WISCONSON NOW FULL PRACTICE AUTHORITY FOR NP’S

Wisconsin now has autonomous practice for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and other Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) following the signing of the Wisconsin APRN Modernization Act (Assembly Bill 257) into law on August 8, 2025. This legislation allows qualifying APRNs to practice independently, without a collaborative agreement with a physician or dentist, after completing specific practice and educational hour requirements.  Key provisions of the legislation includes:

• Autonomous Practice:The new law permits APRNs to practice independently, establishing their own practices and providing care without physician oversight. 
• Prerequisites:To qualify for autonomous practice, APRNs must complete a certain number of educational hours and practice hours under the supervision of a physician or dentist. 
• Statutory Basis:The APRN Modernization Act codifies these requirements into Wisconsin statute for the first time, previously being handled by administrative rules. 
• Pain Medicine Exception:A specific provision requires APRN practitioners who use invasive techniques for pain syndrome to maintain a collaborative agreement with a pain medicine physician. 

What This Means for APRNs:

• NPs in Wisconsin can now practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience. 
• They are able to establish independent practices. 
• The law provides a clear pathway to independent practice, replacing previous collaborative practice requirements for many APRN services.