Examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers, professional land surveyors, and registered interior designers

Wis. Stat. ch. 443

in effect

Wis. Stat. § 443.01 Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context provides otherwise: (1) “Architect” means a person who is legally qualified to practice architecture. (1m) “Construction surveying” means surveying or mapping that is performed in support of infrastructure design, in support of improvements related to private and public boundary lines, or in support of construction layout or historic preservation, and establishing any postconstruction documentation related to that surveying or mapping. (2) “Engineer-in-training” means a person who is a graduate in an engineering curriculum of 4 years or more from a school or college approved by the professional engineer section of the examining board as of satisfactory standing, or a person who has had 4 years or more of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the professional engineer section; and who, in addition, has successfully passed the examination in the fundamental engineering subjects prior to the completion of the requisite years in engineering work, as provided in s. 443.05, and who has been granted a certificate of record by the professional engineer section stating that the person has successfully passed this portion of the professional examinations. (3) “Examining board” means the examining board of architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers, professional land surveyors, and registered interior designers. (3b) “Geodetic surveying” means surveying to determine the size and shape of the earth or the precise positions of points on the surface of the earth. (3c) “Interior alteration or interior construction project” means a project for an interior space or area within a proposed or existing building or structure, including construction, modification, renovation, rehabilitation, or historic preservation, that involves changing or altering any of the following: (a) The design function or layout of rooms. (b) The state of permanent fixtures or equipment. (c) The interior space or area if the change or alteration requires verification of the compliance of the interior space or area with a building code, fire code, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, or state or local regulations. (d) Interior furnishings. (e) Nonstructural elements of the interior space or area. (3e) “Interior technical submission” means a design, drawing, specification, study, or other technical report or calculation that establishes the scope of an interior design project, including a description of standards of quality for materials, skilled labor, equipment, and construction systems, and that may be signed and sealed by a Wisconsin registered interior designer in compliance with this chapter. (3g) “Landscape architect” means a person who practices landscape architecture. (3r) “Landscape architecture” means the performance of a professional service involving conceptual land planning and conceptual design for integrated land development based on the analysis of environmental characteristics, operational requirements, land use or commensurate land values. “Landscape architecture” includes the investigation, selection or allocation of land or water resources for appropriate uses; the formulation of graphic or written criteria for a land planning or land construction program; the preparation, review or analysis of a master plan for land use or development; the production of a graphic land area, grading, drainage, planting or land construction plan; and the planning of a road, bridge or other structure with respect to the aesthetic requirements of the area on which it will be constructed, except that “landscape architecture” does not include any of the following: (a) Professional services performed by a registered architect or by a person who has in effect a permit under s. 443.10 (1) (d). (b) Professional services performed by a professional engineer or by a person who has in effect a permit under s. 443.10 (1) (d). (c) Professional services performed by a professional land surveyor. (d) The practice of planning as is customarily done by a regional, park, or urban planner, or by a person participating on a planning board or commission, within the scope of that practice. (e) The practice of a natural resource professional, including a biologist, professional geologist, as defined in s. 470.01 (5), or professional soil scientist, as defined in s. 470.01 (7). (f) The actions of a person who is under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect or an employee of a licensed landscape architect, unless the person assumes responsible charge, design, or supervision. (g) Work performed on property by an individual who owns or has control over the property, or work performed by a person hired by an individual who owns or has control of the property. (h) Making plans or drawings for the selection, placement, or use of plants or site features. (5) “Practice of architecture” includes any professional service, such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, architectural and structural design, or responsible supervision of construction, in connection with the construction of any private or public buildings, structures, projects, or the equipment thereof, or addition to or alterations thereof, in which the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health or property is concerned or involved. (5m) (a) “Practice of interior design” means the design of interior spaces as a part of an interior alteration or interior construction project in conformity with public health, safety, and welfare requirements, including the preparation of documents relating to building code descriptions, project egress plans that require no increase in the number of exits in the space affected, space planning, finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment and the preparation of documents and interior technical submissions relating to interior construction. (b) “Practice of interior design” does not include any of the following: 1. Services that constitute the practice of architecture or the practice of professional engineering. 2. Altering or affecting the structural system of a building, including changing the building’s live or dead load on the structural system. 3. Changes to the building envelope, including exterior walls, exterior wall coverings, exterior wall openings, exterior windows and doors, architectural trim, balconies and similar projections, bay and oriel windows, roof assemblies and rooftop structures, and glass and glazing for exterior use in both vertical and sloped applications in buildings and structures. 4. Altering or affecting the mechanical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, electrical, vertical transportation, fire sprinkler, or fire alarm systems. 5. Changes beyond the exit access component of a means of egress system. 6. Construction that materially affects life safety systems pertaining to fire safety or the fire protection of structural elements, or alterations to smoke evacuation and compartmentalization systems or to fire-rated vertical shafts in multistory structures. 7. Changes of use to an occupancy of greater hazard as determined by the International Building Code. 8. Changes to the construction classification of the building or structure according to the International Building Code. (6) “Practice of professional engineering” includes any professional service requiring the application of engineering principles and data, in which the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health or property is concerned and involved, such as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design, or responsible supervision of construction, alteration, or operation, in connection with any public or private utilities, structures, projects, bridges, plants and buildings, machines, equipment, processes and works. A person offers to practice professional engineering if the person by verbal claim, sign, advertisement, letterhead, card or in any other way represents himself or herself to be a professional engineer; or who through the use of some other title implies that he or she is a professional engineer; or who holds himself or herself out as able to practice professional engineering. (6s) “Practice of professional land surveying” means any of the following: (a) Any service comprising the establishment or reestablishment of the boundaries of one or more tracts of land or the boundaries of any of the following interests in real property: 1. The rights-of-way of roads or streets. 2. Air or subsurface property rights. 3. Public or private easements. (b) Designing or coordinating designs for the purpose of platting or subdividing land into smaller tracts. (c) Placing, replacing, restoring, or perpetuating monuments in or on the ground to evidence the location of a point that is necessary to establish boundaries of one or more tracts of land or the subdivision or consolidation of one or more tracts of land or to describe the boundaries of any interest in real property identified in par. (a). (d) Preparing maps that depict any interest in real property identified in par. (a) for the purpose of establishing the boundaries of any such interest in real property. (e) Preparing any of the following: 1. An official map established or amended under s. 62.23 (6), established or amended under the authority of s. 61.35, or adopted under s. 60.61. 2. An assessor’s plat under s. 70.27. 3. A map or plat of cemetery lands under s. 157.07. 4. A subdivision plat, certified survey map, or correction instrument under ch. 236. 5. A condominium plat or correction instrument under ch. 703. 6. A project and time-share property plat under s. 707.215. (f) Performing construction surveying or geodetic surveying in connection with any of the practices specified in pars. (a) to (e). (7) “Professional engineer” means a person who by reason of his or her knowledge of mathematics, the physical sciences and the principles of engineering, acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to engage in engineering practice as defined in sub. (6). (7m) “Professional land surveyor” means a person who, by reason of his or her knowledge of law, mathematics, physical sciences, and measurement techniques, acquired by education and practical experience, is granted a license under this chapter to engage in the practice of professional land surveying. (8) “Responsible supervision of construction” means a professional service, as distinguished from superintending of construction, and means the performance, or the supervision thereof, of reasonable and ordinary on-site observations to determine that the construction is in substantial compliance with the approved drawings, plans and specifications. (9) “Wisconsin registered interior designer” means a person registered as a Wisconsin registered interior designer under this chapter.

