Wisconsin Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) CE requirements

Renewal: Under 2025 Wisconsin Act 17 (effective September 1, 2026), the new APRN credential renews biennially on February 28 of even-numbered years (renewal coinciding with RN renewal; current APNPs convert to the APRN credential).

More on this license

• Wisconsin Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) license renewal deadline
• Wisconsin Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) CE category requirements
• Wisconsin Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) license renewal fees
• Wisconsin Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) CE audits & penalties

Required categories

Details

Wisconsin licenses CRNAs within the advanced-practice framework: 2025 Wisconsin Act 17 (AB-257, effective September 1, 2026) created a distinct Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) credential covering four roles including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist; current Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP) holders convert to the new APRN credential with renewal coinciding with the next RN renewal (February 2028). Per the last published rule, Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05, every APNP must complete 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the area of practice, including at least 2 contact hours in responsible prescribing of controlled substances; renewal also requires current national certification (N 8.045). Authority: 2025 Wisconsin Act 17 itself requires every APRN to complete at least 16 contact hours per biennium in clinical pharmacology or therapeutics relevant to the APRN's area of practice (2023 SB 145; Wisconsin Legislative Council Act 17 memo; DSPS confirms the new APRN credential took effect September 1, 2026). The 2-hour responsible-controlled-substance-prescribing subset applies to APRNs with prescriptive authority (Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05; emergency-rules analysis). National track (all states): NBCRNA Continued Professional Certification (CPC), now branded MAC (Maintaining Anesthesia Certification), requires 60 Class A (MAC Ed, assessed/prior-approved CE) + 40 Class B (MAC Dev, professional development) credits per 4-year cycle, plus quarterly MAC Check knowledge checks and 2-year check-ins. Excess Class A credits may count toward Class B. A practicing CRNA must satisfy BOTH the NBCRNA program and the state license requirement above. Sources: https://www.aana.com/ce/maintaining-anesthesia-certification-resources/ and https://www.nbcrna.com/docs/default-source/continued-certification/cpc-toolkit/20160414_cpc_brochure.pdf

Official source: Wisconsin Legislature - Wis. Admin. Code N 8.05 (Continuing Education)