On this page, you’ll find an exhaustive guide on the Wisconsin Architect License Requirements and the Architect Registration process in Wisconsin. It provides all the crucial information you need including state regulations, application fees, and filing instructions among other relevant details. If you need any assistance related to the licensing process, don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to offer further details about our software and managed license services to support your needs.

How do I become an architect in Wisconsin?

To become a licensed architect in Wisconsin, one needs to follow a structured process. The initial step entails obtaining a professional architecture degree from a program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The curriculum of this degree, which typically spans five years, encompasses subjects like design, construction, and building systems.

Post-degree, it is mandatory to accumulate practical experience under the mentorship of a licensed architect. To satisfy the regulations of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, you must complete a minimum of 3,740 hours of experience. This can be obtained through internships or entry-level jobs at architecture firms.

The next stage is passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The exam, divided into six segments, tests various facets of architecture, including but not limited to, building systems, construction documents, and site planning. To qualify for licensing, all six divisions must be cleared within a time frame of five years.

After successfully completing the ARE, you must apply for licensure with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. The application process necessitates the submission of an application form, a fee, and evidence of your educational credentials, professional experience, and examination scores.

To retain your license, you’re required to fulfill continuing education requirements. In Wisconsin, architects are mandated to accomplish 24 hours of continuing education biennially to keep abreast of the latest advancements in their field.

How Do I Take The Architect Registration Examination In Wisconsin?

Company Licenses

Wisconsin Certificate of Authorization

• Business Corporations
• Limited Liability Companies
• Service Corporations
• Partnerships

• Business Corporations: while officers and directors don’t need licensure, the corporation should delegate a Wisconsin licensed individual to supervise all professional activities conducted by the company in Wisconsin
• Service Corporations: all shareholders, officers, and directors are mandated to be licensed individuals.
• Limited Liability Companies: while not mandatory for members and managers to have licensure, the LLC should assign a Wisconsin licensed individual to oversee all professional activities carried out by the company in Wisconsin.
• Partnerships: although partners are not required to be licensed, the partnership should assign a Wisconsin licensed individual to supervise all professional activities undertaken by the company in Wisconsin.

First-Time Applicants

The following information pertains to architectural firms seeking an initial license in Wisconsin. If you currently possess a license and wish to renew it, please refer to the renewal section.

• Fill out the Application for Certificate of Authorization
• Turnaround: The procedure may take between 8-12 weeks depending on the processing speed. Notifications will be sent via mail and/or email.
• Agency Fee: $55
• Note: Simultaneous filing can be done with the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and Professional Land Surveyors and the Department of Financial Institutions

Before Applying, Take In Consideration:

Domestic Applicants:

1. Identify a Wisconsin licensed design professional for each of the company’s professional services to act as the person responsible in Wisconsin.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Identify a Wisconsin licensed design professional for each of the company’s professional services to act as the person responsible in Wisconsin.
2. Acquire a certificate of good standing from the home state of your business entity (needed for the foreign qualification process). Ensure that the certificate is not older than 60 days at the time of filing foreign qualification documents.

How to apply:

Domestic Applicants:

1. Submit the entity formation documents to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) – Corporation Section.
2. Submit an Application for Certificate of Authorization to the Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Foreign Applicants:

1. Establish whether your entity requires foreign qualification in Wisconsin. If not, proceed to step 3.
2. Submit foreign qualification documents to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) – Corporation Section.
3. Submit an Application for Certificate of Authorization to the Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Must-have Attachments

• A list of the firm’s officers, directors, members, or partners along with their titles and addresses
• A list of branch office locations, including the licensee in charge
• A list of all Wisconsin credential holders employed by the firm who will be responsible for the work performed in Wisconsin, with addresses and license numbers
• Form for Convictions and Pending Charges (if applicable)

Registration Renewal

• Fill out the Form 929: Report of Renewal Information for COA
• Submission method: mail, fax or online
• Agency Fee: $55
• Original Ink is not required
• Notarize is not required
• Due: Biennially by the registration date.
• Note: Renewal notices are sent about 60 days before the permit expiration.

Must-have Attachments

• A roster of the firm’s directors, officers, managers, or members with their respective addresses
• Certified pages for every licensee employed by the firm, which should also specify the licensees acting as the responsible licensee
• A catalogue of branch office locations with the details of the licensee in charge

Individual Licenses

Wisconsin Architect License

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the Application for Architect Registration
• Agency Fee: $55

Reciprocal Registration

• Fill out the Application for Architect Registration
• Agency Fee: $55
• Note: One can consider applying for registration if they have a current registration from another state whose requirements are not less stringent than those in Wisconsin. Applicants are expected to have cleared the NCARB examination and accumulated 7 years of experience in architecture, inclusive of education. Application options include the NCARB Council Record or the examination route.

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $55
• Due: By July 31 of even-numbered years.

Wisconsin Interior Designer Registration

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the Application for Interior Designer Registration
• Agency Fee: $59

Reciprocal Registration

• Fill out the Application for Interior Designer Registration
• Agency Fee: $59
• Note: Candidates are required to include a certification of licensure or a letter from a relevant authority in any U.S. state, territory, or foreign country, where the interior design registration standards are at least as rigorous as those detailed in Wis. Stat. ch. 440, Subchapter IX. This documentation must confirm that they possess an active and similar registration issued by the respective licensing body.

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online.
• Agency Fee: $59
• Due: By July 31 of even-numbered years.

Wisconsin Landscape Architect Registration

Exam Application

• Fill out the Form 2187: Application for Landscape Architect Examination
• Agency Fee: $0

First-Time Applicants

• Fill out the Form 2088: Application for Landscape Architect Registration
• Agency Fee: $55

Reciprocal Registration

• Fill out the Form 2088: Application for Landscape Architect Registration
• Agency Fee: $55

Registration Renewal

• Submission method: online
• Agency Fee: $55
• Due: By July 31 of even-numbered years.

Non-State Level Architecture Firm Licenses in Wisconsin

This section aims to clarify licenses that are not required in Wisconsin for architecture firms.

Wisconsin Interior Design Firm License

Wisconsin does not have state-level licensure requirements for interior design firms. There is no current licensing or registration process for interior design businesses in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Landscape Architecture Firm License

In Wisconsin, there is no requirement for Landscape Architecture Firms to be licensed at the State level.

For more details, you can reach out to the Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and Professional Land Surveyors.

Register for the Architect Registration Examination

Securing an architect’s license in Wisconsin opens up a world of opportunities to practice architecture in the state. The journey commences with the pursuit of a professional degree in architecture, a fundamental requirement in your quest to become a licensed architect. This degree is not just a piece of paper, but a testament to your knowledge and comprehension of architectural principles, a rite of passage that equips you with the tools to craft and shape the built environment.

Remember, it’s important that your architecture degree is obtained from a program accredited by a recognized body such as the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). This accreditation assures that the program meets the industry’s standards and provides the necessary skills and training.

Architect registration in Wisconsin is a crucial step that formalizes your standing in the industry. This process includes satisfying the state’s requirements and passing the relevant examinations. With this license, you will have the legal authority to practice architecture, offering your expertise to develop the Wisconsin landscape. Now that you are armed with this information, you’re one step closer to realizing your architectural aspirations.

Disclaimer: These requirements are subject to change based on approval board discretion. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Wisconsin DSPS Examining Board of Architects