Wis. Stat. § 443.02 Practice requirements and registration: general provisions

(1) Any person practicing or offering to practice architecture or professional engineering in this state shall comply with this chapter. (2) No person may practice architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering in this state unless the person has been duly registered, is exempt under s. 443.14 or has in effect a permit under s. 443.10 (1) (d). (3) Except as provided under s. 443.015 (1m) (c), no person may offer to practice architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering or use in connection with the person’s name or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that he or she is an architect, landscape architect, or professional engineer or advertise to furnish architectural, landscape architectural, or professional engineering services unless the person has been duly registered or has in effect a permit under s. 443.10 (1) (d). (4) Except as provided under s. 443.015 (1m) (c), no person may engage in or offer to engage in the practice of professional land surveying in this state or use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that the person is a professional land surveyor unless the person has been granted a license under this chapter to engage in the practice of professional land surveying. (5) No person may use the title “Wisconsin registered interior designer,” use any title or description that implies that he or she is a Wisconsin registered interior designer, or represent himself or herself to be a Wisconsin registered interior designer unless the person is registered as a Wisconsin registered interior designer under this chapter.

Wis. Stat. § 443.03 Registration requirements for architects

(1) An applicant for registration as an architect shall submit as satisfactory evidence to the architect section of the examining board all of the following: (a) That he or she has acquired a thorough knowledge of sound construction, building hygiene, architectural design and mathematics. (b) One of the following: 1m. A diploma of graduation, or a certificate, from an architectural school or college approved by the architect section as of satisfactory standing, together with at least 2 years’ practical experience of a character satisfactory to the architect section in the design and construction of buildings. 2. A specific record of 7 or more years of experience in architectural work of a character satisfactory to the architect section in the design and construction of buildings. (2) Graduation in architecture from a school or college approved by the architect section as of satisfactory standing shall be considered as equivalent to 5 years of experience, and the completion satisfactory to the architect section of each year of work in architecture in such school or college without graduation shall be considered equivalent to one year of experience. Graduation in a course other than architecture from a school or college approved by the architect section as of satisfactory standing shall be considered as equivalent to not more than 4 years of experience.

