Credential Checker
Pick the job. You'll see which Wisconsin credential to look for, where to check it, and what you can do yourself.
What's the job?
Dwelling Contractor (the business) plus a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (a person)
Look for: a Dwelling Contractor credential for the business and a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier on its staff. Together they are what a contractor needs to pull a building permit for a 1- or 2-family home.(SPS 305.31)(Wis. Stat. 101.654)
What it shows: the business has a surety bond or liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, plus workers' comp and unemployment insurance where the law requires them. If that coverage lapses and isn't replaced, DSPS must suspend the credential.(Wis. Stat. 101.654) A "Dwelling Contractor Restricted" credential means a bond under $25,000, and that contractor can't take a job costing more than its bond.(DSPS)(Wis. Stat. 101.654)
No separate roofer or remodeler license: DSPS's list of professions has no credential just for roofers, siding, window or remodeling contractors, so the Dwelling Contractor credential is the one to check.(DSPS)
Permits: Madison requires a building permit to replace roofing, siding or windows; repairs under $500 don't need one.(City of Madison)
Doing it yourself: an owner who lives in the home (or will) can pull the permit without the credential.(Wis. Stat. 101.654)
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
Electrical Contractor (the business) plus licensed electricians
Look for: an Electrical Contractor license for the business. Every business that installs, repairs or maintains wiring needs one.(Wis. Stat. 101.862) The people doing the work must be licensed or registered electricians, and a master electrician must be responsible for anyone who isn't a master.(Wis. Stat. 101.862)
Residential credentials: residential master and residential journeyman electricians are limited to homes and their detached garages, pools and similar structures.(SPS 305.40)
Doing it yourself: state law exempts an owner wiring the home they own and live in, unless a local ordinance requires a license, and anyone replacing an existing switch or outlet rated 20 amps or less.(Wis. Stat. 101.862) In Madison, an owner living in a single-family home may do their own electrical work, but it still needs a permit and inspections.(City of Madison)
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
Licensed master plumber in charge (licenses are personal, not company)
Look for: the master plumber in charge of the job. Plumbing work must always have a licensed master plumber in charge. Plumbing licenses go only to individuals, not companies, and a master can't lend a license to get permits for someone else.(Wis. Stat. 145.06) So search the plumber's name, not the company's.
Other plumbing credentials: journeyman plumbers, plus "Restricted Service" and "Restricted Appliance" plumbers at master and journeyman level.(DSPS)
Doing it yourself: state law exempts an owner doing plumbing in a one-family home they own and live in, unless a local ordinance requires a license. Minor repairs to faucets, valves or pipes and clearing a stopped drain are exempt too.(Wis. Stat. 145.06) Madison still requires a permit and inspections for an owner's own plumbing work.(City of Madison)
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
HVAC Contractor registration (the business)
Look for: an HVAC Contractor registration. Any business that installs or services heating, ventilating or air conditioning equipment must register with DSPS.(Wis. Stat. 101.178) The HVAC Qualifier is a separate, exam-based certification for a person, and it's voluntary.(SPS 305.70)(Wis. Stat. 101.178)
Gas and wiring: electrical or plumbing work done as part of an HVAC job falls under the electrical and plumbing licensing rules, not the HVAC registration.(SPS 305.70)
Doing it yourself: installing or servicing HVAC equipment in a home you own and live in is exempt from registration.(SPS 305.70) In Madison, an owner living in a single-family home may do their own heating work with a permit and inspections.(City of Madison) The furnace and AC guide covers what to check before you call.
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
DHS-certified lead-safe renovator, working for a certified lead company
Look for: a certified lead-safe renovator working for a certified lead company. In a pre-1978 home, that's required when the work disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint per room inside or 20 square feet outside, replaces windows, or demolishes.(Wisconsin DHS)
Look it up: DHS posts its certified lead company list as an Excel file, updated monthly.(Wisconsin DHS) This is on top of any building credential the job needs.
Where to check: DHS certified company list.
DHS-certified asbestos company and certified workers
Look for: a DHS-certified asbestos company. Companies that do, direct or advertise asbestos work must be certified, and there's a separate exterior asbestos company certification for non-friable outside work only.(Wisconsin DHS)
On the job: workers must hold the matching DHS certification, a certified supervisor must be on site, and certified people must carry proof you can ask to see.(Wisconsin DHS)
Look it up: DHS posts its certified asbestos company list monthly and advises checking it before you sign or pay.(Wisconsin DHS)
Where to check: DHS certified company list.
DATCP pesticide business license plus licensed, certified applicators
Look for: a DATCP Pesticide Business License for the company, and an individual commercial applicator license and certification for each person applying pesticide.(DATCP)
Look it up: DATCP has lookups for certified and licensed applicators and pesticide businesses. Certified doesn't mean currently licensed, so check both.(DATCP) The pest guide covers what you're likely seeing first.
Where to check: DATCP applicator lookup.
