Wisconsin Architect CE Requirements (2026): 24 Hours Every 2 Years
Requirements Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), through the Examining Board of Architects, requires 24 contact hours of continuing education per two-year registration period, of which at least 16 must be in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) topics pertinent to the practice of architecture (Wis. Admin. Code A-E 12.06). The remaining 8 hours may cover other architecture-related subjects.
The biennial cycle is fixed: it runs from August 1 of an even-numbered year through July 31 of the next even-numbered year, so renewal falls on July 31 of even years. Continuing education must be completed within that preceding biennium.
Wisconsin allows a modest head start — up to 8 excess contact hours may be carried forward to the next renewal period. New licensees get a break too: architects first licensed on or after August 1, 2019 had no CE requirement for their initial renewal period. Keep your certificates and statements of attendance for 4 years.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health, Safety & Welfare (HSW) | 16 | Every renewal | At least 16 of the 24 contact hours in each biennial period must be in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) topics pertinent to the practice of architecture. The remaining 8 hours may cover other architecture-related subjects. |
How You Can Complete Your CE
Wisconsin CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Wisconsin that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — Up to 8 excess contact hours may be carried forward to the next renewal period (Wis. Admin. Code A-E 12.06).
- 24 contact hours of continuing education are required per biennial registration period, of which at least 16 must be in health, safety, and welfare (HSW) topics pertinent to the practice of architecture.
- The biennial registration period runs August 1 of an even-numbered year through July 31 of the next even-numbered year; renewal is due July 31 of even years.
- Up to 8 excess contact hours may be carried forward to the next renewal period.
- First-time license holders licensed on or after August 1, 2019 had no CE requirement for their initial renewal period.
- Maintain records of continuing education for at least 4 years from the date the certificate or statement of attendance is signed. Waivers are available under Wis. Admin. Code A-E 12.08.
Tips for Wisconsin Architects
- Clear the 16-hour HSW floor first, then use the remaining 8 hours for any architecture-related topic. Only 16 of the 24 need the HSW designation.
- Watch the fixed biennium: August 1 of an even year through July 31 of the next even year. All 24 hours must fall inside that window.
- You can carry forward up to 8 excess contact hours into the next period — useful if a long course pushes you over 24.
- If you were first licensed on or after August 1, 2019, you had no CE requirement for your initial renewal period; confirm your first full cycle with DSPS.
- Keep certificates and statements of attendance for 4 years from the date they were signed. Waivers are available under A-E 12.08 for hardship. Always verify current rules with DSPS.
Sources
Each figure on this page is taken directly from the Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors (DSPS)'s official rules and continuing-education sources and recorded with the exact source excerpt. Last verified Jul 2026. Read how we compile and verify this data.