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Wisconsin issues a Dwelling Contractor certification through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). The statute ties it to building permits: no person may obtain one without the certificate, except an owner who lives or will live in the dwelling and applies to work on it. As of May 9, 2026, the certification fee for the Dwelling Contractor certification is $25 per certification.
Wisconsin · Contractor licenseVerified 2026-10-06
State license
Dwelling Contractor certification (residential)
Wisconsin's statute says that, subject to an exception for an owner who lives in the dwelling, no person may obtain a building permit unless the person annually obtains from the department (the Department of Safety and Professional Services) a certificate of financial responsibility showing compliance with subsection (2) of the statute, completes the continuing education requirements and furnishes proof of their completion to the issuer of the permit. The department's fee rule lists this credential as the Dwelling Contractor Certification.
An examination developed by the department on the required continuing education courses, for a person who did not hold a certificate of financial responsibility on April 11, 2006
Dwelling Contractor certification (residential). Wisconsin's statute says that, subject to an exception for an owner who lives in the dwelling, no person may obtain a building permit unless the person annually obtains from the department (the Department of Safety and Professional Services) a certificate of financial responsibility showing compliance with subsection (2) of the statute, completes the continuing education requirements and furnishes proof of their completion to the issuer of the permit. The department's fee rule lists this credential as the Dwelling Contractor Certification.
(a) Subject to par. (b), no person may obtain a building permit unless the person annually obtains from the department a certificate of financial responsibility showing that the person is in compliance with sub. (2), completes the continuing education requirements described under sub. (1m), and furnishes to the issuer of the permit proof of completion of those continuing education requirements.
Paragraph (a) does not apply to an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to perform work on that dwelling.
Held under the statute by a person who obtains a building permit, except an owner of a dwelling who resides or will reside in the dwelling and who applies for a building permit to perform work on that dwelling
Listed in the department's fee rule; under the statute, an applicant who uses a bond of less than $25,000 agrees not to perform any work on a dwelling for which the estimated cost of completion is greater than the amount of the bond, and the department indicates the restriction on the certificate
(2m) If an applicant wishes to use a bond under sub. (2) (a) 1. of less than $25,000 to comply with sub. (2) (a), the applicant shall agree not to perform any work on a dwelling for which the estimated cost of completion is greater than the amount of the bond. The department shall indicate any restriction under this subsection on the certificate of financial responsibility issued under sub. (3).
Exam. An examination developed by the department on the required continuing education courses, for a person who did not hold a certificate of financial responsibility on April 11, 2006. Source: Wis. Stat. § 101.654(1m)(b); Wis. Stat. § 101.654(1m)(b)3.
Bond. One of two: a bond endorsed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state of not less than $5,000, conditioned on complying with the one- and 2-family dwelling code, or the general liability insurance policy on the next line; an applicant using a bond of less than $25,000 agrees not to perform any work on a dwelling whose estimated cost of completion is greater than the amount of the bond, and the department indicates that restriction on the certificate. License bond in Wisconsin. Source: Wis. Stat. § 101.654(2)(a); Wis. Stat. § 101.654(2)(a)1.; Wis. Stat. § 101.654(2m)
Workers' compensation. If s. 102.28 (2) (a) requires the applicant to have it, or the applicant is self-insured, proof of worker’s compensation insurance in force or of self-insurance. Source: Wis. Stat. § 101.654(2)(b)
Other. Proof of completing at least 12 hours in an educational course approved by the department, one of the items the department receives before it issues the certificate. Source: Wis. Stat. § 101.654(3)(a); Wis. Stat. § 101.654(3)(a)3.
(b) The rules promulgated under this subsection shall require all of the following:
3. For a person who does not hold a certificate of financial responsibility on April 11, 2006, successful completion of an examination developed by the department on the continuing education courses required under this subsection.
(2) An applicant for a certificate of financial responsibility shall provide to the satisfaction of the department proof of all of the following: (a) That the applicant has in force one of the following:
A bond endorsed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state of not less than $5,000, conditioned upon the applicant complying with all applicable provisions of the one- and 2-family dwelling code
A policy of general liability insurance insuring the applicant in the amount of at least $250,000 per occurrence because of bodily injury to or death of others or because of damage to the property of others
(b) If the applicant is required under s. 102.28 (2) (a) to have in force a policy of worker’s compensation insurance or if the applicant is self-insured in accordance with s. 102.28 (2) (b) or (bm), that the applicant has in force a policy of worker’s compensation insurance issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state or is self-insured in accordance with s. 102.28 (2) (b) or (bm).