DNR-registered business with licensed well drillers or pump installers
Look for: a business registered with DNR, with individually licensed well drillers or pump installers.(Wis. Stat. 280.15)
Look it up: DNR posts spreadsheet directories of well drillers, pump installers and well inspection services.(Wisconsin DNR)
Doing it yourself: drilling a well on land you own or lease needs no license, but the work must still meet DNR rules.(Wis. Stat. 280.15)
Where to check: DNR directories.
Home inspector registration
Look for: a DSPS home inspector registration. Nobody may act as or call themselves a home inspector without it.(Wis. Stat. 440.9712) Inspectors need 40 hours of continuing education every two years.(DSPS)
Home inspections in Dane County covers what an inspection includes.
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
Professional land surveyor license
Look for: a DSPS Professional Land Surveyor license.(DSPS) The property lines guide explains when you need a survey.
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
None: Wisconsin doesn't license mold contractors
No license exists. Neither the federal government nor Wisconsin DHS certifies mold contractors, so a "state certified" claim is false. Report it to DATCP at (800) 422-7128.(Wisconsin DHS) The air quality guide covers mold basics.
Where to check: Not applicable.
No trade license; a Dwelling Contractor credential if they pull a building permit
No trade license: DSPS's list of professions has no credential for these trades.(DSPS) If the job needs a building permit, whoever pulls it needs the Dwelling Contractor credential (or must be the owner who lives there).(Wis. Stat. 101.654) New wiring, such as an outlet for a garage door opener, is electrical work that needs a licensed electrician.(Wis. Stat. 101.862)
Wisconsin's home improvement rule still applies. ATCP 110 covers painting, landscaping, fences, garages, carpet and attached flooring, among other work.(ATCP 110.01) If the home was built before 1978 and paint will be disturbed, the lead-safe rules apply too.(Wisconsin DHS)
Where to check: license.wi.gov. Then follow the lookup steps below.
Which Credential Each Job Needs
DSPS, the Department of Safety and Professional Services, issues most building-trade credentials. A few trades are licensed by other agencies.
| The job | Credential to look for | Issued by | Look it up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remodeling, additions, decks, roofing, siding or windows | Dwelling Contractor (the business) plus a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (a person) | DSPS | license.wi.gov |
| Electrical wiring, panels, new circuits or outlets | Electrical Contractor (the business) plus licensed electricians | DSPS | license.wi.gov |
| Plumbing, water heaters, drains or sewer lines | Licensed master plumber in charge (licenses are personal, not company) | DSPS | license.wi.gov |
| Furnace, air conditioner, heat pump or ductwork | HVAC Contractor registration (the business) | DSPS | license.wi.gov |
| Work that disturbs paint in a home built before 1978 | DHS-certified lead-safe renovator, working for a certified lead company | Wisconsin DHS | DHS certified company list |
| Removing asbestos (old flooring, pipe wrap, siding) | DHS-certified asbestos company and certified workers | Wisconsin DHS | DHS certified company list |
| Pest control | DATCP pesticide business license plus licensed, certified applicators | DATCP | DATCP applicator lookup |
| Private well or well pump | DNR-registered business with licensed well drillers or pump installers | Wisconsin DNR | DNR directories |
| Home inspection | Home inspector registration | DSPS | license.wi.gov |
| Property survey | Professional land surveyor license | DSPS | license.wi.gov |
| Mold cleanup | None: Wisconsin doesn't license mold contractors | No state credential | Not applicable |
| Painting, flooring, landscaping, fences, garage doors and other work | No trade license; a Dwelling Contractor credential if they pull a building permit | DSPS (if a permit is needed) | license.wi.gov |
How to Look Up a License
- Open the state's LicensE credential search. Search by credential number, a person's name, a business name or license type.(DSPS)
- Search the right name. Dwelling Contractor, Electrical Contractor and HVAC Contractor credentials belong to the business.(DSPS)(DSPS)(Wis. Stat. 101.178) Plumbing licenses and the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier belong to a person.(Wis. Stat. 145.06)(SPS 305.31)
- Read the result: credential number, profession, credential type, name, DBA, city, date granted and status.(DSPS) DSPS says the lookup counts as official verification.(DSPS) A holder who filed a complete renewal by the expiration date may keep working while it's processed.(DSPS)
- Check for orders. Disciplinary orders are in a separate Search Orders portal, with orders from November 1998 on. Not every order is formal discipline.(DSPS)
- Make sure the person in front of you is the one on the license. DSPS suggests checking a government ID.(DSPS)
Insurance. DWD links to a workers' comp coverage lookup that shows whether an employer has a current Wisconsin policy, searchable by employer name and address.(Wisconsin DWD) DATCP says you can ask any contractor for a certificate of insurance that names you as certificate holder, so you're told if the policy lapses.(DATCP) DSPS suggests confirming the insurer or bonding company itself through the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.(DSPS)
Complaints. DATCP has no public complaint database. It tells consumers to call its Bureau of Consumer Protection, (800) 422-7128, to ask whether complaints have been filed against a business.(DATCP)
The Dwelling Contractor Credential
This is the credential most homeowners need to check, because it covers any contractor who pulls a building permit for a 1- or 2-family home: remodelers, roofers, siding and window installers, deck builders.
