Auctioneer (AUC)

A seller's permit is required for every individual, partnership, corporation, or other organization with a Wisconsin sales location making retail sales.

Applicants may obtain a seller’s permit from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. If you determine that your sales are not taxable, you do not need a seller’s permit.

An individual, at least 18 years old, who engages in, or who advertises or holds themselves out as engaging in, the calling for and the recognition and acceptance of offers for the purchase of goods or real estate at an auction.

A “trade name” is a name, other than that on the registration certificate, under which an auctioneer advertises or does business.

For an individual to register a trade name with the department, enter this information into your LicensE application, or reach out to the department by support ticket.

Services provided through a website or interactive computer require a license if the auction is conducted by an auctioneer, as defined in statute.

No. An individual registered as an auctioneer, who operates a sole proprietorship, is not required to obtain an auction company license.

Note: Conducting auction business through a legal entity in Wisconsin requires an auction company license. 

No. An auctioneer shall maintain a trust account when the registrant receives and holds auction funds which are not disbursed to the owner or consignor under a written contract within 24 hours after the auction.

The auctioneer shall provide notification to the department by completing Form 2080 (Consent to Examine and Audit Trust Account) no later than 10 days after opening a trust account.

Renewal Information

For a list of renewal dates please see: Renewal Date Page

To Renew:

You will be able to renew your credential approximately 4 weeks prior to your license expiring. You will receive an email to the email address on file with instructions on how to renew.

1. ​Online Log In: Go to LicensE

2. Select "Renew My License"

3. Complete the application

4. Upload any required documents

5. Submit payment

6. See fees list here: Credential Fees

Licensees must complete 12 hours of continuing education (3 hours in Wisconsin laws relating to auctioneer ethical and professional conduct, and 9 hours in topics pertinent to the practice of auctioneering) in each biennium. Education must be obtained from approved schools, must be the specific courses that are approved for that biennium and must include an exam that is passed. Continuing education courses from other states do not satisfy Wisconsin's requirements unless approved in Wisconsin. There is a Test-Out option available in lieu of continuing education (see below).

Note: Licensees do not have to complete Continuing Education if initially registered less than 6 months before the first renewal.

Renewal Period

The two-year reporting period runs from:

December 15 of an even-numbered year through December 14 of the next even-numbered year

(example: December 15, 2024 – December 14, 2026).

Wisconsin Auctioneer Online Continuing Education (CE) Test-Out Option

Licensees may take a 45 question test-out examination. The test-out examination may be retaken one time. Licensees unsuccessful after two tries must take the approved continuing education courses.

IMPORTANT: You must submit the Application for Auctioneer Continuing Education Test-out Examination and the exam fee and receive authorization to test from the Department before you can take the online CE Test Out Examination.

Content

The exam content is drawn from applicable state statutes and administrative code chapters specific to the profession. The purpose of the exam is to familiarize yourself with locating the statutes and administrative code that regulate the practice of the profession. See the State of Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code for the profession.

The state exam consists of material taken from the following statutes and code chapters:

SPS 123

SPS 124

SPS 125

SPS 126

SPS 127

Chapter 95

Chapter Trans 138

Chapter 402

Chapter 480

Tax 11

Title 18

Instructions

The passing score for auctioneer continuing education is 70%. Follow these directions to take the statutes and rules exam:

Go to https://eptol.drl.wi.gov/.

Select "Test Lauching" from the drop-down menu and click on "Start."

Student ID – enter your license number.

Instructor – enter "dft."

Exam Name and Password (will receive via email after application and payment are processed).

The exam is not timed. You may exit and return any time over the next 3 months. Exit by clicking the "X" at the top right-hand corner of any screen. Do not click "Done" until you have completed the exam and are ready to submit your exam for scoring.

After you click "Done", your exam score is immediately calculated and will automatically be submitted to the Department.

You can go back and forth to questions and change your answers by clicking the appropriate arrows on each exam question screen. There is only one correct answer for each question.

Print out a copy of your score report and retain it for your own records. This is a receipt of you having completed the exam and the continuing education requirement.

Retake

If you fail the exam (score less than 70%), you must retake the exam by downloading the exam application and submitting it along with the $75.00 fee to the Department. You will then be assigned another test.

• You can pay all fees associated with your credential by going to LicensE. 

• You will be asked to pay automatically at the end of your application. 

• You can pay with a credit or debit card, or via an automated clearing house or (ACH) payment.  

Please note, using an ACH payment can increase credential processing times by 3-5 business days.

You can view a list of fees for initial credentials and renewing your credential here: 

Credential Fees

The term credential is used universally to mean license, certification, permit, registration, enrollment and authorization.

• Applicants with convictions, who do not already have a credential, may apply for a predetermination. Predetermination is an optional, first step that happens before you would submit an initial credential application while meeting all credentialing requirements (e.g., education, training, examination, etc.)

  • To apply for a predetermination, log into LicensE.

  • If you have not created an account, you will first need to register.

  • After creating your account, log in, and select “Apply for a Pre-Determination.”

  •   Select the type of credential you would like to apply for.

  •   Follow all application instructions and upload all required documents.

• If the Department decides your record would not disqualify you, you can then apply for the actual credential and meet all the typical requirements like education, training, and exams.

• You may skip the predetermination process and submit your initial application for your credential. You must complete all steps to meet the credentialing requirements such as education, training, exams, and disclose your conviction record on your application.  Convictions and pending charges will be reviewed as part of the application process.

• Some applications require review by Department Legal staff.   

• This can be for a number of reasons, including but not limited to disclosure of convictions or pending charges, professional discipline, malpractice, termination, medical condition, supervised experience and application via reciprocity/endorsement.   

• Applications that require legal review will require additional processing time.  

• An application in the status “Legal File Preparation” is with DSPS and under review. 

Support Ticket
Submit a support ticket on LicensE and click "request support." Please provide as much detail as possible regarding your concern so we can work to answer your question with a one touch resolution. 

Call
608-266-2112

Email
dsps@wisconsin.gov

Office Hours
7:45am-4:30pm
Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI, 53705

Note: The in-person office does not process same day.

• LicensE at (license.wi.gov) is a self-guided online system where you can manage your professional credential from start to finish. 

• You will still need to review the requirements for the credential you are applying to. These can be found on the A-Z profession page. 

• With LicensE you can: 

  • Apply for a credential for the first time, with steps guiding you to upload your application documents, and pay all required fees.  

  • Renew an existing credential when it is time, to keep your credential active.  

  • View or download your credential for your records or verification.  

  • Update your personal information, including your phone number, email, and mailing address 

  • Submit support tickets and receive responses to your email from our staff experts.  

  • Allow third parties to review and upload required documents on your behalf 

  • Check the status of someone's credential using the public LicensE look up. 

• If you have never held a credential, you will need to create an account the first time you are on LicensE. 

  • To create an account, visit LicensE. You will then select “register for an individual” if you are applying for a license held by an individual, or “register for an organization” if you are applying for a license held by an organization.  

  • If you are not sure if the license you are applying for is an individual or organization license, please visit our A-Z professions page and review the profession page for more information.  

• When you create an account, please be sure to use an email you will always have access to.  

• For more information on LicensE, please see link to LicensE "How To" Page.