Licensure Information
After a student has completed their nursing degree, the next step is to sit for the NCLEX. Undergraduate students must apply for licensure in a specific state and complete the NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse.
Licensure information pertains to current undergraduate students who are in their last semester and will graduate in May 2013. Students should be sure that they have indicated their graduation term in their MyUW account. This will put students “on the list” of those that intend to graduate this Spring or Summer. This list is used for things like graduation ceremony information and final graduation checks at the end of the semester.
If you are uncertain as to whether or not you will be a May graduate, please contact your advisor via email, or run a DARS report through your MyUW account. You can also meet with your advisor to complete a Senior Graduation Check. The degree date for May graduates will be May 19, 2013. This is the date that will be printed on your official transcript.
Academic Programs then has to verify all requirements (after final grades are submitted and posted) for all students that have indicated graduation. This process takes about 2 weeks. Academic Programs then sends final lists to both the Registrar and the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)and final lists will be confirmed June 1st.
We will send graduation information to the DSPS around the first of June. It could take 15-20 days (or more) for the DSPS to complete your application. If you plan on working right after the semester, we encourage you to speak with your employer about the positions (Student Nurse, etc) that are available to you until you receive your temporary license (which could be the latter part of June). Student’s education must be verified by the School of Nursing. Temporary licenses are good for 90 days (until you pass the NCLEX).
What can delay your education verification?
One of the most frequent reasons that might delay a student’s education verification is the posting of credits to their record. Students should make sure that all off campus (Transfer, Study Abroad, Extension) credits have been posted to their record. All courses must be completed and posted to your record before we can verify graduation.
We recommend that students meet with an Advisor to make sure the credits are posted. If they are not posted, they need to be posted to the student’s record through the Office of Admissions. It can take 4-6 weeks to finalize getting your credits posted.
Degree Certification:
Most board of nursing offices require you to document your nursing education. Documentation varies by state. The most common methods used for documentation are an official transcript, a degree verification form or by both methods combine.
Applicants applying to:
- State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
A degree certificate letter for all UW-Madison undergraduate nursing students is automatically delivered to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services as soon as the nursing degree has been confirmed. Therefore, students do not need to contact the UW-Madison School of Nursing to inform the school that they are applying to the State of Wisconsin.
If students wish to check on the status of their Wisconsin application, go to the Department of Safety and Professional Services Online Application Query web site. The URL is http://dsps.wi.gov/Online-Services/License-Credentialing.
- Board of Nursing Departments for States other than Wisconsin
Students are responsible for obtaining material from the state they intend to become licensed. If a degree verification (aka: education verification) form is required to be completed by the School of Nursing, then the student should submit the form to the School of Nursing Academic Programs Office, Room K6/146. Once the form is filled out and signed by the Associate Dean for Academic Programs the form will be returned to the appropriate address.
Students seeking licensure outside of Wisconsin may want to check out the following web site:
https://www.ncsbn.org/contactbon.htm
Licensure Applications
Application & Registration
The process to take the NCLEX begins with two steps:
- Submit an application for licensure to the board of nursing where you wish to be licensed. This is in order to be made eligible to take the NCLEX. Be sure to meet the board of nursing's application deadline.
- Register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE.
State Board Applications
- Wisconsin State Board Application is available online at http://dsps.wi.gov/Home
- State Board Applications (other than Wisconsin):
https://www.ncsbn.org/contactbon.htm
Temporary Work Permits - Wisconsin
A permit is granted for a three month period and is issued upon the following:
- Completed state board application accompanied by the $90.00 fee
- Permit fee of $10.00 (therefore a total of $100.00 is required)
- Official certification of graduation from a state-approved school of nursing. The certification is not acceptable until after the program has been completed.
Check Your Application Status
The State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services has a web page where you can go and check on the status of your application once you have applied.
The URL is http://online.drl.wi.gov/ApplicationStatus/CredentialApplicationStatus.aspx.
After you have submitted your application with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, use their web site to check on the status of your application.