How to become a licensed nursing home administrator in Wisconsin: the four routes, the year of supervised experience that stands in for an AIT, the NAB exams and the Wisconsin State Law Examination, fees, continuing education and renewal, with section numbers.
| Who licenses | The Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board, attached to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) (Wis. Stat. 15.405(7m); ch. 456) |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Four routes: a degree with a supervised clinical practicum, a program of study, specialized courses, or NAB’s HSE (NHA 4.01(1)(d)) |
| AIT requirement | No AIT program and no hour figure. The program of study and specialized course routes need one year of experience supervised by a licensed administrator; the practicum degree and HSE routes need none (NHA 4.01(1)(d)) |
| National exams | NAB Core of Knowledge (CORE) and NHA Line of Service, scaled score 113 to pass (NHA 2.04; DSPS) |
| State exam | Required (NHA 2.01(3)): the Wisconsin State Law Examination (NAB code NHA-WI), taken through NAB and Pearson VUE after DSPS approval; $210 (NAB Handbook); scaled score 64 to pass (DSPS) Details ↓ |
| Continuing education | 24 NAB-approved hours each biennium, 1 July of an even year to 30 June of the next even year, no carryover (NHA 3.02) |
| Renewal | Every two years; licenses expire 30 June of even years; $75, or $25 more if late (DSPS) |
| Official sources | DSPS nursing home administrator page · Wis. Stat. ch. 456 · Wis. Admin. Code NHA · nabweb.org (national exams) |
Verified September 2026. “NHA” and “DHS” numbers are sections of the Wisconsin Administrative Code; “Wis. Stat.” and “s.” are sections of the Wisconsin Statutes. Rule text for DHS 132 and parts of NHA 1 and 2 is quoted from docs.legis.wisconsin.gov; the rest is quoted from labeled Justia mirrors.
The license comes from the Nursing Home Administrator Examining Board, created by Wis. Stat. 15.405(7m) and attached to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). DSPS’s own board page spells it “Nursing Home Administrators Examining Board”; this page uses the statute’s name. Its members, appointed by the Governor, include five nursing home administrators.
Start at the DSPS nursing home administrator page; applications and renewals go through LicensE. DSPS is at 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705, phone 608-266-2112. The law is Wis. Stat. ch. 456, and the board’s rules are Wis. Admin. Code chapters NHA 1 to 4, with NHA 5 on standards of conduct. Nursing homes themselves are regulated by a different agency, the Department of Health Services (DHS), under Wis. Stat. ch. 50 and DHS 132.
Under s. 456.03, you must be at least 18, have academic preparation the board deems adequate, pass the exams, pay the fee and meet the conviction standards of ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335. NHA 4.01(1)(d) then sets four routes, and you qualify under one:
| Route | Education | Experience needed | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular course of study | An accredited associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral program that “includes a program of study and a supervised clinical practicum” | None | NHA 1.02(7) |
| Program of study | At least one 3-credit course in each of four areas: laws governing nursing homes; administration; resident protection; and residents’ psychological, physical, medical and social needs | One year of supervised experience | NHA 1.02(6); 4.01(1)(d) |
| Specialized courses | Individual courses giving adequate preparation in nursing home administration, long-term patient care and health-care systems organization | One year of supervised experience | NHA 1.02(8); 4.01(1)(d) |
| NAB Health Services Executive (HSE) | Active HSE certification from NAB | None | NHA 4.01(1)(d) |
Wisconsin has no Administrator-in-Training program, and its rules never use the term. What the program of study and specialized course routes require instead is one year of “experience in the field of institutional administration” (NHA 4.01(1)(d)), defined in NHA 1.02(2).
The sign-off. DSPS asks for no progress reports or advance registration during the year. When you apply, your supervisor completes Form 71, attesting that you have “gained exposure to and knowledge of all areas identified above”, with the facility administrator’s license number. There is no general waiver: the practicum degree and HSE routes are the ways around the year.
Other states: AIT Hours by State.
Wisconsin has no AIT hour requirement. If your route needs the year of supervised experience, the free AIT Planner is one optional way to organize it by department; its hours are our planning aid, not a Wisconsin rule. The five areas above are what your supervisor signs off on. No account needed.
