Chapter A-E 2

Chapter A-E 2

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

A-E 2.01   Purpose.

A-E 2.02   Registration seals.

A-E 2.03   Branch offices.

A-E 2.04   Change of address.

A-E 2.045   Retired credential status.

A-E 2.05   Failure to be registered.

A-E 2.06   Reciprocal credentials for service members, former service members, and their spouses.

A-E 2.01 A-E 2.01 Purpose. The purpose of the rules in this chapter is to specify general requirements and procedures which apply to persons credentialed by any section of the board. Requirements specific to architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers, professional land surveyors, or registered interior designers are specified in chs. A-E 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Rules of professional conduct for all credential holders are specified in ch. A-E 8.

A-E 2.01 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1987, No. 374, eff. 3-1-87; am. Register, June, 1995, No. 474, eff. 7-1-95; am. Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; am. Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 3-1-00; CR 11-014: am. Register December 2011 No. 672, eff. 1-1-12; CR 15-036: am. Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; CR 24-001: am. Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.

A-E 2.02 A-E 2.02 Registration seals.

A-E 2.02(1) (1) Each architect, landscape architect, professional engineer, designer, professional land surveyor, and registered interior designer shall obtain a seal that complies with board specifications for registration seals. The overall diameter may not be less than 15⁄8 inches nor more than 2 inches. Each seal shall include the credential holder’s name, credential number and city.

A-E 2.02(2) (2) The following designs for registration seals have been approved:

A-E 2.02(3) (3) A rubber stamp, identical in size, design and content to a board-approved seal, may be used as a substitute for a registration seal.

A-E 2.02(4) (4) Each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports for architectural, landscape architectural, professional engineering, design, professional land surveying, and registered interior design practice shall be signed, sealed, and dated by the credential holder who prepared, or directed and controlled preparation of, the written material, except as specified in sub. (5).

A-E 2.02(5) (5) If more than one sheet is bound together in a volume, the registrant or permit holder who prepared or directed and controlled the preparation of the volume, may sign, seal and date only the title or index sheet if the signed sheet identifies clearly all other sheets comprising the bound volume and if any other sheets which are prepared by or under the direction and control of another registrant or permit holder are signed, sealed and dated by the other registrant or permit holder.

A-E 2.02(6) (6) Any addition, deletion or other revision to each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications and reports for architectural, landscape architectural, professional engineering, design, professional land surveying, or registered interior design practice which affects public health and safety or any state or local code requirements may not be made unless signed, sealed and dated by the credential holder who made or directed and controlled the making of the revision.

A-E 2.02(7) (7) 

A-E 2.02(7)(a) (a) All seals or stamps affixed to plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports to be filed as public documents shall be original. No stickers shall be allowed. Seals or stamps may be applied by crimp type, rubber stamp or by electronic means provided the electronic seal or stamp meets the requirements of ch. 137, Stats., a security procedure is used, and electronic submissions are permitted by the governmental unit that is to receive the plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports.

A-E 2.02(7)(a)1. 1. The stamp authorized by the Board must be one of crimp type, rubber stamp type, or computer generated.

A-E 2.02(7)(b) (b) All seals and stamps on plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports to be filed as public documents shall be signed and dated by the registered professional in one of the following manners:

A-E 2.02(7)(b)1. 1. In a permanent ink contrasting with the seal and the background.

A-E 2.02(7)(b)2. 2. Utilizing an electronic signature, meeting the requirements of ch. 137, Stats., a security procedure is used and if permitted by the governmental unit that is to receive the plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports. A scanned image of an original signature shall not be used in lieu of an electronic signature with a security procedure as found in s. 137.11 (13), Stats.

A-E 2.02 Note Note: Section 137.11 (13), Stats., of the statutes reads as follows: “Security procedure” means a procedure employed for the purpose of verifying that an electronic signature, record or performance is that of a specific person or for detecting changes or errors in the information in an electronic record. The term includes a procedure that requires the use of algorithms or other codes identifying words or numbers, encryption, callback, or other acknowledging procedures.

A-E 2.02(7)(c) (c) If other standards for signatures or seals are prescribed by statute, the statutes shall govern.

A-E 2.02(8) (8) Plans, specifications and calculations for buildings and structures not exempt under s. 443.15, Stats., which have been prepared by an architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer other than the Wisconsin registered architect, engineer, or registered interior designer who is submitting the plans, specifications and calculations for filing as public documents, may be submitted if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

A-E 2.02(8)(a) (a) The plans, specifications and calculations shall have been prepared by or under the supervision of an architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer credentialed in some state of the United States, and shall bear the signature and seal or stamp of the architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer who prepared them or under whose supervision and control they were prepared.

A-E 2.02(8)(b) (b) A certificate, dated, signed, and sealed by the Wisconsin registered architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer who is submitting the plans, specifications, and calculations for filing as public documents, shall be attached to the plans, specifications, and calculations. The certificate shall indicate that the plans, specifications and calculations were prepared by an architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer other than the submitting registered architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer; shall describe the work performed by the submitting registered architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer; and shall include statements to the effect that the plans and specifications have been reviewed and comply with all applicable local and state building codes, and that the reviewing registered architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer will be responsible for the supervision of construction in accordance with the requirements of the state, and of the county and municipality where the building or structure is to be erected. If the registered architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer who originally prepared the plans, specifications and calculations was registered in Wisconsin at the time they were prepared, the certificate shall also specify why the original architect, professional engineer, or registered interior designer is not submitting the plans, specifications, and calculations for approval.