Wis. Stat. § 443.04 Registration requirements for professional engineers

An applicant for registration as a professional engineer shall submit satisfactory evidence to the professional engineer section of the examining board of all of the following: (1m) A diploma of graduation, or a certificate, from an engineering school or college approved by the professional engineer section as of satisfactory standing in an engineering course of not less than 4 years or a diploma of graduation or degree from a technical college approved by the professional engineer section as of satisfactory standing in an engineering-related course of study of not less than 2 years. (2m) (a) For an applicant possessing a diploma or certificate from a course of study of not less than 4 years as specified in sub. (1m), a specific record of 4 or more years of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the professional engineer section and indicating that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of engineering work. (b) For an applicant possessing a diploma or degree from a course of study of not less than 2 years as specified in sub. (1m), a specific record of 6 or more years of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the professional engineer section and indicating that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of engineering work.

Wis. Stat. § 443.05 Certification of engineers-in-training

(1) An applicant for certification as an engineer-in-training shall submit as satisfactory evidence to the professional engineer section of the examining board one of the following: (a) A diploma of graduation in engineering or a certificate in engineering from a school or college approved by the professional engineer section as of satisfactory standing. (b) A specific record of 4 years or more of experience in engineering work of a character satisfactory to the professional engineer section. (2) Graduation in engineering from a school or college approved by the professional engineer section as of satisfactory standing shall be considered as equivalent to 4 years of experience and the completion satisfactory to the professional engineer section of each year of work in engineering in such school or college without graduation shall be considered as equivalent to one year of experience. Graduation in a course other than engineering from a school or college approved by the professional engineer section as of satisfactory standing shall be considered as equivalent to 2 years of experience. No applicant may receive credit for more than 4 years of experience under this subsection.

Wis. Stat. § 443.06 Licensure requirements for professional land surveyors

(1) Licensure, application, qualifying experience. (a) Application for a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying shall be made to the professional land surveyor section of the examining board under oath, on forms provided by the department, which shall require the applicant to submit such information as the professional land surveyor section deems necessary. The professional land surveyor section may require applicants to pass written or oral examinations or both. Applicants who do not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, shall be entitled to be granted a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying when satisfactory evidence is submitted that the applicant has met one or more of the requirements of sub. (2). (b) Each year, but not more than 4 years, of work or training completed in a curriculum in the practice of professional land surveying approved by the professional land surveyor section, or of responsible charge of teaching the practice of professional land surveying may be considered as equivalent to one year of qualifying experience in the practice of professional land surveying, and each year, but not more than 4 years, completed in a curriculum other than the practice of professional land surveying approved by the professional land surveyor section, may be considered as equivalent to one-half year of qualifying experience. (2) Requirements; license. The professional land surveyor section may grant a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying to any person who has submitted to it an application, the required fees, and one or more of the following: (am) Evidence satisfactory to the professional land surveyor section that he or she has received a bachelor’s degree in a course in the practice of professional land surveying or a related field that has a duration of not less than 4 years and is approved by the professional land surveyor section, and that he or she has engaged in the practice of professional land surveying for at least 2 years and has demonstrated practice of satisfactory character that indicates that the applicant is competent to engage in the practice of professional land surveying, if the applicant has passed an oral and written or written examination administered by the professional land surveyor section. (bm) Evidence satisfactory to the professional land surveyor section that he or she has received an associate degree in a course in the practice of professional land surveying or a related field that has a duration of not less than 2 years and is approved by the professional land surveyor section, and that he or she has engaged in the practice of professional land surveying for at least 4 years and has demonstrated practice of satisfactory character that indicates that the applicant is competent to engage in the practice of professional land surveying, if the applicant has passed an oral and written or written examination administered by the professional land surveyor section. (cm) Evidence satisfactory to the professional land surveyor section that he or she has engaged in the practice of professional land surveying for at least 10 years and has demonstrated practice of satisfactory character that indicates that the applicant is competent to engage in the practice of professional land surveying, if the applicant has passed an oral and written or written examination administered by the professional land surveyor section. This paragraph applies to applications for licenses to engage in the practice of professional land surveying that are submitted to the professional land surveyor section after June 30, 2000 and before July 1, 2019. (d) An unexpired certificate of registration, certificate of certification, or license as a land surveyor or to engage in the practice of professional land surveying issued to the applicant by the proper authority in any state or territory or possession of the United States or in any other country whose requirements meet or exceed the requirement for licensure in this subsection, if the applicant has passed an oral and written or written examination administered by the professional land surveyor section.

Wis. Stat. § 443.07 Permit requirements: designers of engineering systems

(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: (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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).

Wis. Stat. § 443.08 Registration requirement: firms, partnerships and corporations

(1) (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. (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. (2) (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: 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as architects are registered under this chapter. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 1. (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: 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as professional engineers are registered under this chapter. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 2. (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: 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as designers are granted a permit under this chapter. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 3. (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: 1. All personnel who practice or offer to practice in its behalf as Wisconsin registered interior designers are registered under this chapter. 2. The firm, partnership, or corporation has been issued a certificate of authorization under sub. (3) (a) 4. (3) (a) 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). 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). 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). 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). (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). (4) (a) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (b) 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). (5) (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. (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. (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. (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. (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.