Term and renewal. A certificate of financial responsibility is valid for one year after the date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked; a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier certification has a term of 2 years from the date of issuance
Continuing education. Completion every 2 years of at least 12 hours of continuing education relevant to the professional area of expertise of the person seeking to obtain a building permit, approved by the department, including at least 4 hours on construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management; the statute says these continuing education requirements do not apply to a person who holds a current license issued by the department when the person obtains a building permit if the work under the permit is work for which the person is licensed
A certificate of financial responsibility issued under this subsection is valid for one year after the date of issuance, unless sooner suspended or revoked.
Completion every 2 years of at least 12 hours of continuing education relevant to the professional area of expertise of the person seeking to obtain a building permit, approved by the department.
The hours of continuing education required under this subdivision shall include a total of at least 4 hours of continuing education on construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management every 2 years.
2. The continuing education requirements under par. (a) and the rules promulgated by the department under sub. (1m) do not apply to any person who holds a current license issued by the department at the time that the person obtains a building permit if the work the person does under the permit is work for which the person is licensed.
The statute says no person may obtain a building permit without the certificate, except an owner who resides or will reside in the dwelling and applies for a permit to work on it, and the department may revoke or suspend a certificate for reasons the statute lists, among them a holder engaging in the construction of a dwelling without a permit required under the chapter
(5) The department may revoke or suspend a certificate of financial responsibility if any of the following apply:
Wisconsin's credential is the Dwelling Contractor certification, issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). The statute ties it to the building permit. Under section 101.654, a person may not obtain a building permit unless that person gets a certificate of financial responsibility from the department each year, finishes the required continuing education and gives the permit issuer proof of that education [1]. The department's fee rule lists the same credential as the Dwelling Contractor Certification [2].
The statute sets that permit rule aside for an owner who resides, or will reside, in a dwelling and who applies for a building permit to do work on that dwelling [1].
Related certifications, financial proof and education
The department's fee rule lists related credentials alongside it [2]. The Dwelling Contractor certification is the one the statute attaches to permits. The Dwelling Contractor Qualifier appears as a separate certification in the fee and term tables [2]. The Dwelling Contractor (Restricted) certification, also in the fee rule [2], connects to the bond: an applicant who posts a bond of less than $25,000 agrees not to take on any dwelling work whose estimated cost of completion is greater than the bond amount, and the department shows that limit on the certificate [1].
On the financial side, the applicant shows the department one of two things. The first is a surety bond of not less than $5,000 from a company authorized to do business in Wisconsin, conditioned on following the one- and 2-family dwelling code [1]. A bond of less than $25,000 brings the restriction described above [1]. The second is general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence [1]. Worker's compensation is conditional: proof of a policy in force, or of self-insurance, is part of the application when s. 102.28 (2) (a) requires the applicant to carry it or the applicant is self-insured under s. 102.28 (2) (b) or (bm) [1].
Education comes before the certificate is issued. The department issues it once it receives, among other items, proof of at least 12 hours in an approved educational course [1]. A person who did not hold a certificate of financial responsibility on April 11, 2006, also passes an examination the department developed on the required continuing education courses [1].
Cost, term and education cycle
As of May 9, 2026, the certification fee for the Dwelling Contractor certification is $25 per certification [2]. The same rule sets an application fee, and the fees table on this page shows both amounts with their date.
The certificate of financial responsibility lasts one year from its issue date unless the department suspends or revokes it sooner [1]. The Dwelling Contractor Qualifier runs on a different clock: its term is 2 years from the date of issuance [2].
Continuing education follows a two-year cycle. The statute calls for at least 12 hours every 2 years, approved by the department and relevant to the professional area of the person seeking the permit [1]. At least 4 of those hours cover construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management [1]. The statute also sets an exception: these education requirements do not apply to a person holding a current license from the department when obtaining a building permit, if the work under that permit is work the license covers [1].
The permit bar and revocation
Under the statute, the certificate is a condition of the permit: without the certificate, no building permit may be obtained, subject to the owner-occupant exception [1]. For someone who already holds a certificate, the department may revoke or suspend it on grounds the statute lists, and one of them is a holder engaging in the construction of a dwelling without a permit the chapter requires [1].