A-E 2.02 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1987, No. 374, eff. 3-1-87; cr. (7), Register, January, 1993, No. 445, eff. 2-1-93; am. (1), (2), (4) and (6), Register, June, 1995, No. 474, eff. 7-1-95; am.(1), (2), (4) and (6), Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 3-1-00; cr. (8), Register, November, 2000, No. 539, eff. 12-1-00; CR 01-034: r. and recr. (7), Register December 2001 No. 552, eff. 1-1-02; CR 13-020: am. (7) (a) (intro.), cr. (7) (a) 1., am. (7) (b) (intro.), 2. Register May 2015 No. 713; CR 15-036: am. (1), (4), (6) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register November 2018 No. 755; Register May 2021 No. 785; CR 24-001: am. (1), (2), (4), (6), (8) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.

A-E 2.03 A-E 2.03 Branch offices.

A-E 2.03(1) (1) Definitions. In this section,

A-E 2.03(1)(a) (a) “Firm” means any sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership located in this state which provides or offers to provide architectural, landscape architectural, professional engineering, design, professional land surveying, or registered interior design services to the public.

A-E 2.03(1)(b) (b) “Resident” means a currently-credentialed architect, landscape architect, professional engineer, designer, professional land surveyor, or registered interior designer who spends the majority of his or her working schedule in one firm location and who is in charge of and responsible for the type of services offered or provided from that location.

A-E 2.03(2) (2) Resident required; responsibilities. Every firm maintaining one or more places of business in Wisconsin shall have:

A-E 2.03(2)(a) (a) A resident architect in each separate business location which provides or offers to provide architectural services.

A-E 2.03(2)(b) (b) A resident professional engineer in each separate business location which provides or offers to provide professional engineering services.

A-E 2.03(2)(c) (c) A resident designer in each separate business location which provides or offers to provide designing services.

A-E 2.03(2)(d) (d) A resident professional land surveyor in each separate business location which provides or offers to provide professional land surveying services.

A-E 2.03(2)(e) (e) A resident landscape architect in each separate business location which provides or offers to provide landscape architectural services.

A-E 2.03(2)(f) (f) A resident registered interior designer in each separate business location which provides or offers to provide registered interior design services.

A-E 2.03(3) (3) Notice. Upon written request from the board, a firm shall provide notification of at least one resident who is in charge of and responsible for each separate business location.

A-E 2.03(4) (4) Resident limitation. A resident may not be in charge of or responsible for services offered or provided from more than one business location.

A-E 2.03 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1987, No. 374, eff. 3-1-87; am. (1) (a) and (b), cr. (2) (e) and (f), Register, June, 1995, No. 474, eff. 7-1-95; am. (2) (intro.), Register, January, 1999, No. 517, eff. 2-1-99; am. (1) (a) and (b), r. (2) (f), Register, February, 2000, No. 530, eff. 3-1-00; CR 15-036: am. (1) (a), (b), (2) (d) Register January 2016 No. 721, eff. 2-1-16; CR 21-020: am. (1) (a), (3) Register November 2022 No. 803, eff. 12-1-22; CR 24-001: am. (1) (a), (b), cr. (2) (f) Register July 2024 No. 823, eff. 8-1-24.

A-E 2.04 A-E 2.04 Change of address. Every registrant or permit holder shall notify the board in writing of a change of address within 30 days of the change. The notice shall include the person’s or firm’s former and new addresses and each registration or permit number held.

A-E 2.04 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1987, No. 374, eff. 3-1-87.

A-E 2.045 A-E 2.045 Retired credential status.

A-E 2.045(1) (1) The holder of a credential under ch. 443, Stats., may apply to the appropriate section of the board to classify the credential as retired status. The section shall classify the credential as retired status if all of the following requirements are met:

A-E 2.045(1)(a) (a) The credential holder completes an application on a form provided by the board.

A-E 2.045(1)(b) (b) The credential holder meets one of the following requirements:

A-E 2.045(1)(b)1. 1. The credential holder is at least 65 years of age.

A-E 2.045(1)(b)2. 2. The credential holder has actively maintained the credential issued by the section for at least 20 years, which need not be consecutive.

A-E 2.045(1)(c) (c) The credential holder certifies he or she has retired from and no longer engages in any activity in this state that requires a credential issued by the section. The certification under this paragraph is not required to be notarized.

A-E 2.045(2) (2) Notwithstanding s. A-E 2.05, an individual who previously held a credential under ch. 443, Stats., and failed to renew the credential prior to the renewal date, may apply to the appropriate section of the board to renew the credential with retired status. A credential shall be renewed with retired status if all of the following requirements are met:

A-E 2.045(2)(a) (a) The individual completes an application on a form provided by the board.

A-E 2.045(2)(b) (b) The individual pays the fee under s. 443.015 (1m) (d), Stats.