Successful Training and Retention of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANES)

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Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Adult/Adolescent (SANE) Training at UW-Milwaukee

Sexual assault is an urgent public health issue, especially in Wisconsin.

Join UW-Milwaukee’s School of Nursing in learning how to care for all patients of sexual assault. UW-Milwaukee, and their team of experts, will provide a training that is culturally relevant and inclusive. Learn not only how to be a SANE nurse but how social determinants of health and culture affect many survivors. This is a unique opportunity to experience SANE practice in a supportive academic setting.

This is a paced 12-week hybrid training program which includes a 50-hour online didactic course and two mandatory in-person clinical skills lab sessions. There is no tuition cost for this program.

Program prerequisites:

In order to participate in UWM STARs program, trainees must:

  • Be a Registered Nurse (RN) with an active and unencumbered license.
  • Be currently practicing as either a generalist RN, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Forensic Nurse, or enrolled as a student in an advanced nursing education program, including Advanced Practice Registered Nursing, and Forensic Nursing Programs.

Please Note: Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to participate at this time.

Upcoming course dates: 

  • Cohort 5: March 10, 2025-June 1, 2025
  • In-person orientation session: Saturday, March 8, 2025 (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
  • Mandatory in-person skills lab dates:
    • May 3 and 4, 2025 (Must be able to attend one of these 8-hour sessions)
    • June 7 and 8, 2025  (Must be able to attend one of these 8-hour sessions)

(Of note: Cohort 5 is currently at capacity)

  • Cohort 6: October 13, 2025-January 4, 2026
  • In-person orientation session: Saturday, October 11, 2025 (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.)
  • Mandatory in-person skills lab dates:
    • December 6 and 7, 2025 (Must be able to attend one of these 8-hour sessions)
    • January 10 and 11, 2026 (Must be able to attend one of these 8-hour sessions)

The application period for Cohort 6 will open July 7, 2025 and close July 21, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by August 29, 2025. Please note that you will be required to upload your CV or resume as well as provide your nursing license information when submitting your application. 

The Successful Training and Retention of SANE’s (STAR) at UWM is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA 6 T96HP45841‐01‐01). Through a collaborative effort with academia and clinical community agencies, the goal is to provide culturally responsive care to sexual assault survivors and increase the number of SANE nurses in Wisconsin.

UW-Milwaukee nursing faculty, staff and students are actively collaborating with organizations in Wisconsin to address access to nurse examiners. We ask you to consider the online course as a pathway to your SANE certification.
An inside look at the SANE training program.

SANE-A Certification Prep Course

Are you already trained as a SANE-A nurse and looking to sit for the certification exam? UWM’s School of Nursing will be offering a SANE-A Certification prep course. Learn more about SANE-A certification in the examination handbook.

Summer 2025 – date to be determined. Please check back for further updates. 

(Course prerequisite: successful completion of an adult/adolescent sexual assault nurse examiner education program that grants a minimum of 40 hours of continuing nursing education contact hours from an accredited provider.)

Important Dates

  • Cohort 5 orientation: March 8
  • Cohort 5 begins: March 10
  • Cohort 5 Clinical Skills Labs (in-person): May 3 and 4; June 7 and 8
  • Cohort 6 application period: July 7-21
  • Cohort 6 orientation: October 11
  • Cohort 6 begins: October 13
  • Cohort 6 Clinical Skills Labs (in-person): December 6 and 7; January 10 and 11, 2026

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This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the Wisconsin Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.