Chapter 443

443.08 443.08 Registration requirement: firms, partnerships and corporations.

443.08(1) (1) 

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

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

443.08(2) (2) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

443.08(3) (3) 

443.08(3)(a) (a)

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

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

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

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

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

443.08(4) (4) 

443.08(4)(a) (a)

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

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

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

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

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

443.08(4)(b) (b)

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

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

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

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

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

443.08(5) (5) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

443.10(2)(g) (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.

443.10(2)(h) (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.

443.10(3) (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.

443.10(4) (4) Roster; records.

443.10(4)(a) (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.

443.10(4)(am) (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.

443.10(4)(b) (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.

443.10(5) (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).

443.10(6) (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.

443.10 History History: 1979 c. 167 ss. 9, 10, 23, 24, 41, 42, 53; 1979 c. 221 s. 780; 1979 c. 355; 1981 c. 3; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 463, 465, 491; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 300; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 123; 2011 a. 146; 2013 a. 358; 2021 a. 195.

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

443.10 Annotation The Examining Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors lacks the power to adopt a rule prohibiting competitive bidding on projects by architects, engineers, designers, or surveyors. 61 Atty. Gen. 369.

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

443.11(1) (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:

443.11(1)(a) (a) Fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of registration or a certificate of record.

443.11(1)(b) (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.

443.11(1)(c) (c) Knowingly aiding or abetting the unauthorized practice of architecture or professional engineering by persons not registered under this chapter.

443.11(1)(d) (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.

443.11(1)(dm) (dm) Any gross negligence or misconduct, or any gross incompetence, in the practice of interior design as a Wisconsin registered interior designer.

443.11(1)(e) (e) Any violation of the rules of professional conduct adopted and promulgated by that section of the examining board.

443.11(1)(f) (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.