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

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

Wis. Stat. § 443.10 Applications, certificates, licenses, rules, and roster

(1) Certificate of registration or record; permit; reciprocity provisions. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (2) Applications for registration, fees, contents of certification, expiration. (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. (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). (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. (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. (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). (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. (g) A certificate of record as engineer-in-training is evidence that the engineer-in-training to whom it is issued has successfully passed the portion of the examinations in the fundamental engineering subjects required of an applicant for registration as a professional engineer. (h) Certificates of record as engineers-in-training shall expire on July 31st of the 10th year after their issuance unless extended by the professional engineer section of the examining board. An application for extension shall contain evidence satisfactory to the professional engineer section that the applicant’s professional experience has been delayed. (3) Emergency rules; limitation. No section of the examining board may adopt or change, by emergency rule, any requirement for the registration of or issuance of a permit to any applicant under this chapter. (4) Roster; records. (a) A list, showing the names and addresses of all engineers-in-training certified by the professional engineer section of the examining board during the period from July 1 to June 30, shall be prepared each year by the professional engineer section. The list shall be obtainable by purchase at cost. (am) The registered interior designer section of the examining board shall prepare each year a list showing the names and business addresses of all persons registered as a Wisconsin registered interior designer under this chapter. Upon request, the registered interior designer section shall provide a list prepared under this paragraph to any person at cost. (b) Each section of the examining board shall keep a record of its proceedings together with a record of all other information pertaining to its proceedings as may be deemed necessary by that section of the examining board. The records of each section of the examining board shall be prima facie evidence of the proceedings of that section of the examining board set forth in the records, and a transcript thereof, duly certified by the secretary of that section of the examining board under seal, shall be admissible in evidence with the same effect as if the original were produced. (5) Fees; renewals. The professional land surveyor section shall grant a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying to any applicant who has met the applicable requirements of this chapter. The renewal date for the license is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fee for the license is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). (6) Roster. A roster showing the names and mailing addresses of all registered surveyors shall be prepared annually by the secretary and made available for purchase at cost, and a copy shall be placed on file with the department of financial institutions.

Wis. Stat. § 443.11 Disciplinary proceedings against architects, landscape architects, engineers, and registered interior designers

(1) The appropriate section of the examining board may reprimand an architect, landscape architect, professional engineer, or Wisconsin registered interior designer or limit, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration of any registrant, and the certificate of record of any engineer-in-training, who is found guilty of: (a) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of registration or a certificate of record. (b) Signing or impressing his or her seal or stamp upon documents not prepared by him or her or under his or her control or knowingly permitting his or her seal or stamp to be used by any other person. (c) Knowingly aiding or abetting the unauthorized practice of architecture or professional engineering by persons not registered under this chapter. (d) Any gross negligence, incompetency or misconduct in the practice of architecture as a registered architect, of landscape architecture as a registered landscape architect or of professional engineering as a registered professional engineer, or in the professional activity of a holder of a certificate of record as engineer-in-training. (dm) Any gross negligence or misconduct, or any gross incompetence, in the practice of interior design as a Wisconsin registered interior designer. (e) Any violation of the rules of professional conduct adopted and promulgated by that section of the examining board. (f) Conviction of a felony, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, or adjudication of mental incompetency by a court of competent jurisdiction, a certified copy of the record of conviction or adjudication of incompetency to be conclusive evidence of such conviction or incompetency. (2) The appropriate section of the examining board may reprimand a firm, partnership, or corporation holding a certificate of authorization issued under this chapter or may limit, suspend, or revoke such a certificate if any of the agents, employees, or officers of the firm, partnership, or corporation has committed any act or has been guilty of any conduct which would authorize a reprimand or a limitation, suspension, or revocation of the certificate of registration of a registrant or the certificate of record of an engineer-in-training under this chapter, unless the firm, partnership, or corporation submits evidence satisfactory to the appropriate section of the examining board that the agent, employee, or officer is not now practicing or offering to practice architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering in its behalf. (3) Any person may make charges that any registrant, holder of a certificate of record as engineer-in-training or corporate holder of a certificate of authorization has committed an act for which a reprimand or limitation, suspension, or revocation of registration is authorized under sub. (1). Such charges shall be in writing, shall be sworn to by the person making them and shall be submitted to the appropriate section of the examining board. The appropriate section of the examining board may, on its own motion, make such charges. All charges, unless dismissed by the appropriate section of the examining board as unfounded or trivial, shall be heard by the appropriate section of the examining board, subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1). (4) If after a hearing under sub. (3), 3 members of a section of the examining board vote in favor of sustaining charges specified in sub. (3), the appropriate section of the examining board shall reprimand or limit, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration of the registered architect, registered landscape architect, or registered professional engineer, the certificate of record of the holder of a certificate as engineer-in-training, or the certificate of authorization of a firm, partnership, or corporation. (5) The actions of each section of the examining board under this section shall be subject to review in the manner provided in ch. 227. (6) The appropriate section of the examining board, for reasons it considers sufficient, may reissue a certificate of registration or a certificate of record to any person, or a certificate of authorization to any firm, partnership, or corporation, whose certificate has been revoked under this section if 3 members of the section of the examining board vote in favor of such reissuance. Subject to the rules of the examining board, the appropriate section of the examining board may, upon payment of the required fee, issue a new certificate of registration, certificate of record or certificate of authorization, to replace any certificate that is revoked, lost, destroyed or mutilated.

