Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services) · CRNA

16 hours. Every two years. On a fixed renewal cycle.

Below is exactly what Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from WBN(SPS~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 2026

Mandatory topics

For CRNAs, 16 hours is the total CME requirement. Wisconsin also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 16-hour total.

Pharmacology[1]
16 hrs
Biennial
Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05(1) — every advanced practice nurse prescriber (APNP), including CRNAs holding APNP credential, must complete 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to area of practice.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Every advanced practice nurse prescriber shall complete 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the advanced practice nurse prescriber's area of practice, including at least 2 contact hours in responsible prescribing of controlled substances.”
Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Opioid / controlled substances[1]
2 hrs
Biennial
At least 2 of the 16 pharmacology contact hours must be in responsible prescribing of controlled substances. Counts inside the 16-hour total, not on top of it.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“including at least 2 contact hours in responsible prescribing of controlled substances”
Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05(1)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Wisconsin cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalGeneral CME[2]
Hrs vary

WI CRNAs operating under APNP (Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber) credential must hold active NBCRNA certification and meet APNP CE requirements at renewal.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Applicants must be certified by a national certifying body approved by the Board as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist.”
Wis. Admin. Code N 8See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalPharmacology[2]
45 hrs
One-time

Initial APNP applicants must complete at least 45 contact hours in clinical pharmacology/therapeutics within 5 years before applying.

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Applicants must complete at least 45 contact hours in clinical pharmacology/therapeutics within five years before applying.”
Wis. Admin. Code N 8See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Wisconsin Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
NBCRNA Class A
NBCRNA Class A credits accepted toward WI APNP CE.Sourcehttps://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification[3]
NBCRNA_CLASS_B
NBCRNA Class B credits accepted toward WI APNP CE.Sourcehttps://www.nbcrna.com/continued-certification[3]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Wisconsin.

FAQ
How many state-level CE hours do Wisconsin CRNAs need?
Wisconsin imposes no recurring RN CE requirement — an unusual gap. CRNAs holding APNP licensure must complete 16 contact hours of clinical pharmacology/therapeutics per biennium (including at least 2 hours on responsible prescribing of controlled substances) under Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05(1), plus maintain active NBCRNA national certification. Initial APNP licensure requires 45 contact hours of clinical pharmacology/therapeutics CE within 5 years prior to application.
Does Wisconsin require NBCRNA certification for CRNA licensure?
For CRNAs operating purely on the underlying RN license, NBCRNA is not required at the state level (though hospital credentialing requires it). For CRNAs holding APNP licensure, active NBCRNA certification or CCA cycle participation is required at renewal.
Is Wisconsin part of the APRN Compact?
No, WI has not enacted the APRN Compact as of April 2026. WI is, however, a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) for the underlying RN license.
Where can I check my Wisconsin CRNA license renewal date?
Use the WI license search at https://app.wi.gov/licensesearch or contact Wisconsin DSPS.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05 — APNP Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “Every advanced practice nurse prescriber shall complete 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the advanced practice nurse prescriber's area of practice, including at least 2 contact hours in responsible prescribing of controlled substances.”Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05(1)
    “including at least 2 contact hours in responsible prescribing of controlled substances”Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05(1)
  2. WI DSPS — Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP)
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30
    Show verbatim text
    “Applicants must be certified by a national certifying body approved by the Board as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist.”Wis. Admin. Code N 8
    “Applicants must complete at least 45 contact hours in clinical pharmacology/therapeutics within five years before applying.”Wis. Admin. Code N 8
  3. NBCRNA — Continued Certification
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-30

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Wisconsin Board of Nursing (Department of Safety and Professional Services), or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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