APRNs — Including NPs, Midwives, CNS & CRNAs — Can Now Practice Independently in WI
Key Facts
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Gov. Tony Evers signed the APRN Modernization Act on Aug. 8, allowing qualified advanced practice nurses to work independently.
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Includes nurse practitioners, CRNAs, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists.
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About 8,000 Wisconsin RNs could qualify under the law, most of them nurse practitioners.
Wisconsin nurses with advanced training will now be able to practice independently, following Gov. Tony Evers’ signing of AB 257 into law Friday, August 8. The measure, now Wisconsin Act 17, creates a new license category for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and outlines the path for them to work without physician oversight after meeting new training and supervision requirements.
“Nurses play a critical role in our healthcare workforce, and I’m proud of our work to expand opportunities for nurses to not only grow their career but create a system that allows for more advanced practitioners here in Wisconsin,” said Gov. Evers.
Who’s included
- Nurse practitioners
- Certified nurse-midwives
- Clinical nurse specialists
- Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)
New requirements for independent practice
- Supervised experience: At least 3,840 hours working under a physician or dentist before independent practice is allowed
- Education & certification: Licensure, education, and certification requirements are now written into state law for the first time
- CRNA-specific oversight: CRNAs treating pain must collaborate with a physician unless fully qualified for independent practice in approved hospital settings
- Prescriptive authority: Explicitly granted for CRNAs and other APRNs under the act
- Title protection: Health care providers with a doctorate can use the title “doctor” when paired with their field of study; this applies to nurse anesthesiology graduates, who all earn doctoral degrees starting in 2025
CRNA scope of practice under the new law
CRNAs are authorized to provide anesthesia care and pain management for patients across the lifespan, in a wide range of settings:
- Hospitals, including critical access hospitals
- Ambulatory surgery centers
- Outpatient clinics and medical offices
- Offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pain management specialists
@bamfrn91 Direct from the Wisconsin Nurses Association “WISCONSIN NURSING HISTORY MADE. Governor Evers has officially signed AB 257—now Wisconsin Act 17—granting full practice authority to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) across the state! This long-fought victory means that nurse practitioners, CRNAs, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists will now hold a distinct license and can practice independently after completing 3,840 hours of supervised practice. This represents a significant step forward for healthcare access in Wisconsin, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Join us to celebrate! TONIGHT - Friday, August 8 at 5:00 PM Rigby’s Pub & Grill – 119 E Main St, Madison, WI All are welcome. Nurses, advocates, supporters—come raise a glass.” #fyp #nurse #nursesoftiktok #nursetiktok #wisconsin #CRNA #FNP #midwife #APRN #nursepractitioner #CNS #clinicalnursespecialist #nurses #nursingstudents #healthcare #news ♬ original sound - Sarah
Why it matters for access to care
CRNAs are the primary anesthesia providers in most rural Wisconsin hospitals. Supporters say the new law will help address shortages in these communities, where access to affordable, timely care is already limited.
State data suggest roughly 8,000 registered nurses in Wisconsin hold the credentials to qualify as APRNs — and about 80% of them are nurse practitioners. That represents a significant potential boost to the number of providers able to offer care independently.
“Gov. Evers’ action ensures Wisconsin’s most vulnerable patients have access to value-based, high-quality care and optimizes anesthesia care throughout the state,” said Christine Roth, CRNA, president of the Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology also praised the law, noting CRNAs safely administer more than 58 million anesthetics annually in the U.S., in settings ranging from hospital operating rooms to military healthcare facilities.
A compromise years in the making
Evers had vetoed earlier APRN bills in 2022 and 2024, saying qualification standards were too low. The 2025 version addressed those concerns by adding more training requirements, extra CRNA oversight for pain management, and stricter title usage rules — enough to shift the Wisconsin Medical Society from opposition to a neutral stance.
Bipartisan effort
The bill had backing from both Republicans and Democrats, with lawmakers pointing to the collaborative process between nursing groups, physician organizations, and the governor’s office.
In his statement, Evers thanked legislators from both parties, including nursing and physician groups, saying the law will “ensure that Wisconsinites get the high-quality care they need when they need it while setting our nurses up for success.”
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