Wis. Stat. § 443.12 Disciplinary proceedings against professional land surveyors

(1) The professional land surveyor section may reprimand a professional land surveyor, or limit, suspend, or revoke the license of any professional land surveyor, for the practice of any fraud or deceit in obtaining the license, or any gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of professional land surveying. (2) Charges of fraud, deceit, gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct may be made against any professional land surveyor by the professional land surveyor section or any person. Such charges may be made on information and belief, but shall be in writing, stating the specific acts, be signed by the complainant and be submitted to the examining board. All charges shall be heard according to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1). (3) If after a hearing 3 members vote in favor of reprimand or limiting, suspending, or revoking the license of a professional land surveyor, the professional land surveyor section shall notify the surveyor to that effect. The surveyor shall return the license to the examining board immediately on receipt of notice of a revocation. The action of the professional land surveyor section may be reviewed under ch. 227. (4) The professional land surveyor section, for reasons it deems sufficient, may reinstate a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying that has been revoked, if 3 members vote in favor of such reinstatement. This subsection does not apply to a license that is revoked under s. 440.12.

Wis. Stat. § 443.13 Disciplinary proceedings against designers of engineering systems

(1) The designers’ section of the examining board may limit, suspend, or revoke a permit or reprimand the permittee if the permittee is guilty of any of the following: (a) Fraud or deceit in obtaining the permit. (b) Gross negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in practice. (c) Signing documents not prepared by the permittee or under the permittee’s control. (d) Knowingly aiding or abetting unauthorized designing of engineering systems as stated in s. 443.07 (3) by persons not granted permits under this chapter. (e) Conviction of a felony, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, or adjudication of mental incompetency by a court of competent jurisdiction. (2) If, after a hearing conducted under the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1) before the designers’ section of the examining board, two-thirds of the members of the section vote in favor of sustaining the charges, the designers’ section of the examining board shall reprimand the permittee or limit, suspend, or revoke the permit. The action of the designers’ section of the examining board under this section is subject to review under ch. 227.

