How to Become a Registered Nurse in Wisconsin

As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 61,930 Registered Nurses were working in the state of Wisconsin in 2019. On top of that, another 7,890 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses were employed in Wisconsin.

If you want to become a nurse in Wisconsin, you should be prepared to invest some time in getting the required education, training, and developing the skills needed to join this profession.

Read the following guide to find out what you need to do to become a nurse in Wisconsin.

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ estimates, Registered Nurses will experience a 12% growth in jobs between 2018 and 2028. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses’ jobs are expected to increase by 11% during the same period.

You need to complete the following steps to become a nurse in Wisconsin:

1. 1. Get the Required Education

You need to meet certain educational requirements to become a nurse in the US. Licensed Practical Nurses can enter the field with a postsecondary nondegree award while Registered Nurses need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

2. 2. Pass the NCLEX

It is mandatory for nurses in the US to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become eligible to apply for licensure. Registered Nurses have to clear the NCLEX-RN test whereas Licensed Practical Nurses need to clear the NCLEX-PN. This is a tough test, so prepare for it properly.

3. 3. Apply for License

You can then apply for a license. At this stage of the process, you will be asked to submit your fingerprints and background history. When the scrutiny is complete, you will be given your license which means you can start looking for jobs.

It takes LPNs around 1 to 2 years to become a nurse. As far as RNs are concerned, they will have to spend 4 to 6 years to join the field professionally. The difference in time duration is mainly because of the education requirements.

The following are the requirements to become a nurse in Wisconsin:

Registered Nurses working in Wisconsin earned $72,610 as annual mean income in the year 2019. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earned $46,550. This data has been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.