Open the free AIT PlannerNHA 2.01 requires three exams: NAB’s Core of Knowledge (CORE), NAB’s NHA Line of Service, and the Wisconsin State Law Examination. NAB is the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards. You apply for all three through NAB, DSPS authorizes you to test, and you then schedule at Pearson VUE; the exams must be scheduled and completed within 90 days of authorization. The NAB figures are from its Candidate Handbook (September 2026):
| Core of Knowledge | 125 questions, including 25 unscored pretest questions; 150 minutes in all, 130 of them for answering questions |
|---|---|
| NHA Line of Service | 75 questions, including 15 unscored pretest questions; 90 minutes in all, 70 of them for answering questions |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 113 on each; DSPS gives the same figure |
| Fee | $480 for CORE and NHA applied for together, from 1 February 2026, paid to NAB. Taken alone, CORE is $320 and NHA is $190 |
| NAB attempts | Since 1 January 2026, up to 4 attempts at each exam per cycle (1 July to 30 June) |
| Who skips them | HSE holders (NHA 4.01(1)(b)), and applicants licensed elsewhere who already passed CORE and the Line of Service, who take only the state exam (DSPS) |
More in NAB Exam Format and The Core Domains Explained.
NHA 2.01(3) requires “an examination administered by the board on laws and administrative rules of this state”. DSPS calls it the Wisconsin State Law Examination, and NAB lists it as exam code NHA-WI. Although the rule says the board administers it, you take it the same way as the NAB exams: apply through NAB, and once DSPS approves you, schedule with Pearson VUE (NAB Candidate Handbook).
| Who takes it | Every applicant, including HSE holders and applicants licensed in another state |
|---|---|
| Time | 2 hours: “All state exams have a two-hour time limit” (NAB Candidate Handbook, September 2026) |
| Questions | Neither DSPS nor the Handbook gives a question count |
| Passing score | “The passing scaled score on the State Law exam is 64” (DSPS exams page). The board sets the passing grade after a subject-matter expert review (NHA 2.04(2)), and the Handbook notes that state exams “do not have a consistent passing scaled score” |
| Fee | $210, paid to NAB (NAB Candidate Handbook, September 2026) |
| Retakes | A new exam application and fee, then a new 90-day window (Handbook). NAB’s cap of 4 attempts per cycle names CORE, NHA and RC/AL |
Two older sources differ: DSPS Form #1573 (revised 2023) says Professional Examination Service (PES) administers the exams, and NAB’s Wisconsin summary lists the state exam at $190; the NAB Candidate Handbook (September 2026) governs.
DSPS directs candidates to three sources: DHS 129, DHS 132 (nursing homes) and Wis. Stat. ch. 50. The rule’s own wording, laws and rules “governing nursing home administration”, also points to ch. 456 and the NHA rules on this page. More in State NHA Exams Explained.
Four places where Wisconsin sets a different number, or adds a requirement, compared with 42 CFR Part 483. All four come from Wisconsin statutes and Department of Health Services rules:
| Topic | Federal rule (42 CFR 483) | Wisconsin rule | Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing hours per resident | Sufficient nursing staff, including licensed nurses unless waived, on a 24-hour basis (483.35(a), (e)), with no hours-per-resident-day minimum. CMS repealed the 2024 minimum staffing standards, which were never enforced, by an interim final rule published 3 December 2025 (90 FR 55687, effective 2 February 2026) | In homes other than those that “primarily serve the developmentally disabled”, daily nursing hours for each resident by level of care: intensive skilled care “3.25 hours per day”, at least 0.65 of them from an RN or LPN; skilled care 2.5 (0.5 licensed); intermediate or limited care 2.0 (0.4 licensed) | Wis. Stat. 50.04(2)(d) |
| Registered nurse coverage | A registered nurse “for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week”, and a registered nurse as full-time director of nursing, unless waived (483.35(b)(1), (2)) | In skilled care homes, RN charge nurse coverage rises with the number of residents; at 100 or more residents, “at least one registered nurse on duty as charge nurse at all times” | DHS 132.62(2)(b) |
| The administrator | The administrator must be “Licensed by the State, where licensing is required” (483.70(d)(2)(i)); Part 483 sets no weekly hours | A full-time licensed administrator; for homes of 50 or fewer beds, “at least 4 hours per day on each of 5 days per week”. One full-time administrator may serve homes on the same or contiguous property. After losing its administrator, the home notifies DHS “within 2 working days” and has a replacement within 120 days | DHS 132.41 |
| Reporting caregiver misconduct | Alleged violations reported “immediately, but not later than 2 hours” if they involve abuse or serious bodily injury, otherwise within 24 hours (483.12(c)(1)); investigation results within 5 working days (483.12(c)(4)) | The home “shall report to the department any allegation” of abuse, neglect or misappropriation by its caregivers, “within 7 calendar days” of when it knew or should have known. In a certified home, both clocks apply | Wis. Stat. 146.40(4r); DHS 13.05(3)(a) |
The federal nursing home rules (42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B) apply only to facilities certified for Medicare or Medicaid, so a certified Wisconsin home must meet both sets of rules. Federal text as of September 2026.
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No AIT program, so no AIT sponsor. Wisconsin’s version of an AIT is the year of experience in institutional administration (NHA 1.02(2)), and only the program of study and specialized course routes need it. Your “preceptor” is the licensed administrator who supervises that year and signs Form 71.