Wis. Stat. § 443.14 Exempt persons

The following persons, while practicing within the scope of their respective exemptions, shall be exempt from this chapter: (1) (a) An employee of a person holding a certificate of registration in architecture under s. 443.10 who is engaged in the practice of architecture and an employee of a person temporarily exempted from registration in architecture under this section, if the practice of the employee does not include responsible charge of architecture practice. (b) An employee of a person holding a certificate of registration in professional engineering under s. 443.10 who is engaged in the practice of professional engineering and an employee of a person temporarily exempted from registration in professional engineering under this section, if the practice of the employee does not include responsible charge of professional engineering practice. (2) Officers and employees of the federal government while engaged within this state in the practice of architecture, landscape architecture or professional engineering for the federal government. (3) A public service company and its regular employees acting in its behalf where the professional engineering services rendered are in connection with its facilities which are subject to regulation, supervision and control by a commission of this state or of the federal government. (4) (a) Any person who practices architecture, exclusively as a regular employee of a private company or corporation, by rendering to the company or corporation architectural services in connection with its operations, so long as the person is thus actually and exclusively employed and no longer, if the company or corporation has at least one architect who is registered under this chapter in responsible charge of the company’s or corporation’s architectural work in this state. (b) Any person who practices professional engineering, exclusively as a regular employee of a private company or corporation, by rendering to the company or corporation professional engineering services in connection with its operations, so long as the person is thus actually and exclusively employed and no longer, if the company or corporation has at least one professional engineer who is registered under this chapter in responsible charge of the company’s or corporation’s professional engineering work in this state. (5) A person engaged in the manufacture of a product or unit, including laboratory research affiliates of the person, where the services performed are the design, assembly, manufacture, sale or installation of that product or unit. “Product or unit” does not include any building. (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, contractors, subcontractors or construction material or equipment suppliers are not required to register under this chapter to perform or undertake those activities which historically and customarily have been performed by them in their respective trades and specialties, including, but not limited to, the preparation and use of drawings, specifications or layouts within a construction firm or in construction operations, superintending of construction, installation and alteration of equipment, cost estimating, consultation with architects, professional engineers or owners concerning materials, equipment, methods and techniques, and investigations or consultation with respect to construction sites, provided all such activities are performed solely with respect to the performance of their work on buildings or with respect to supplies or materials furnished by them for buildings or structures or their appurtenances which are, or which are to be, erected, enlarged or materially altered in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by architects or professional engineers, or by persons exempt under subs. (1) to (5) while practicing within the scope of their exemption. (7) This chapter does not require manufacturers or their material or equipment suppliers to register under this chapter in order to enable them to perform engineering in the design, assembly, manufacture, sale or installation of their respective products. (8) An employee of a professional land surveyor, while doing surveying work under the supervision of the employer, if the employee is not in responsible charge of the practice of professional land surveying. (8m) (a) Subject to par. (b), an employee or contractor of any of the following while engaged in land surveying is exempt from the provisions of this chapter: 1. The provider of a broadcast service, as defined in s. 196.01 (1m). 2. The provider of a cable service, as defined in s. 196.01 (1p). 3. A commercial mobile radio service provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (2g). 4. A public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5). 5. A telecommunications provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (8p). 6. A video service provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (12r). 7. A cooperative association organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power, or water to its members only. (b) The exemption under par. (a) applies only if the employee or contractor is engaged in services described in s. 443.01 (6s) (a) 3., (c), (d), or (f) for or on behalf of the provider or cooperative. (9) A license shall not be required for an owner to survey his or her own land for purposes other than for sale. (10) Any person employed by a county or this state who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under ch. 92 or s. 281.65 and who is certified under s. 92.18. (11) Any professional land surveyor licensed under s. 443.06 who is engaged in the planning, design, installation, or regulation of land and water conservation activities under ch. 92 or s. 281.65. (12m) A driller who is licensed under s. 280.15 (2m), or an employee of a drilling business that is registered under s. 280.15 (1), who is engaged in well drilling, as defined in s. 280.01 (8), or heat exchange drilling, as defined in s. 280.01 (2c). (13) A professional engineer who, while engaged in the practice of professional engineering in accordance with this chapter, collects, investigates, interprets or evaluates data relating to soil, rock, groundwater, surface water, gases or other earth conditions, or uses that data for analysis, consultation, planning, design or construction. (14) A person who, while engaged in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science as defined in s. 470.01 (2), (3) or (4), practices professional engineering, if the acts that involve the practice of professional engineering are also part of the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science. (15) A person employed by the federal government who is engaged in this state in the practice of landscape architecture for the federal government. (16) A person who performs services related to natural resources management if any map that is prepared as a part of those services contains the following statement: “This map is not a survey of the actual boundary of any property this map depicts.” In this subsection, “natural resources management” includes all of the following: (a) The management of state lands under ss. 23.09, 23.11, 27.01, and 28.04. (b) The control of invasive species, as defined in s. 23.22 (1) (c). (c) The cultivation or harvesting of raw forest products, as defined in s. 26.05 (1). (d) The management of county forests under s. 28.11. (e) The practice of forestry, as defined in s. 77.81 (2), including sustainable forestry, as defined in s. 28.04 (1) (e); any services provided in connection with an order, or the preparation of an application for an order, under subch. I or VI of ch. 77; and any forestry operation, as defined in s. 823.075 (1) (c). (17) A person who prepares a map that depicts temporary trails, easements, or other uses of lands if the map contains the following statement: “This map is not a survey of the actual boundary of any property this map depicts.” (18) An employee or agent of the department of natural resources, department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, department of transportation, public service commission, board of commissioners of public lands, or department of military affairs who creates a geographic information systems map if done within the scope of his or her employment or agency.

Wis. Stat. § 443.15 Exempt buildings

(1) Nothing in this chapter prevents any person from advertising and performing services, including consultation, investigation, evaluation, in connection with and making plans and specifications for, or supervising the erection, enlargement or alterations of any of the following buildings: (a) Dwellings for single families, and outbuildings in connection with single-family dwellings, including, but not limited to, barns and private garages. (b) Apartment buildings used exclusively as the residence of not more than 2 families. (c) Buildings used exclusively for agricultural purposes. (d) Temporary buildings or sheds used exclusively for construction purposes, not exceeding 2 stories in height, and not used for living quarters. (2) Nothing in this chapter prevents any person, firm or corporation from making plans and specifications for or supervising the erection, enlargement or alteration of any new building containing less than 50,000 cubic feet total volume or addition to a building which by reason of such addition results in a building containing less than 50,000 cubic feet total volume or structural alteration to a building containing less than 50,000 cubic feet total volume. Nothing in this chapter prevents any person, firm or corporation from making repairs or interior alterations to buildings which do not affect health or safety. (3) Any multiple family building having a common roof and party walls shall be deemed a single building for purposes of this section. (4) This section does not apply to inspection and service work done by employees of insurance rating bureaus, insurance service bureaus, insurance companies or insurance agents.

