Does Wisconsin require a contractor license?

Yes. Wisconsin requires a state license for general contractors. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) issues it as the Dwelling Contractor (DC), Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ) or Dwelling Contractor Restricted credential.

How do I look up a contractor license in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for general contractors in Wisconsin. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.

How do I look up an electrician license in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for electrical contractors in Wisconsin.

How do I look up a plumbing license in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Wisconsin.

Does Wisconsin have an HVAC license?

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin contractor license lookup

Wisconsin requires state registration for HVAC contractors. It issues state licenses for general contractors, electrical contractors and plumbing contractors. Our survey found no state-level license for roofing contractors, so check with the city or county. Use the official lookup below to check a contractor. Information as of October 6, 2026.

Look up a license

Trade	Credential	Board	Official lookup
General contractor	State license	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Search general contractor licenses
Electrical	State license	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Search electrical licenses
Plumbing	State license	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Search plumbing licenses
HVAC	State registration (no competency license)	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Search HVAC licenses
Roofing	No state license: cities and counties	City or county	Our survey of official Wisconsin sources found no state-level roofing contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done.

Verify a contractor

For homeowners hiring in Wisconsin.

Open the official Wisconsin lookup run by DSPS and search the contractor by name or number.
Open the official lookup
A builder needs a DSPS certificate of financial responsibility to get a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling, so ask to see the Dwelling Contractor credential; an owner who lives in the home is exempt. source Every plumbing installation must be under a licensed master plumber who is responsible for it. source Electrical work by anyone other than a master electrician must be under a master electrician who is responsible for it. source The DSPS LicensE public lookup is the official verification of a Wisconsin credential and shows the credential type, city, granted date and license status. source
Confirm the record is active and the class matches the job (Dwelling Contractor (DC) or Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ) or Dwelling Contractor Restricted). The board's own record governs.
Check the bond and insurance on the record against the state minimums: Surety bond of at least $25,000 for an unrestricted Dwelling Contractor credential, or general liability insurance instead; a bond of $5,000 to under $25,000 gets a restricted credential. source General liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, as an alternative to the bond; workers compensation also required where state law requires it. source
Complaints about a Wisconsin trade credential holder go to DSPS online, choosing the Trades category, or by mail to the Division of Legal Services and Compliance. source

Homeowner protections in Wisconsin

A contractor bonded for less than $25,000 holds a restricted credential and may not take on a dwelling job whose estimated cost is greater than the bond. source

Get licensed

For a general contractor working in Wisconsin.

Apply to DSPS as a Dwelling Contractor (DC) or Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ) or Dwelling Contractor Restricted.
Board page
No DSPS licensing exam is listed for the Dwelling Contractor or Qualifier; the Qualifier course of 12 hours includes one or more tests. source
Experience: no experience requirement found; the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier must complete at least 12 hours in an approved dwelling construction course within one year before applying. source
Post a surety bond of at least $25,000 for an unrestricted Dwelling Contractor credential, or general liability insurance instead; a bond of $5,000 to under $25,000 gets a restricted credential. source
Carry general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, as an alternative to the bond; workers compensation also required where state law requires it. source
Pay the dwelling Contractor (business) credential fee: $25. source
Dwelling Contractor (business) credential renews every year from the date of issuance; the Qualifier renews every 2 years. source

Other trades

Electrical: state license, $200 fee. Requirements
Plumbing: state license, $500 fee. Requirements
HVAC: state registration, $160 fee. Requirements

Requirements by trade

General contractorSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	No DSPS licensing exam is listed for the Dwelling Contractor or Qualifier; the Qualifier course of 12 hours includes one or more test. source
Experience	No experience requirement found; the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier must complete at least 12 hours in an approved dwelling construction course within one year before applying. source
Bond	Surety bond of at least $25,000 for an unrestricted Dwelling Contractor credential, or general liability insurance instead; a bond of $5,000 to under $25,000 gets a restricted credential. source
Insurance	General liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence, as an alternative to the bond; workers compensation also required where state law requires it. source
Renewal	1 years (Dwelling Contractor (business) credential renews every year from the date of issuance; the Qualifier renews every 2 year). source
Reciprocity	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Fees	$25 (Dwelling Contractor (business) credential fee). source $15 (Dwelling Contractor (business) application fee). source $30 (Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (person) credential fee). source $15 (Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (person) application fee). source $25 (Dwelling Contractor (business) renewal fee, each year). source $30 (Dwelling Contractor Qualifier renewal fee, every 2 years, with 12 hours of continuing education). source

ElectricalSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Master Electrician exam required (the Electrical Contractor business license itself has no exam in the DSPS exam fee schedule); assumes the contractor's responsible electrician is a master electrician. source
Experience	Master Electrician exam eligibility: 12 months as a licensed journeyman electrician (other routes: an electrical engineering degree, or 60 months with at least 10,000 hours of experience). source
Bond	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Insurance	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Renewal	Electrical Contractor license renews every 4 years on June 30th; Master Electrician also every 4 years with 24 hours of continuing education. source
Reciprocity	DSPS may enter reciprocal agreements with other states for electrician and electrical contractor credentials; no specific agreement was confirmed. source
Fees	$200 (Electrical Contractor license fee). source $35 (Electrical Contractor application fee). source $200 (Master Electrician license fee). source $95 (Master Electrician exam fee paid to Pearson (plus $30 to DSPS)). source $30 (Master Electrician exam fee paid to DSPS). source $200 (Electrical Contractor renewal fee, every 4 year). source

PlumbingSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	Master Plumber license exam required (Part 1 and Part 2 in the DSPS exam fee schedule). source
Experience	Master Plumber exam eligibility: at least 1,000 hours a year of plumbing work for at least 3 years as a licensed journeyman plumber, or a qualifying engineering degree. source
Bond	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Insurance	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Renewal	Master Plumber license renews every 4 years on March 31st with 24 hours of continuing education. source
Reciprocity	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Fees	$500 (Master Plumber license fee). source $20 (Master Plumber application fee). source $95 (Master Plumber exam fee paid to Pearson, per part (Part 1 and Part 2), plus $30 per part to DSPS). source $30 (Master Plumber exam fee paid to DSPS, per part). source $500 (Master Plumber renewal fee, every 4 year). source

HVACSources checked October 6, 2026
Exam	No exam for the HVAC Contractor registration per the DSPS exam fee schedule (N/A); the optional HVAC Qualifier certification does require an exam. source
Experience	HVAC Qualifier exam eligibility: at least 1,000 hours a year for at least 4 years of HVAC experience, or 4 years of HVAC-related schooling; none found for the HVAC Contractor registration. source
Bond	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Insurance	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Renewal	HVAC Contractor registration renews every 4 years from the date of issuance. source
Reciprocity	Not found on an official source. On an official source.
Fees	$160 (HVAC Contractor registration fee). source $15 (HVAC Contractor application fee). source $60 (HVAC Qualifier certification fee). source $95 (HVAC Qualifier exam fee paid to Pearson (plus $25 to DSPS)). source $160 (HVAC Contractor renewal fee, every 4 year). source

Roofing: Our survey of official Wisconsin sources found no state-level roofing contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done.

Questions

Does Wisconsin require a contractor license?: Yes. Wisconsin requires a state license for general contractors. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) issues it as the Dwelling Contractor (DC), Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ) or Dwelling Contractor Restricted credential.
How do I look up a contractor license in Wisconsin?: The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for general contractors in Wisconsin. Use the official lookup linked in the Look up a license table, and treat the board's own record as final.
How do I look up an electrician license in Wisconsin?: The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for electrical contractors in Wisconsin.
How do I look up a plumbing license in Wisconsin?: The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for plumbing contractors in Wisconsin.
Does Wisconsin have an HVAC license?: The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) keeps the record for HVAC contractors in Wisconsin.
Do roofers need a license in Wisconsin?: Our survey of official Wisconsin sources found no state-level roofing contractor license. Check with the city or county where the work is done.

Sources

This is not a government site. The licensing board's own record governs; always confirm on the official lookup. Information as of October 6, 2026.