Exempt persons
Wis. Stat. § 443.14
in effectThe 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.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/443.14Fetched: 10/7/2026