Wis. Stat. § 443.015 Examining board to establish continuing education requirements; promulgate rules

(1) Each section of the examining board may establish continuing education requirements for renewal of a credential issued by that section under this chapter. (1e) The rules promulgated under sub. (1) by the registered interior designer section of the examining board shall require a Wisconsin registered interior designer to complete at least 15 hours of continuing education during the 2-year period immediately preceding the renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a). At least 10 of the 15 hours shall be in subjects related to the practice of interior design that safeguard the public’s health, safety, and welfare. (1m) (a) 1. Each section of the examining board shall promulgate rules to do all of the following: a. Allow the holder of a credential under this chapter who is at least 65 years of age or has actively maintained that credential for at least 20 years, which need not be consecutive, and who certifies that he or she has retired from and no longer engages in the practice for which he or she holds the credential to apply to the board to classify that credential as retired status. b. Allow an individual who previously held a credential under this chapter, and failed to renew that credential prior to the renewal date, to apply to the board to renew the credential with retired status if the individual is at least 65 years of age or had actively maintained that credential for at least 20 years, which need not be consecutive, certifies that he or she has retired from and no longer engages in the practice for which he or she previously held the credential, and pays the fee under par. (d). Section 440.08 (3) (a) and (b) does not apply to the renewal of such a credential. c. Allow the holder of a credential classified as retired status as described under subd. 1. a. or b. to apply to the appropriate section of the examining board to remove the retired status classification if he or she satisfies reinstatement requirements established by the appropriate section of the examining board by rule. 2. Rules promulgated under subd. 1. may not require a certification to be notarized. (b) Any rules a section of the examining board promulgates under sub. (1) shall exempt a credential holder whose credential is classified as retired status under par. (a) from continuing education requirements. (c) 1. A credential holder whose credential is classified as retired status under par. (a) may not engage in the practice for which he or she holds that credential. 2. A credential holder whose credential is classified as retired status under par. (a) may continue to use a title in connection with that credential if he or she clearly indicates to the public that he or she is retired, including by placing the abbreviation “Ret.” or similar appellation after his or her title. (d) The renewal fee for a credential holder whose credential is classified as retired status under par. (a) shall be one-half of the usual renewal fee that otherwise applies. (2) Each section of the examining board may promulgate rules governing the professional conduct of individuals, firms, partnerships, and corporations registered, permitted, certified, or granted a certificate of authorization by that section.

Wis. Stat. § 443.16 Change of name

No person may practice architecture, landscape architecture, professional engineering, or interior design in this state under any other given name or any other surname than that under which the person was originally licensed or registered to practice in this or any other state, in any instance in which the examining board, after a hearing, finds that practicing under the changed name operates to unfairly compete with another practitioner or to mislead the public as to identity or to otherwise result in detriment to the profession or the public. This section does not apply to a change of name resulting from marriage or divorce.

Wis. Stat. § 443.17 Seal or stamp; aiding unauthorized practice

(1) No person who is registered under this chapter to practice architecture, landscape architecture or professional engineering may impress his or her seal or stamp upon documents which have not been prepared by the person or under his or her direction and control, knowingly permit his or her seal or stamp to be used by any other person or in any other manner knowingly aid or abet the unauthorized practice of architecture or professional engineering or the unauthorized use of the title “landscape architect” by persons not authorized under this chapter. (2) (a) The registered interior designer section of the examining board shall promulgate rules establishing specifications for seals and stamps used by Wisconsin registered interior designers. (b) No Wisconsin registered interior designer may impress his or her seal or stamp upon a document unless the seal or stamp satisfies the specifications established by rule under par. (a). (3) A Wisconsin registered interior designer who is responsible for preparing an interior technical submission for delivery to any person or for a public record shall date, sign, and impress his or her seal or stamp upon the interior technical submission and any other related documents prepared by the Wisconsin registered interior designer. (4) No Wisconsin registered interior designer may impress his or her seal or stamp upon a document that has not been prepared by the Wisconsin registered interior designer or knowingly permit his or her seal or stamp to be used by any other person.

