If you are transferring from another state, you must not provide "hands on" care in a facility in Wisconsin until you have been placed on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry. To apply for placement on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry, you must complete an out-of-state application. Individuals transferring from California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina should send their application to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at the address indicated in the form. Individuals transferring from all other states must mail their completed application to the state where they are currently registered as a nurse aide.
You may obtain the out-of-state application on Pearson VUE’s website at or by calling them at 877-329-8760. It is recommended that all out-of-state and reciprocity candidates apply as far in advance as possible, as multiple agencies must verify and process your application.
If you are a nurse aide currently listed on another state’s registry, but have an inactive status, and have completed an approved nurse aide training program of at least 120 hours with at least 32 hours of clinical training in another state, you must successfully take the NNAAP examination in order to be eligible for placement on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry. The examination application may be found here but in order to apply you have to attach a copy of your examination approval letter from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If you do not have the required documentation for this eligibility route, you may contact the Department of Health Services, Office of Caregiver Quality at 608-261-8319.
To verify if your name has been added to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry, you can search the online registry here. If you have questions regarding your out-of-state registry application, please contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Office of Caregiver Quality at 608-261-8319. If you do not receive a Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry card within thee weeks after you apply, call Pearson VUE at 877-329-8760.