist described under this subdivision to count toward the requirement under subd. 1. Each such additional hour shall count toward one hour of the requirement under subd. 1.
4. At least 24 months have elapsed since the advanced practice registered nurse first began practicing advanced practice registered nursing in that recognized role as described under subd. 3.
(bd) For purposes of par. (b) 3., hours of advanced practice registered nursing practice may include the lawful practice of advanced practice registered nursing outside this state or the lawful practice of advanced practice registered nursing in this state prior to September 1, 2026.
(bg)
1. An advanced practice registered nurse may provide treatment of pain syndromes, as defined in s. 50.60 (5), through the use of invasive techniques only while working in a collaborative relationship with a physician who, through education, training, and experience, specializes in pain management. Except as provided in subd. 2., this subdivision applies regardless of whether the advanced practice registered nurse has qualified for independent practice under par. (b).
2. Except as provided in par. (c), subd. 1. does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse who is providing treatment of pain syndromes, as defined in s. 50.60 (5), through the use of invasive techniques in a hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2), or in a clinic associated with a hospital, and who has qualified for independent practice under par. (b).
3. Except as provided in par. (c), subd. 1. does not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse who has qualified for independent practice under par. (b) and has privileges in a hospital, as defined in s. 50.33 (2), to provide treatment of pain syndromes, as defined in s. 50.60 (5), through the use of invasive techniques without a collaborative relationship with a physician.
(bm) For purposes of pars. (a) 1. and (bg) 1., a collaborative relationship is a process in which an advanced practice registered nurse is working with a physician or dentist, in each other’s presence when necessary, to deliver health care services within the scope of the advanced practice registered nurse’s training, education, and experience. The advanced practice registered nurse shall document such a collaborative relationship.
(c) Nothing in this section prohibits an entity employing or with a relationship with an advanced practice registered nurse from establishing additional requirements for an advanced practice registered nurse as a condition of employment or relationship.
(d) An advanced practice registered nurse shall adhere to professional standards when managing situations that are beyond the advanced practice registered nurse’s expertise. If a particular patient’s needs are beyond the advanced practice registered nurse’s expertise, the advanced practice registered nurse shall, as warranted by the patient’s needs, consult or collaborate with or refer the patient to at least one of the following:
1. A physician licensed under ch. 448.
2. Another health care provider for whom the advanced practice registered nurse has reasonable evidence of having a scope of practice that includes the authorization to address the patient’s needs.
(e) An advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section may delegate a task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the task or order is within the scope of the advanced practice registered nurse’s practice, the advanced practice registered nurse is competent to perform the task or issue the order, and the advanced practice registered nurse has reasonable evidence that the health care worker is minimally competent to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances.
(f) An advanced practice registered nurse with a certified nurse-midwife specialty designation may not offer to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting unless the advanced practice registered nurse files with the board, and the board approves, a proactive plan for ensuring appropriate care or care transitions conforming with professional standards for patients with higher acuity or emergency care needs that exceed the advanced practice registered nurse’s scope of practice. An advanced practice registered nurse who offers to deliver babies outside of a hospital setting shall file a plan under this paragraph when applying for an initial license under this section or a renewal of a license under this section, shall keep the plan current with the board, and shall follow the plan.
(4) Continuing education. Every advanced practice registered nurse shall submit to the board evidence of having completed at least 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the advanced practice registered nurse’s area of practice. The board may promulgate rules regarding the continuing education requirements under this subsection.
(5) Malpractice liability insurance. No person may practice advanced practice registered nursing unless he or she at all times has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by personal liability coverage in the amounts specified for health care providers under s. 655.23 (4) or coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the person in the amounts specified under s. 655.23 (4). An advanced practice registered nurse shall submit evidence of that coverage to the board when applying for an initial license under this section or a renewal of a license under this section. An advanced practice registered nurse shall also submit such evidence to the board upon request of the board.
(5m) Licensure exemption. The provisions of s. 448.03 (1) (d) do not apply to an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under this section who possesses a certified registered nurse anesthetist specialty designation under sub. (1) (b) 1. or to a person who engages in the practice of a nurse anesthetist while performing official duties for the armed services or federal health services of the United States.
(6) Rules.
(a) The board shall promulgate rules necessary to administer this section, including rules for all of the following:
1. Further defining the scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse, practice of a certified nurse-midwife, practice of a certified registered nurse anesthetist, practice of a nurse practitioner, and practice of a clinical nurse specialist and defining the scope of practice within which an advanced practice registered nurse may issue prescription orders under sub. (2).
2. Determining acceptable national certification for purposes of sub. (1) (a) 2. a.
3. Establishing the appropriate education, training, or experience requirements that a registered nurse must satisfy in order to be an advanced practice registered nurse and to obtain each specialty designation corresponding to the recognized roles.
4. Specifying the classes of drugs, individual drugs, or devices that may not be prescribed by an advanced practice registered nurse under sub. (2).
5. Specifying the conditions to be met for registered nurses to do the following:
a. Administer a drug prescribed by an advanced practice registered nurse.
b. Administer a drug at the direction of an advanced practice registered nurse.
6. Establishing standards of professional conduct for advanced practice registered nurses generally and for practicing in each recognized role.
(am) The board may promulgate rules to implement sub. (3m) (b).
(b) The board may not promulgate rules that expand the scope of practice of an advanced practice registered nurse beyond the practices within advanced practice registered nursing.
(7) Civil liability. No person licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse under this section is liable for civil damages for any of the following:
(a) Reporting in good faith to the department of transportation under s. 146.82 (3) a patient’s name and other information relevant to a physical or mental condition of the patient that in the advanced practice registered nurse’s judgment impairs the patient’s ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.
(b) In good faith, not reporting to the department of transportation under s. 146.82 (3) a patient’s name and other information relevant to a physical or mental condition of the patient that in the advanced practice registered nurse’s judgment does not impair the patient’s ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/441.09Fetched: 10/7/2026