Chapter 443

443.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. A-E 6, Wis. adm. code.

443.07 443.07 Permit requirements: designers of engineering systems.

443.07(1) (1) An applicant for a permit as a designer shall submit as evidence satisfactory to the designer section of the examining board one of the following to indicate that he or she is competent to be in charge of such work:

443.07(1)(a) (a) A specific record of 8 years or more of experience in specialized engineering design work and the satisfactory completion of a written examination in the field or branch, as determined by the designer section, in which certification is sought.

443.07(1)(b) (b) A specific record of 12 years of experience by any person at least 35 years of age who was actively engaged in this state in the preparation of plans, specifications, designs and layouts in specific fields or branches as designated under sub. (3). Such a person may be granted a permit to offer and perform services in the designated field or branch.

443.07(2) (2) Completion of technological academic training or apprenticeship program approved by the board may be considered equivalent to experience, but should not exceed a total of 4 years. The successful completion of each year of academic work without graduation shall be equivalent to one year of experience. Graduation from a course other than engineering technology shall be equivalent to 2 years of experience under this subsection.

443.07(3) (3) Permits shall be granted, designated, and limited to the fields and subfields of technology as are determined by the designer section and recognized in engineering design practice. Any person holding a permit may prepare plans and specifications and perform consultation, investigation, and evaluation in connection with the making of plans and specifications, within the scope of the permit, notwithstanding that such activity constitutes the practice of architecture or professional engineering under this chapter.

443.07(4) (4) A master plumber’s license under ch. 145 shall be considered equivalent to the work experience and satisfactory completion of a written examination in the field of plumbing systems, and the holder of a master plumber’s license shall be issued a permit as a designer of plumbing systems upon the making of an application and the payment of the permit fee.

443.07(5) (5) The permit shall, on its face, restrict the holder thereof to the specific field and subfields of designing in which the permittee acquired his or her experience in designing. If qualified in more than one type of designing, persons may receive permits for more than one field or subfield of designing as may be determined by the designer section.

443.07(6) (6) The renewal date for permits under this section is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the fee for renewal of such permits is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

443.07 History History: 1979 c. 167; 1991 a. 39; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 146.

443.07 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. A-E 5, Wis. adm. code.

443.07 Annotation Although designer of plumbing systems permits must be issued to applicants who are licensed master plumbers, the examining board has wide discretion to establish design of engineering systems classifications in fields and subfields of technology recognized in engineering design practice and to determine the competence of applicants who hold restricted or temporary master plumber’s licenses. 60 Atty. Gen. 37.

443.075 443.075 Registration requirements for interior designers. The registered interior designer section of the examining board shall register as a Wisconsin registered interior designer an individual who submits an application to the registered interior designer section on a form provided by the registered interior designer section and who satisfies one of the following requirements:

443.075(1) (1) The individual does all of the following:

443.075(1)(a) (a) Passes an interior design examination approved by the registered interior designer section that is administered by an organization approved by the registered interior designer section.

443.075(1)(b) (b) Meets any other requirements established by the registered interior designer section by rule.

443.075(2) (2) The individual is registered as an architect under s. 443.03 and submits evidence satisfactory to the registered interior designer section of all of the following:

443.075(2)(a) (a) That he or she is a graduate of a 4-year architecture program.

443.075(2)(b) (b) That he or she has at least 6 years of demonstrated practical experience in interior design of a character satisfactory to the registered interior designer section.

443.075 History History: 2021 a. 195.

443.08 443.08 Registration requirement: firms, partnerships and corporations.

443.08(1) (1) 

443.08(1)(a) (a) The practice of architecture pertaining to the internal operations of a firm, partnership, or corporation may be performed by employees if the architectural services are performed by or under the direct supervision of architects registered under this chapter, or persons exempt from registration under s. 443.14. Registered or exempt architectural employees may provide architectural data with respect to the manufacture, sale, and utilization of the products of the firm, partnership, or corporation to other registered or exempt architects.

