Wisconsin lists GW, while GW's own page says no
Wisconsin's Board of Nursing includes George Washington University on its roster of approved nursing schools from other states. GW's State Authorizations page, meanwhile, still says its online programs cannot accept Wisconsin applicants. Neither source explains the other, so GW admissions is where this gets settled for your application.
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The conflict, source by source
Five sources touch on Wisconsin, and their dates matter as much as their wording.
| Source | Date | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| GW State Authorizations for Distance Students | Captured June 11, 2026; no update date shown | Online programs cannot accept Wisconsin applicants, citing clinical placement restrictions |
| Wisconsin DSPS, Approved Out Of State Nursing Schools | Revised August 3, 2026 | Lists "George Washington University, The" (DC) |
| GW disclosures: MSN NP, post-BSN DNP, NP certificate | Captured 2024 to January 2026 | Meets requirements |
| GW disclosure: Nurse-Midwifery | Captured October 2024 | Not yet determined |
| GW Nursing FAQ | Captured June 15, 2026 | Names only Alabama and Louisiana |
Wisconsin's list is dated after the latest capture of GW's page, so it may reflect an approval GW has not yet written into its page. That is a possibility, not a confirmed fact. Until GW's page changes or admissions tells you otherwise, plan as though the limit stands.
Each GW program, as things stand
| Program | Wisconsin applicants today | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MSN or post-BSN DNP: FNP, AGPCNP, PMHNP | Closed on GW's page | 600 precepted hours; disclosures say Wisconsin meets requirements |
| Nurse-Midwifery | Closed on GW's page | 840 hours; disclosure status pending |
| Leadership MSN, MSN/MPH, post-MSN DNP | Closed on GW's page | 300 practicum hours in the MSN; outside GW's disclosures |
| Acute Care NP options | Closed | Only for residents of DC, Maryland or Virginia |
If GW does open Wisconsin, you would still find your own preceptor under GW's standard rule, and the hours above are what your courses require. See clinical hours by program and GW's full list of state authorizations.
Wisconsin's approval rule and its new APRN law
Under Wisconsin Administrative Code N 1.06, the Board of Nursing must approve schools of nursing based in other states, from practical and associate programs through bachelor's (post-licensure included) and graduate programs. Schools apply on form 3067-OEE (the April 13, 2026 revision), and approved schools keep their status by filing a self-evaluation report on form 3069OEE. Clinical faculty and preceptors on Wisconsin soil must be licensed by Wisconsin or practice under a privilege recognized there.
Wisconsin's APRN law, 2025 Act 17, went live on September 1, 2026. Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, clinical nurse specialists and nurse-midwives each now hold an APRN license in their role, existing APNP licenses were converted, and an APRN who wants to practice independently must apply separately for Board approval. AANP's classification for Wisconsin remains reduced practice.
Health systems, metros and the compact
About 1.58 million people live in metro Milwaukee-Waukesha and about 710,000 in metro Madison, with Green Bay and Appleton next in size. NP students there look to UW Health, Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Aurora Health Care (an Advocate Health member), Aspirus Health and Ascension Wisconsin.
The Nurse Licensure Compact has been in force in Wisconsin since January 19, 2018. GW still asks for an RN license covering each state where a rotation takes place, which our RN license for clinicals page explains.
Why GW students in Wisconsin choose us
If GW confirms Wisconsin is open to you, you will want a search that starts right away and satisfies two rulebooks: GW's preceptor standards and Wisconsin's license-or-privilege rule. Your placement advisor checks both before anything reaches CORE, and if you are moving out of Wisconsin instead, we search your new state just as carefully. Tell us your program and term on the contact form.
Questions GW students ask
Which should I believe, GW's page or the Wisconsin board's list?
For admission, GW's word decides, because GW chooses whom it enrolls. The board's list shows Wisconsin's approval of GW as a school, not GW's admissions policy. Write to GW admissions at nursing@gwu.edu, the address on GW's state page, and ask whether Wisconsin applicants are accepted for your program and start term.
Why would Wisconsin approve GW if GW isn't enrolling Wisconsin students?
No public source explains it. The board's list was revised in August 2026, after the most recent capture of GW's page, so GW may have been approved recently without updating its page yet. That reading is unconfirmed, which is exactly why a direct answer from GW admissions matters before you apply.
Does Wisconsin's new APRN law change who can precept me?
Preceptors in Wisconsin clinicals still need Wisconsin licensure or a practice privilege valid there; Act 17 changed license titles and roles, not that rule. GW's own standards sit on top, and GW's 2021 clinical placement guide lists NPs, physicians and certified nurse-midwives with two years in advanced practice. See preceptor requirements.
Is Nurse-Midwifery treated differently for Wisconsin?
Slightly. GW's midwifery disclosure marks Wisconsin as not yet determined, while its NP disclosures say Wisconsin meets requirements. Admission still runs through the State Authorizations page, which currently names Wisconsin for every online program, so the midwifery program is closed to Wisconsin applicants unless GW says otherwise.
Related pages
Last checked 2026-09-24
We check these pages against GW's Bulletin and GW Nursing's own program and clinical pages. Your course, CORE and GW's Clinical Placement Team have the final word.
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