Wisconsin Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Wisconsin does not issue a dedicated state masonry trade license. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) regulates residential construction through the Dwelling Contractor Certification (for the business) and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier certification (for an individual) under Wis. Stat. §101.654 and Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305. Any contractor performing one- and two-family dwelling work (including masonry scopes) must hold both certifications. Commercial masonry over the $40,000 threshold triggers municipal building permits rather than a state specialty license. This page documents the verified path including the DSPS 12-hour initial course, Wisconsin OSHA silica enforcement (federal OSHA state), and TMS 402/602 plus IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Governing Authority

Under Wis. Stat. Chapter 101 (Department of Safety and Professional Services); Wis. Admin. Code SPS chapters covering electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and dwelling contractors, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. DSPS administers credentialing for construction trades in Wisconsin, adopts and enforces the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, Wisconsin Electrical Code, and Wisconsin Plumbing Code, and conducts disciplinary proceedings against credential holders.

Official portal: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/Default.aspx
Address: 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705
Phone: (608) 266-2112

Eligibility Requirements

An applicant qualifies only after meeting the age floor of 18 and producing a valid Social Security Number. No Wisconsin residency requirement. Out-of-state contractors must designate a Wisconsin registered agent.

Good moral character

DSPS reviews prior certification discipline and unpaid civil judgments from prior Wisconsin dwelling contractor activity.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure on the DSPS application. No fingerprint requirement.

Experience & Education Matrix

Eligibility here is not measured in years of experience but by no state-level experience minimum; Wisconsin uses an education-and-insurance model rather than experience-verified competency, per the cited materials.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Completion certificate for the DSPS-approved 12-hour initial dwelling contractor course
Certificate of insurance meeting DSPS minimums
Wisconsin Department of Revenue seller permit (where required)

Education substitution

The 12-hour initial course is the competency requirement; experience is not substituted.

Examination Structure

This credential carries no state-administered written exam under the cited sources. What governs instead is: No state trade exam

Examination fee: No exam fee. Course tuition averages $150 – $300 from DSPS-approved providers.

Retake policy: Not applicable — DSPS requires course completion, not an exam pass.

Insurance & Financial Security

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

DSPS requires $250,000 per person, $500,000 per occurrence, and $250,000 property damage (or combined $500,000) general liability certificate on file for the Dwelling Contractor Certification under SPS 305.82.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under Wis. Stat. §102.28 for any construction business with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 is one of the highest manual rates in Wisconsin.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required for Dwelling Contractor Certification.

Application and License Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$30
Initial license	$30
Renewal (every 4 years)	$30

Maintenance & Renewal

Expect to renew the Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor Certification (Masonry Scope) every 4 years. Renewal currently costs $30. Wisconsin DSPS credentials renew every four years on a rolling basis. Late renewal carries a $25 reinstatement penalty.

Continuing education: 12 hours of DSPS-approved continuing education every four years for the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier under SPS 305.08.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Wisconsin Masonry License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and Endorsement

Wisconsin does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Wisconsin does not maintain reciprocity agreements for dwelling contractor or masonry work. Out-of-state masonry contractors must complete the 12-hour course and obtain both certifications.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Masonry license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Form a Wisconsin business entity. Register with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and obtain a federal EIN.
Complete the DSPS 12-hour initial course. The Dwelling Contractor Qualifier course must be completed from a DSPS-approved provider before applying.
Bind insurance certificates. Bind $250,000/$500,000/$250,000 (or $500,000 CSL) general liability and workers compensation coverage.
Apply for the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (individual). File the DSPS qualifier application with $30 credential fee and course completion certificate.
Apply for the Dwelling Contractor Certification (business). File the DSPS business certification application with $30 credential fee, insurance certificate, and the qualifier number.
Register for municipal building permits where required. Local jurisdictions (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay) impose additional contractor registration or bond requirements for commercial masonry work.
Implement federal OSHA silica written exposure control plan. Wisconsin is a federal OSHA state. 29 CFR 1926.1153 enforced directly by federal OSHA Region 5 with mandatory written plan and Table 1 controls.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code (SPS 320-325) — Wisconsin DSPS. Governing code for residential construction in Wisconsin; required reference for the 12-hour course.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21 and the Wisconsin Commercial Building Code.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry — International Code Council. Wisconsin adopts IBC through SPS 361-366 for commercial masonry work.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Wisconsin Masonry filing.

Skipping the business certification

Holding only the individual Qualifier without the business Dwelling Contractor Certification leaves the company operating unregistered. DSPS can void contracts and impose civil penalties under Wis. Stat. §101.654(7).

Course tuition shortcut

DSPS only accepts course completions from its published provider list. Generic online construction courses do not satisfy the 12-hour requirement and force the applicant to restart.

Commercial work without municipal permits

Milwaukee and Madison require local commercial contractor registration and bonds separate from DSPS. Masonry work without the local registration draws stop-work orders.

Anchored veneer ties at wrong spacing

Wisconsin SDC B zones and Lake Michigan wind exposure require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing. Milwaukee County and Dane County inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

Federal OSHA silica plan absent

Federal OSHA Region 5 inspectors target masonry under 29 CFR 1926.1153 in the Milwaukee–Chicago corridor. Missing written exposure control plans draw immediate citations averaging $14,000 per masonry site.

Pre-Submission Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with DSPS:

☐ Wisconsin DFI entity registration
☐ Federal EIN and Department of Revenue seller permit
☐ DSPS-approved 12-hour initial course completion
☐ Dwelling Contractor Qualifier individual certification
☐ Dwelling Contractor Certification business credential
☐ $250,000/$500,000/$250,000 GL certificate
☐ Workers compensation certificate
☐ Federal OSHA silica written exposure control plan

Other Wisconsin Trade Licenses

Should the Masonry path not apply, these other Wisconsin trade guides from CLR may help:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Wisconsin have a dedicated masonry license?

No. Wisconsin does not issue a state-level masonry trade license. Residential masonry contractors must hold the DSPS Dwelling Contractor Certification (business) and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (individual). Commercial masonry is permitted at the municipal level.

What is the 12-hour course?

A DSPS-approved initial course covering Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code, business law, and building science. Required before the Qualifier application. Renewal requires a 12-hour continuing education course every four years.

Do I need both the business and individual certification?

Yes. DSPS requires both the Dwelling Contractor Certification (business) and the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (individual) for any company contracting one- and two-family dwelling masonry work.

Is Wisconsin on the federal OSHA plan?

Yes. Wisconsin does not operate a state OSHA plan. Federal OSHA Region 5 enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 silica directly with full Table 1 control requirements.

Does Wisconsin require a surety bond?

No state bond for the Dwelling Contractor Certification. Some municipalities (Milwaukee, Madison) impose local bonds for commercial or public work.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-15 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-14