443.08(1)(b) (b) The practice of professional engineering pertaining to the internal operations of a firm, partnership, or corporation may be performed by employees if the professional engineering services are performed by or under the direct supervision of professional engineers registered under this chapter, or persons exempt from registration under s. 443.14. Registered or exempt professional engineering employees may provide professional engineering data with respect to the manufacture, sale, and utilization of the products of the firm, partnership, or corporation to other registered or exempt professional engineers.

443.08(2) (2) 

443.08(2)(a) (a) No individual architect registered under this chapter may practice or offer to practice architecture, as a principal, officer, employee, or agent of a firm, partnership, or corporation unless all of the following are satisfied:

443.08(2)(a)1. 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as architects are registered under this chapter.

443.08(2)(a)2. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 1.

443.08(2)(b) (b) No individual professional engineer registered under this chapter may practice or offer to practice professional engineering as a principal, officer, employee, or agent of a firm, partnership, or corporation unless all of the following are satisfied:

443.08(2)(b)1. 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as professional engineers are registered under this chapter.

443.08(2)(b)2. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 2.

443.08(2)(c) (c) No individual designer granted a permit under this chapter may practice or offer to practice designing as a principal, officer, employee, or agent of a firm, partnership, or corporation unless all of the following are satisfied:

443.08(2)(c)1. 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as designers are granted a permit under this chapter.

443.08(2)(c)2. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 3.

443.08(2)(d) (d) No individual Wisconsin registered interior designer registered under this chapter may practice or offer to practice interior design as a principal, officer, employee, or agent of a firm, partnership, or corporation unless all of the following are satisfied:

443.08(2)(d)1. 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as Wisconsin registered interior designers are registered under this chapter.

443.08(2)(d)2. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 4.

443.08(3) (3) 

443.08(3)(a) (a)

443.08(3)(a)1. 1. A firm, partnership, or corporation desiring a certificate of authorization shall submit an application to the department on forms provided by the department, listing the names and addresses of all officers and directors, and all individuals in its employment registered to practice architecture in this state who will be in responsible charge of architecture being practiced in this state through the firm, partnership, or corporation and other relevant information required by the architect section of the examining board. A similar type of form shall also accompany the renewal fee. If there is a change in any of these persons, the change shall be reported on the same type of form, and filed with the department within 30 days after the effective date of the change. The architect section shall grant a certificate of authorization to a firm, partnership, or corporation complying with this subsection upon payment of the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). This subsection does not apply to firms, partnerships, or corporations exempt under s. 443.14 (3) or (5).

443.08(3)(a)2. 2. A firm, partnership, or corporation desiring a certificate of authorization shall submit an application to the department on forms provided by the department, listing the names and addresses of all officers and directors, and all individuals in its employment registered to practice professional engineering in this state who will be in responsible charge of professional engineering being practiced in this state through the firm, partnership, or corporation and other relevant information required by the professional engineer section of the examining board. A similar type of form shall also accompany the renewal fee. If there is a change in any of these persons, the change shall be reported on the same type of form, and filed with the department within 30 days after the effective date of the change. The professional engineer section shall grant a certificate of authorization to a firm, partnership, or corporation complying with this subsection upon payment of the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). This subsection does not apply to firms, partnerships, or corporations exempt under s. 443.14 (3) or (5).

443.08(3)(a)3. 3. A firm, partnership, or corporation desiring a certificate of authorization shall submit an application to the department on forms provided by the department, listing the names and addresses of all officers and directors, and all individuals in its employment granted a permit to practice designing in this state who will be in responsible charge of designing being practiced in this state through the firm, partnership, or corporation and other relevant information required by the designer section of the examining board. A similar type of form shall also accompany the renewal fee. If there is a change in any of these persons, the change shall be reported on the same type of form, and filed with the department within 30 days after the effective date of the change. The designer section shall grant a certificate of authorization to a firm, partnership, or corporation complying with this subsection upon payment of the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). This subsection does not apply to firms, partnerships, or corporations exempt under s. 443.14 (3) or (5).

443.08(3)(a)4. 4. A firm, partnership, or corporation desiring a certificate of authorization shall submit an application to the department on forms provided by the department, listing the names and addresses of all officers and directors and all individuals in its employment registered to practice interior design in this state who will be in responsible charge of interior design being practiced in this state through the firm, partnership, or corporation and other relevant information required by the registered interior designer section of the examining board. A similar type of form shall also accompany the renewal fee. If there is a change in any of these persons, the change shall be reported on the same type of form, and filed with the department within 30 days after the effective date of the change. The registered interior designer section shall grant a certificate of authorization to a firm, partnership, or corporation complying with this subsection upon payment of the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). This subdivision does not apply to firms, partnerships, or corporations exempt under s. 443.14 (3) or (5).

443.08(3)(b) (b) The renewal date for certificates of authorization under this section is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the fee for renewal of such certificates is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

443.08(4) (4) 

443.08(4)(a) (a)

443.08(4)(a)1. 1. No firm, partnership, or corporation may be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by reason of its compliance with this chapter, nor may any individual practicing architecture be relieved of responsibility for architectural services performed by reason of his or her employment or relationship with the firm, partnership, or corporation.

443.08(4)(a)2. 2. No firm, partnership, or corporation may be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by reason of its compliance with this chapter, nor may any individual practicing landscape architecture be relieved of responsibility for landscape architectural services performed by reason of his or her employment or relationship with the firm, partnership, or corporation.

443.08(4)(a)3. 3. No firm, partnership, or corporation may be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by reason of its compliance with this chapter, nor may any individual practicing professional engineering be relieved of responsibility for professional engineering services performed by reason of his or her employment or relationship with the firm, partnership, or corporation.

443.08(4)(a)4. 4. No firm, partnership, or corporation may be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by reason of its compliance with this chapter, nor may any individual practicing designing be relieved of responsibility for designing services performed by reason of his or her employment or relationship with the firm, partnership, or corporation.

443.08(4)(a)5. 5. No firm, partnership, or corporation may be relieved of responsibility for the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by reason of its compliance with this chapter, nor may any individual practicing interior design be relieved of responsibility for interior design services performed by reason of his or her employment or relationship with the firm, partnership, or corporation.

443.08(4)(b) (b)

443.08(4)(b)1. 1. All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or other architectural papers or documents involving the practice of architecture, prepared for the use of a firm, partnership, or corporation, for delivery by it to any person, or for public record within the state shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the architect who was in responsible charge of their preparation. This paragraph does not apply to persons exempt under s. 443.14 (3), (4), or (5).

443.08(4)(b)2. 2. All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or other landscape architectural papers or documents prepared by a landscape architect registered under this chapter, prepared for the use of a firm, partnership, or corporation, for delivery by it to any person, or for public record within the state shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the landscape architect who was in responsible charge of their preparation. This paragraph does not apply to persons exempt under s. 443.14 (3), (4), or (5).

443.08(4)(b)3. 3. All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or other engineering papers or documents involving the practice of professional engineering, prepared for the use of a firm, partnership, or corporation, for delivery by it to any person, or for public record within the state shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the professional engineer who was in responsible charge of their preparation. This paragraph does not apply to persons exempt under s. 443.14 (3), (4), or (5).

443.08(4)(b)4. 4. All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or other designing papers or documents involving the practice of designing, prepared for the use of a firm, partnership, or corporation, for delivery by it to any person, or for public record within the state shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the designer who was in responsible charge of their preparation. This paragraph does not apply to persons exempt under s. 443.14 (3), (4), or (5).

443.08(4)(b)5. 5. All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or other interior design papers or documents involving the practice of interior design, prepared for the use of a firm, partnership, or corporation, for delivery by it to any person, or for public record within the state shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the Wisconsin registered interior designer who was in responsible charge of their preparation. This subdivision does not apply to persons exempt under s. 443.14 (3), (4), or (5).