Wis. Stat. § 443.18 Penalties; law enforcement

(1) Unauthorized practice; penalty. (a) Any person who practices or offers to practice architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering in this state, or who uses the term “architect,” “landscape architect,” or “professional engineer” as part of the person’s business name or title, except as provided in s. 443.08 (6), or in any way represents himself or herself as an architect, landscape architect, or a professional engineer unless the person is registered or exempted in accordance with this chapter, or unless the person is the holder of an unexpired permit issued under s. 443.10 (1) (d), or any person presenting or attempting to use as his or her own the certificate of registration of another, or any person who gives any false or forged evidence of any kind to the examining board or to any section of the examining board or to any member of the examining board or to any member of any section of the examining board in obtaining a certificate of registration, or any person who falsely impersonates any other registrant of like or different name, or any person who attempts to use an expired or revoked certificate of registration, or violates any of the provisions of this section, may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 3 months or both. (b) All duly constituted officers of the law of this state or any political subdivision shall enforce this chapter and prosecute any persons violating this chapter. (2) Injunction. (a) If it appears upon complaint to the examining board or to any section of the examining board by any person, or is known to the examining board or to any section of the examining board that any person who is neither registered nor exempt under this chapter nor the holder of an unexpired permit under s. 443.10 (1) (d) is practicing or offering to practice, or is about to practice or to offer to practice, architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering in this state, the appropriate section of the examining board or the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county may investigate and may, in addition to any other remedies, bring action in the name and on behalf of this state against any such person to enjoin the person from practicing or offering to practice architecture, landscape architecture, or professional engineering. (b) If it appears upon complaint to the examining board by any person, or is known to the examining board that any person who does not have a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying in this state, or who is not exempt or excepted from the licensure requirements under this chapter, is engaging in or offering to engage in the practice of professional land surveying in this state, the professional land surveyor section, the examining board, the department, the department of justice, or the district attorney of the proper county may investigate and may, in addition to any other remedies, bring action in the name and on behalf of the state to enjoin the person from engaging in or offering to engage in the practice of professional land surveying. (3) Penalties; law enforcement. Any person who violates this chapter shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 3 months or both.

Wis. Stat. § 443.20 Indemnification in civil contracts

(1) In this section: (a) “Civil contract” means any contractual agreement between the state or a political subdivision and a private entity. (b) “Design professional” means any of the following: 1. Architect. 2. Engineer-in-training. 3. Landscape architect. 4. Professional engineer. 5. Professional land surveyor. 6. Wisconsin registered interior designer. (c) “Design professional services” means any service performed by a design professional and services performed by others that arise out of or are related to services performed by a design professional, including the following: 1. Studies. 2. Planning. 3. Surveys. 4. Project management. 5. Traffic management. 6. Preparatory work. (2) Notwithstanding s. 895.447, any provision of a civil contract containing any of the following, explicitly or in effect, is void and unenforceable: (a) A provision requiring a private entity performing design professional services to indemnify the state or any political subdivision, except as provided in sub. (3) (a). (b) A provision requiring a private entity performing design professional services to defend the state or any political subdivision in any legal action. (3) The limitations under sub. (2) (a) do not apply to any of the following: (a) Indemnification provisions in any civil contract in which a private entity’s indemnification obligation is limited to losses proximately caused by the negligent performance of design professional services by the private entity and does not exceed the proportion of a loss caused by the negligent performance. (b) Provisions required to be included in the state’s or a political subdivision’s contracts with the federal government to the extent the provisions conflict with sub. (2). (c) A provision in a civil design contract that requires a private entity to indemnify the state or any political subdivision for damages caused by the private entity’s acts or omissions if the acts or omissions involve reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct. (4) Nothing in this section may be construed as a waiver of any immunity or other limitation of liability described in this chapter or ch. 893 or 895. (5) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit the state or any political subdivision from requiring a private entity to provide proof of liability insurance as a condition of contract.

Wis. Stat. § 443.035 Registration requirements for landscape architects

The landscape architect section of the examining board shall register as a landscape architect an individual who does all of the following: (1) Submits to the department evidence satisfactory to the landscape architect section of any of the following: (a) That he or she has a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, or a master’s degree in landscape architecture, from a curriculum approved by the landscape architect section and has at least 2 years of practical experience in landscape architecture of a character satisfactory to the landscape architect section. (b) That he or she has a specific record of at least 7 years of training and experience in the practice of landscape architecture including at least 2 years of courses in landscape architecture approved by the landscape architect section, and 4 years of practical experience in landscape architecture of a character satisfactory to the landscape architect section. (2) Satisfies the applicable requirements under s. 443.09.

Wis. Stat. § 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: (1) The individual does all of the following: (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. (b) Meets any other requirements established by the registered interior designer section by rule. (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: (a) That he or she is a graduate of a 4-year architecture program. (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.

Wis. Stat. § 443.134 Exception for photogrammetry and construction surveying

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit a person who has not been granted a license to engage in the practice of professional land surveying under this chapter from utilizing photogrammetry or remote sensing techniques or performing topographic surveying, construction surveying, or geodetic surveying for purposes other than a boundary establishment or reestablishment specified in s. 443.01 (6s).

Wis. Stat. § 443.175 Submission of documents; interior designers

(1) Subject to s. 443.17 (3), a Wisconsin registered interior designer may sign and seal interior technical submissions that are required for an interior alteration or interior construction project for public record. (2) If a city, village, town, or county requires a seal or stamp on interior technical submissions that are submitted for an interior alteration or interior construction project, the city, village, town, or county shall accept interior technical submissions impressed with the seal or stamp of a Wisconsin registered interior designer consistent with this chapter.

Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/443Fetched: 10/7/2026