Finding a supervising administrator. Because the year can be done as an employee, student, trainee or intern, you can do it in a job, a traineeship or an internship at a nursing home whose licensed administrator agrees to supervise you across all five areas. Any administrator licensed under ch. 456, or holding an equivalent license from another state that the board recognizes, qualifies.
Approved programs. DSPS’s approved course list is the official list; check it for current programs. Regular courses of study: UW-Eau Claire (BBA in Health Care Administration) and St. Joseph’s College (online B.S. in Long-Term Care Administration). Programs of study: the Universities of Wisconsin collaborative (UW-La Crosse, Parkside, Platteville, Stevens Point and Stout) and the University of Minnesota. Specialized courses: Carroll University, Madison College, UW-Milwaukee and St. Joseph’s College.
Associations, for meeting administrators. Wisconsin Health Care Association / Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living (WHCA/WiCAL) and LeadingAge Wisconsin are member associations whose websites offer education, such as a 2026 Leadership Academy and CE for administrators, rather than AIT or preceptor programs.
For the full step-by-step on approaching facilities and preceptors, see How to Find an AIT Preceptor and an Approved Program.
DSPS fees are on its credential fees page; NAB exam fees are paid to NAB.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial credential | $75 | DSPS credential fees |
| Renewal, every two years | $75 | DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees |
| Late renewal | $25 | DSPS Renewal Dates and Fees; charged on renewals after expiration |
| Wisconsin State Law Examination (NHA-WI), paid to NAB | $210 | NAB Candidate Handbook, September 2026 |
| NAB CORE and NHA applied for together, paid to NAB | $480 | From 1 February 2026; alone, CORE is $320 and NHA is $190 |
DSPS Form 1573 (2023) also lists a $15 exam contract fee. NAB’s Wisconsin summary lists a $170 renewal and a $190 state exam; this page follows DSPS and the Handbook.
You need “at least 24 contact hours in approved continuing education programs in each biennial renewal period” (NHA 3.02), which DSPS describes as “24 hours through NAB”. The biennium runs from 1 July of an even year to 30 June of the next even year (DSPS CE page).
Renewal. Licenses expire on 30 June of even-numbered years; NHA 4.02(1) says to file by “July 1 of the even-numbered year”. The next renewal is due 30 June 2028. Renew through LicensE; the fee is $75.
Reciprocity (NHA 4.015; s. 456.08). You need a current, unrestricted license in another jurisdiction and:
DSPS uses Forms 419 and 2470 for this route. NAB’s Wisconsin summary answers “No” on special consideration for ACHCA certification, while NHA 4.015 accepts it in place of a degree; the rule governs.
No temporary license. NAB lists “Offer Temporary/Provisional License: No”. Section 456.01 still defines a “provisional license”, but ch. 456 has no section that issues one.
Military reciprocity. DSPS lists it as an application method for service members, former service members discharged within 4 years under conditions other than dishonorable, and spouses, who live in Wisconsin and hold a credential from another state.
Acting administrators. Wisconsin has no acting administrator license; the home’s duties when its administrator leaves are in DHS 132.41, above.
The laws, rules and other sources cited on this page.
Citations verified September 2026. The statutes and the code are on docs.legis.wisconsin.gov; most quoted rule text comes from the Justia mirrors. For reference, not legal advice; the current official text governs.
None: Wisconsin has no AIT program and sets no hour figure. If you qualify through a program of study or specialized courses, you need one year of experience in institutional administration, supervised by a licensed administrator, within a consecutive 36-month period in the 5 years before you apply (NHA 4.01(1)(d); 1.02(2)). A degree with a supervised clinical practicum, or NAB’s HSE, needs no extra experience.
The NAB Core of Knowledge and NHA Line of Service exams, with a scaled score of 113 on each, and the Wisconsin State Law Examination (NHA 2.01). HSE holders, and applicants licensed elsewhere who already passed the NAB exams, take only the state exam.
The Wisconsin State Law Examination, NAB code NHA-WI, on the state’s laws and rules (NHA 2.01(3)). You apply through NAB and schedule with Pearson VUE after DSPS approves you. It costs $210 (NAB Candidate Handbook, September 2026), lasts 2 hours, and the passing scaled score is 64 (DSPS).
24 NAB-approved contact hours each biennium, from 1 July of an even year to 30 June of the next even year, with no carryover (NHA 3.02). Your first partial biennium is exempt. Licenses expire on 30 June of even years, and renewal costs $75.
Wisconsin has no AIT program. For the year of supervised experience, an administrator licensed under ch. 456, or a recognized equivalent, supervises you and signs Form 71. Approved degrees and courses are on the DSPS approved course list.
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