Wisconsin Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Wisconsin does not issue a standalone solar contractor license. Solar PV installation is regulated as electrical work under Wis. Stat. §101.86 and is administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Any solar business must hold an Electrical Contractor registration and employ a Wisconsin Master Electrician as the qualifying party. Solar thermal water heating requires a Wisconsin Master Plumber license. Focus on Energy, the statewide energy efficiency and renewables program, additionally requires Trade Ally registration for incentive participation. NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification is the industry standard but is voluntary in Wisconsin.

Regulatory Oversight

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) administers and enforces this credential under the authority of Wis. Stat. Chapter 101 (Department of Safety and Professional Services); Wis. Admin. Code SPS chapters covering electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and dwelling contractors. 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

Who May Apply

To qualify, an applicant must have reached age 18 and hold a valid Social Security Number. No Wisconsin residency requirement.

Good moral character

DSPS reviews criminal history under Wis. Stat. §111.335.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate one year (1,000 hours) as a Wisconsin Journeyman Electrician, which itself requires four years and 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

DSPS experience affidavits signed by Wisconsin Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
Wisconsin-registered apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

Wisconsin-registered apprenticeship satisfies the journeyman experience requirement.

Examination Requirements

PSI Services LLC (under contract to DSPS) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Wisconsin Master Electrician Examination — NEC, Wis. Admin. Code SPS 316, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $96 examination fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

No state minimum, but $1M CGL is the de facto industry standard.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under Wis. Stat. Ch. 102 for any business with three or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$145
Examination	$96
Initial license	$145
Renewal (every 4 years)	$145

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Wisconsin Master Electrician License + Electrical Contractor Registration comes due every 4 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $145. DSPS electrical credentials renew every four years.

Continuing education: Twenty-four hours of DSPS-approved CE every four years for Master Electricians.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Wisconsin for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Minnesota	Trade exam waived	Limited DSPS–DLI reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) for active Master Electricians.
Iowa	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

DSPS maintains limited master-electrician reciprocity (electrical credential only — solar contractor reciprocity is rare) with Minnesota and Iowa.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Complete an electrical apprenticeship. 8,000 hours under a Wisconsin Master Electrician.
Pass the Wisconsin Journeyman Electrician exam. Prerequisite to the Master credential.
Document one year (1,000 hours) as a Journeyman. Required for the Master Electrician exam.
Pass the Master Electrician exam at 70%. PSI administers the exam.
Register as an Electrical Contractor with DSPS. Designate the Master Electrician as the qualifying party.
Register with Focus on Energy as a Trade Ally. Required for incentive program participation.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each Wisconsin jurisdiction requires local permits.

Document Checklist

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

☐ 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship
☐ Wisconsin Journeyman Electrician credential
☐ One year (1,000 hours) as a Journeyman
☐ Master Electrician examination pass
☐ DSPS Electrical Contractor registration
☐ Workers' compensation coverage
☐ Focus on Energy Trade Ally registration (for incentives)

Recommended References

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
Wis. Admin. Code SPS 316 — DSPS. State amendments to the NEC.
PSI Wisconsin Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

Frequent Application Errors

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

Skipping the journeyman step

Direct entry to Master Electrician is not allowed.

Missing Focus on Energy Trade Ally

Required for the largest source of Wisconsin solar incentives.

Letting the 24-hour CE slip

Mandatory every four years and audited.

Forgetting workers compensation

Mandatory for any business with three or more employees.

Confusing solar thermal with PV

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Other Wisconsin Trade Licenses

If the Solar license is not the right fit, the following published Wisconsin trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Wisconsin have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the DSPS Electrical Contractor registration.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Wisconsin, though Focus on Energy strongly prefers it.

How many hours does Wisconsin require?

8,000 hours of apprenticeship for journeyman plus 1,000 more hours as a journeyman to qualify for master.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a Wisconsin Master Plumber license.

How does the license renew?

Every four years. Twenty-four hours of CE are required.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-06