S&B - Dwelling Contractor Certifications and Education

1. What is the Safety and Buildings Division Dwelling Contractor Certification?  GO

2. What is the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification?  GO

3. Are both certifications needed to obtain a one- or two-family permit?  GO

4. How do you know if you were grandfathered in to having a Qualifier Certification?  GO

5. Where are the application forms?  Dwelling Contractor.  Dwelling Contractor Qualifier.

6. What are the fees for certifications?  Dwelling Contractor = $40.  Dwelling Contractor Qualifier = $45.

7. Is there a list of Dwelling Contractor Qualifier initial courses?  Yes, here.

8. How many hours of continuing education will be needed for qualifier certification renewal?  12 over two years, taken by three months before the renewal date.  

9. Is there a list of qualifier continuing education courses. Yes, here.  The Dwelling Contractor Certification (formerly Financial Responsibility Certification) does not have continuing education requirements. 

** Copies of the letters sent in August 2007 to dwelling contractors.  GO

*** More education information.

  1. What is the Dwelling Contractor Certification?  This certification was previously called the Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility Certification; the requirements have not changed. This business credential is one of two certifications needed to obtain permits for one- or two-family dwellings.  It is good for one year.  Along with completed application and fee ($40), applicants need to submit a certificate of insurance stating that the company has a minimum of $250,000 (per occurrence) of general liability insurance along with completed application and fees.

  2. What is the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification?  This new certification is for an individual. It is one of two certifications needed to obtain permits for one- or two-family dwellings. It is good for two years. Along with completed application and fee ($45), applicants need to submit proof that they are grandfathered in because a previous dwelling contractor certification or that they have attended an approved 12-hour initial qualifier course.  After taking the initial training class, someone needs to apply to S&B to obtain a qualifier certification.

  3. Are both certifications needed to obtain a one- or two-family permit?  Yes. In order to obtain permits for one- or two- family dwellings, both the Dwelling Contractor     (business) Certification and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (individual) certification are needed. The business owner must possess or employ an individual who has the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification.  The qualifier certification is no sufficient to obtain the permit.  A current contractor certification is also needed.  A business may employ more than one person with a qualifier certification.

  4. How do you know if you were grandfathered in to having a Qualifier Certification?  Someone is eligible to be grandfathered into having the qualifier certification if the business held a Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility Certification or Dwelling Contractor Financial Responsibility – Restricted Certification on April 11 to April 14, 2006.  More than one person may be grandfathered into having a qualifier certification:  It could be someone who was the business owner, partner, chairman of the board, chief executive officer, or the contact person of record.  Just being an employee of the business is not sufficient to be grandfathered. 

  ** Here is a copy of the letter S&B sent August 15, 2007, to people with a dwelling contractor certification who were eligible to be "grandfathered" into having the new Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification.  

** Here is the letter S&B sent August 15, 2007, to people who will need to take a 12-hour initial training course before applying for the new Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Certification.   

  Education Information

Here is a link to a Web page which lists Dwelling Contractor Qualifier initial courses and continuing education courses.  The initial course is a 12-hour course.  Separate courses of one, two, three hours, etc, cannot be added up to give credit for the initial course.

After getting the qualifier certification, a person needs to attend 12 hours of continuing education over two years to renew the qualifier certification.  These 12 hours of continuing education can be from adding together classes of one, two, three hours, etc.  The education must be completed three months before the renewal date to allow processing of the attendance records.

The Dwelling Contractor Certification (formerly Financial Responsibility Certification) does not have continuing education requirements. 

Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov or 608-267-3606

  The Department of Safety and Professional Services Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TDD Relay dial 711 in Wisconsin or 800-947-3529, or Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov