480.08 Registration.

(1) Registration required.

(a) No person may act as an auctioneer or use the title “auctioneer", “registered auctioneer", “certified auctioneer", “licensed auctioneer" or any similar title unless the person is registered as an auctioneer under this chapter.

(b) No person may act as an auction company unless the person is registered as an auction company or as an auctioneer under this chapter.

(2) Auctioneer registration. The department shall register as an auctioneer an individual who is at least 18 years old and does all of the following:

(a) Submits an application for registration as an auctioneer to the department on a form provided by the department.

(b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

(c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she does not have an arrest or conviction record.

(d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she holds a current permit issued under s. 77.52 (9).

(e) Passes an examination conducted by the department to determine fitness as an auctioneer.

(2m) Examination not required. Notwithstanding sub. (2) (e), the department shall register as an auctioneer under sub. (2) an individual who, not later than December 1, 1997, satisfies the requirements under sub. (2) (intro.) and (a) to (d); submits to the department a statement, signed by the individual, verifying that he or she has knowledge of the requirements for auctioneers under ss. 29.501 and 402.328, subch. III of ch. 77, subch. VIII of ch. 218, this chapter, and all other state laws that include requirements for auctioneers; and submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she has done any of the following:

(a) Been practicing as an auctioneer in this state for at least one year during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted, and has either conducted at least 2 auctions in this state or has had primary responsibility for handling the proceeds of at least 2 auctions in this state during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted.

(b) Had experience conducting auctions in this state or handling the proceeds of auctions in this state during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted that is substantially equivalent to the experience described in par. (a) in preparing the applicant to practice as an auctioneer in this state in a manner that does not adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare.

(3) Auction company registration. The department shall register as an auction company a person who is not registered as an auctioneer under this chapter and does all of the following:

(a) Submits an application for registration as an auction company to the department on a form provided by the department.

(b) Pays the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

(c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, submits evidence satisfactory to the department that the person does not have an arrest or conviction record and, if the person is a partnership, association or corporation, that no partner of the partnership, officer or director of the association or officer or director of the corporation has an arrest or conviction record.

(d) Submits evidence satisfactory to the department that the person holds a current permit issued under s. 77.52 (9).

(4) Issuance of certificate. The department shall issue a certificate of registration to each registrant.

(5) Expiration and renewal. The renewal date for certificates granted under this chapter, other than temporary certificates granted under sub. (7), is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fee for certificates granted under this chapter, other than temporary certificates granted under sub. (7), is determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Renewal applications shall include evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant holds a current permit issued under s. 77.52 (9). A renewal application for an auctioneer certificate shall be accompanied by proof of completion of continuing education requirements under sub. (6).

(6) Auctioneer continuing education. The department may promulgate rules establishing requirements and procedures for registered auctioneers to complete continuing education programs or courses of study in order to qualify for renewal.

(7) Temporary auctioneer certificate.

(a) Upon application, the department shall register as an auctioneer and issue a temporary certificate of registration to an individual who satisfies the requirements under sub. (2) (intro.) and (a) to (d) and has submitted an application to take the next available examination for registration as an auctioneer under s. 480.10.

(b) A temporary certificate issued under this subsection shall be valid for a period designated by the department, not to exceed one year, and may not be renewed. An applicant for a temporary certificate shall pay the fee specified in s. 440.05 (6).

History: 1993 a. 102; 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 248; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 110.