- Two parts. The business holds the Dwelling Contractor credential, and it must hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier.(SPS 305.31) The qualifier needs 12 hours of continuing education every 2 years, at least 4 of them on construction laws and codes, contracts, liability and risk management.(Wis. Stat. 101.654)(DSPS)
- Bond or insurance. The business needs a surety bond or general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, and must show workers' comp and unemployment insurance where the law requires them.(Wis. Stat. 101.654) DSPS lists $25,000 as the bond for the full credential.(DSPS) A bond between $5,000 and $25,000 gets the Dwelling Contractor Restricted credential instead, and that contractor agrees not to take any job whose estimated cost is more than the bond.(DSPS)(Wis. Stat. 101.654)
- Renewed yearly. The certificate lasts one year. If the bond or insurance is cancelled and not replaced, DSPS must suspend it without notice or a hearing.(Wis. Stat. 101.654)
- No permit without it. A municipality may not issue a building permit to someone who needs the credential unless they show it.(Wis. Stat. 101.65)
- Licensed trades. A plumber or electrician pulling a permit only for work within their own license is exempt from the Dwelling Contractor education requirement.(Wis. Stat. 101.654)
Who Pulls the Permit
- The contractor tells you first. Before you sign, a home improvement seller must tell you every permit the job needs, and can't start work until the required permits are issued.(ATCP 110.03) Madison suggests a contract that makes the contractor get and pay for the permits.(City of Madison)
- If you pull it yourself, you sign a statement that hiring a contractor without a bond or insurance could leave you liable for injuries or damage. Every Wisconsin municipality must ask for it.(Wis. Stat. 101.65)
- Madison. An owner living in a single-family home may do their own electrical, heating, plumbing and structural work, with a permit and city inspections.(City of Madison) Contractors' online permit accounts are linked to a verified license.(City of Madison) A homeowner doing their own work calls in each inspection; when you hire a general contractor, it calls the building inspections and each trade calls its own.(City of Madison)
- Check that it was pulled. Madison's Permit Reports search permits by address or by contractor.(City of Madison) You can also call Building Inspection at 608-266-4551, ext 1.(City of Madison)
- Sun Prairie lets an owner living in a single-family home do work they know; owners of homes they don't live in, such as rentals, must hire licensed contractors. Check for open permits at 608-825-1184.(City of Sun Prairie)
- Middleton says electrical, plumbing and HVAC work generally must be done and permitted by licensed Wisconsin contractors.(City of Middleton)
The permit lookup shows which projects need a permit in Madison and 8 nearby towns.
A Checklist for Any Contractor
This is the standard we hold any contractor to, including any future featured partner. Each step comes from a state or city rule or recommendation.
- The right credential, active, on the state lookup, and no orders you can't live with.(DSPS)(DSPS)
- More than one written bid, after a visit to the house, not a phone estimate.(OCI) Be wary of a large payment up front or a bid far below the others.(OCI)
- Proof of insurance in writing. A contractor who says it's licensed, bonded or insured must give you a written statement describing it.(ATCP 110.02)
- A written contract with the work, materials, price and dates. It's required if you pay anything before the work is done. See home improvement contracts.(ATCP 110.05)
- The permit list, before you sign, and the permit pulled before work starts.(ATCP 110.03)
- Lien waivers for every payment. You can ask for them, and the contractor must tell you so in writing before you sign. See construction liens.(ATCP 110.025)
- Final payment last. Don't sign a completion certificate or make final payment until the work is done,(DATCP) and ask the building inspector to inspect the finished work first.(DATCP)
Badger Homeowner doesn't recommend contractors and takes no money from them. This page is the checklist we'd use on anyone.
Contractor Guides
- Home Improvement ContractsWhat ATCP 110 requires in a contract, banned sales tactics, and your right to cancel.Read the Guide
- Construction Liens and Lien WaiversHow a sub can lien your house after you paid, the deadlines, and lien waivers.Read the Guide
- Storm ChasersWisconsin's rules for roofers after hail and wind, and Madison's door-to-door permit.Read the Guide
- Contractor ComplaintsDATCP, DSPS, Madison Building Inspection or small claims: where each problem goes.Read the Guide
Questions
How do I look up a contractor's license in Wisconsin?
Use the state's LicensE search at license.wi.gov. You can search by credential number, a person's name, a business name or license type, and the result shows the credential type, status and date granted. Disciplinary orders are in a separate Search Orders portal on the same site.
Do roofers need a license in Wisconsin?
There's no separate roofer license in DSPS's list of professions. A roofer who pulls a building permit for a 1- or 2-family home needs the Dwelling Contractor credential and a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, which means carrying a bond or liability insurance. Madison requires a permit to replace roofing.
Can I do my own electrical or plumbing work in Wisconsin?
State law exempts an owner working on the home they own and live in, unless a local ordinance requires a license. For plumbing, the exemption is written for a one-family home. In Madison the work still needs a permit and inspections.
What is a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier?
A person who has passed the required 12-hour course and keeps up 12 hours of continuing education every 2 years. A business needs a Dwelling Contractor credential and a qualifier on staff to pull a building permit for a 1- or 2-family home.