443.07 Permit requirements: designers of engineering systems.

(1) An applicant for a permit as a designer shall submit as evidence satisfactory to the designer section of the examining board one of the following to indicate that he or she is competent to be in charge of such work:

(a) A specific record of 8 years or more of experience in specialized engineering design work and the satisfactory completion of a written examination in the field or branch, as determined by the designer section, in which certification is sought.

(b) A specific record of 12 years of experience by any person at least 35 years of age who was actively engaged in this state in the preparation of plans, specifications, designs and layouts in specific fields or branches as designated under sub. (3). Such a person may be granted a permit to offer and perform services in the designated field or branch.

(2) Completion of technological academic training or apprenticeship program approved by the board may be considered equivalent to experience, but should not exceed a total of 4 years. The successful completion of each year of academic work without graduation shall be equivalent to one year of experience. Graduation from a course other than engineering technology shall be equivalent to 2 years of experience under this subsection.

(3) Permits shall be granted, designated, and limited to the fields and subfields of technology as are determined by the designer section and recognized in engineering design practice. Any person holding a permit may prepare plans and specifications and perform consultation, investigation, and evaluation in connection with the making of plans and specifications, within the scope of the permit, notwithstanding that such activity constitutes the practice of architecture or professional engineering under this chapter.

(4) A master plumber's license under ch. 145 shall be considered equivalent to the work experience and satisfactory completion of a written examination in the field of plumbing systems, and the holder of a master plumber's license shall be issued a permit as a designer of plumbing systems upon the making of an application and the payment of the permit fee.

(5) The permit shall, on its face, restrict the holder thereof to the specific field and subfields of designing in which the permittee acquired his or her experience in designing. If qualified in more than one type of designing, persons may receive permits for more than one field or subfield of designing as may be determined by the designer section.

(6) The renewal date for permits under this section is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the fee for renewal of such permits is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

History: 1979 c. 167; 1991 a. 39; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 146.

Although designer of plumbing systems permits must be issued to applicants who are licensed master plumbers, the examining board has wide discretion to establish design of engineering systems classifications in fields and subfields of technology recognized in engineering design practice and to determine the competence of applicants who hold restricted or temporary master plumber's licenses. 60 Atty. Gen. 37.