443.08(5) (5) 

443.08(5)(a) (a) No firm, partnership, or corporation may engage in the practice of or offer to practice architecture in this state, or use in connection with its name, or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that it is engaged in the practice of architecture, nor may it advertise or offer to furnish an architectural service, unless the firm, partnership, or corporation has complied with this chapter.

443.08(5)(b) (b) No firm, partnership, or corporation may engage in the practice of or offer to practice professional engineering in this state, or use in connection with its name, or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that it is engaged in the practice of professional engineering, nor may it advertise or offer to furnish a professional engineering service, unless the firm, partnership, or corporation has complied with this chapter.

443.08(5)(c) (c) No firm, partnership, or corporation may engage in the practice of or offer to practice designing in this state, or use in connection with its name, or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that it is engaged in the practice of designing, nor may it advertise or offer to furnish a designing service, unless the firm, partnership, or corporation has complied with this chapter.

443.08(5)(d) (d) No firm, partnership, or corporation may engage in the practice of or offer to practice interior design in this state, or use in connection with its name, or otherwise assume, use, or advertise, any title or description tending to convey the impression that it is engaged in the practice of interior design, nor may it advertise or offer to furnish an interior design service, unless the firm, partnership, or corporation has complied with this chapter.

443.08(6) (6) Any firm, partnership or corporation using the word “engineering” or any of its derivatives in its name prior to April 24, 1964, shall be permitted to continue to do so and shall be permitted to use such word in any new firm, partnership or corporation formed as a result of a reorganization of the firm, partnership or corporation, if the firm, partnership or corporation does not practice or offer to practice architecture, professional engineering or designing unless it complies with all other applicable provisions of this chapter.

443.08 History History: 1979 c. 167; 1983 a. 129; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 463, 465, 491; 1997 a. 300; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 146; 2021 a. 195.

443.08 Annotation Whether the use of “engineer” or “engineering” in a business title violates this chapter requires a case-by-case analysis. 70 Atty. Gen. 131.

443.09 443.09 Examinations and experience requirements for architect, landscape architect and engineer applicants.

443.09(1) (1) In considering the qualifications of an applicant as an architect, landscape architect or professional engineer, responsible charge of architectural, landscape architectural or engineering teaching may be construed as experience.

443.09(2) (2) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, no person who has an arrest or conviction record is eligible for registration as an architect, a landscape architect or a professional engineer, or certification as an engineer-in-training.

443.09(3) (3) Written examinations shall be required of every applicant for certification as engineer-in-training.

443.09(4) (4) Written or written and oral examinations shall be required of every applicant for registration as an architect or a professional engineer. Only one form of examination may be required for all applicants. The examination shall be reasonably related to the skills likely to be needed by an applicant practicing the profession at the time of examination and seek to determine the applicant’s preparedness to exercise such skills.

443.09(4m) (4m) No person may be registered as a landscape architect under this chapter unless he or she passes a written examination or written and oral examinations conducted or approved by the landscape architect section of the examining board under sub. (5).

443.09(5) (5) Written or written and oral examinations shall be held at such time and place as the landscape architect section of the examining board determines. The scope of the examinations and the methods of procedure shall be prescribed by the landscape architect section with special reference to the applicant’s ability to design and supervise architectural, landscape architectural, or engineering work, which shall promote the public welfare and ensure the safety of life, health, and property. A candidate failing an examination may, upon application and payment of the required reexamination fee, be examined again by the landscape architect section. No restrictions may be placed on the number of times an unsuccessful candidate may be reexamined, except that after failure of 3 reexaminations, the landscape architect section may require a one-year waiting period before further reexamination.

443.09 History History: 1979 c. 167; 1981 c. 380; 1981 c. 391 s. 211; 1983 a. 328; 1993 a. 463, 465, 491; 1995 a. 27 ss. 6606, 9116 (5); 1997 a. 300; 2009 a. 350; 2011 a. 146.

443.09 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. A-E 3, 4, and 9, Wis. adm. code.

443.10 443.10 Applications, certificates, licenses, rules, and roster.

443.10(1) (1) Certificate of registration or record; permit; reciprocity provisions.

443.10(1)(a) (a) The appropriate section of the examining board may, upon application and the payment of the required fee, grant a certificate of registration as an architect, as a landscape architect, or as a professional engineer to any person who holds an unexpired certificate of similar registration issued to the person by the proper authority in any state or territory or possession of the United States or in any country in which the requirements for the registration of architects, landscape architects, or professional engineers are of a standard not lower than specified in this chapter.

443.10(1)(b) (b) The appropriate section of the examining board may, upon application and payment of the required fee, grant a certificate of registration as an architect, as a landscape architect, or as a professional engineer to any person who holds an unrevoked card or certificate of national reciprocal registration, issued by any state, territory, or possession of the United States or by any country, which is in conformity with the regulations of the national council of state board of architectural, or engineering examiners, or council of landscape architectural registration boards, and who complies with the regulations of the appropriate section, except as to qualifications and registration fee.

443.10(1)(c) (c) The professional engineer section of the examining board may, upon application therefor, and the payment of the required fee, grant a certificate-of-record as engineer-in-training to any person who holds an unexpired certificate of similar certification issued to the person by the proper authority in any state or territory or possession of the United States or in any country in which the requirements for the certification of engineers-in-training are of a standard not lower than specified in this chapter.

443.10(1)(d) (d) The appropriate section of the examining board may, upon application and payment of the required fee, grant a permit to practice or to offer to practice architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering to a person who is not a resident of and has no established place of business in this state, or who has recently become a resident of this state, if the person holds an unexpired certificate of similar registration issued to the person by the proper authority in any state or territory or possession of the United States or in any country in which the requirements for the registration of architects, landscape architects, or professional engineers are of a standard not lower than specified in this chapter.

443.10(1)(e) (e) The registered interior designer section may, upon application and payment of the required fee, grant a certificate of registration to use the title “Wisconsin registered interior designer” to a person who is not a resident of and has no established place of business in this state, or who has recently become a resident of this state, if the person holds an unexpired certificate of similar registration issued to the person by the proper authority in any state or territory or possession of the United States or in any country in which the requirements for the registration of interior designers are of a standard not lower than specified in this chapter.

443.10(2) (2) Applications for registration, fees, contents of certification, expiration.

443.10(2)(a) (a) Applications for registration or for a certificate of record shall be on forms provided by the department and shall contain statements made under oath showing the applicant’s education and detail summary of the applicant’s technical work and not less than 5 references, of whom 3 or more shall have personal knowledge of the applicant’s architectural, landscape architectural or engineering experience in the case of an application for registration or of the applicant’s technical education or engineering work in the case of an application for a certificate of record. This paragraph does not apply to an application for registration as a Wisconsin registered interior designer.

443.10(2)(b) (b) The fees for examinations and credentials, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a), granted under this chapter are specified in s. 440.05, and the fee for renewal of such credentials is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

443.10(2)(c) (c) The appropriate section of the examining board shall grant a certificate of registration upon payment of the registration fee to any applicant who, in the opinion of the appropriate section, has satisfactorily met all the applicable requirements of this chapter. The certificate shall authorize the practice of architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering, as appropriate.

443.10(2)(d) (d) The granting of a certificate of registration by the appropriate section of the examining board shall be evidence that the person named in the certificate is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a registered architect, a registered landscape architect, or a registered professional engineer under the classification stated on the certificate, while the certificate remains unrevoked or unexpired.

443.10(2)(e) (e) The renewal date for certificates of registration for architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, and Wisconsin registered interior designers is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the fee for renewal of such certificates is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

443.10(2)(f) (f) The professional engineer section of the examining board shall grant a certificate of record as engineer-in-training to any applicant who, in the opinion of the professional engineer section, has satisfactorily met all the requirements of this section pertaining to engineers-in-training.