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Wisconsin PE License Renewal: CE hours, deadlines, and portal.

Wisconsin Professional Engineer (PE) licenses renew every two years (biennial). Wisconsin requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle (about 15 per year). Of the 30 hours, 2 must be in professional ethics. Up to 15 excess PDH may carry over to the next cycle. The approximate renewal fee is $78 per cycle. Online renewal is available through the state board portal. Renew by July 31 of even-numbered years. 2 PDH must be in professional conduct and ethics.

Renewal deadline:July 31 of even-numbered years
Renewal cycle
Biennial
PDH required
30 per cycle
Ethics required
2 hours
Approximate fee
$78

Wisconsin engineering compliance at a glance

Everything it takes to legally practice engineering in Wisconsin: your individual PE license, your firm's Certificate of Authorization, and the Secretary-of-State / tax filings that keep the entity in good standing. Costs and cadence are estimates, confirm on the official portals before relying on them.

RequirementApplies toCostRenewsWhat you do
PE license (individual)Always required to practice~$78BiennialEarn 30 PDH, then renew on the board portal · open
Firm Certificate of AuthorizationIf you practice through a firm$55BiennialApply / renew with the engineering board · open
Secretary of State annual reportIf the firm is a registered entity$25AnnualFile with the Secretary of State · open

Note: Auto-import under maintenance — Wisconsin migrated its license portal to a new Salesforce platform. Look up your firm at license.wi.gov and add the number below.

CE / PDH requirements in Wisconsin

Wisconsin requires 30 PDH per 2-year renewal cycle (about 15 hours per year). Of that total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics.

Wisconsin allows up to 15 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.

How to renew your Wisconsin PE license

  1. 1
    Confirm your renewal date

    Renew by July 31 of even-numbered years. 2 PDH must be in professional conduct and ethics.

  2. 2
    Verify your PDH balance

    Confirm you have at least 30 PDH for this cycle, including 2 ethics hours. Save certificates as PDFs in case the board audits you.

  3. 3
    Pay the renewal fee

    About $78. Wisconsin accepts online renewal through the board portal.

  4. 4
    Save your new pocket card

    Once renewed, save your updated wall certificate or pocket card. If your firm needs a copy for project files, send it the same day.

What trips people up

Wisconsin renewal gotchas

Field notes from mapping the Wisconsin renewal flow. Specifics change, so confirm anything time-sensitive on the board portal before you rely on it.

  • Must complete 2 hours specifically in ethics/professional conduct
  • Must complete 13 hours from interactive instruction (not all self-study allowed)
  • If you receive initial credential close to July 31 of an even year, you still must renew by that date
  • Registration seal must comply with Administrative Code A-E 2.02
  • Foreign education requires NCEES evaluation only - no other credential services accepted
  • DSPS transitioned from old DRL system to new LicensE platform - make sure you're on the new system
Practicing through a firm in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin requires firms to hold a Certificate of Authorization (about $55, every two years (biennial)) to offer engineering services. It renews on its own cycle, separate from your individual PE license. PE License Pro tracks individual PE licenses, firm CoAs, and entity filings side by side.

Open the Wisconsin firm CoA portal
Need a new Wisconsin PE license? Open the Wisconsin application page

Wisconsin PE renewal FAQ

How often does a Wisconsin PE license need to be renewed?+

Wisconsin PE licenses are renewed every two years (biennial). Renew by July 31 of even-numbered years. 2 PDH must be in professional conduct and ethics.

When is the deadline to renew a Wisconsin PE license?+

Wisconsin PE license renewal deadline: July 31 of even-numbered years. Dates and cycles can change, so confirm the exact date on the Wisconsin board portal and renew before it. A missed deadline usually means a late fee, and in some states the license lapses and has to be reinstated.

How many PDH hours does Wisconsin require for PE renewal?+

Wisconsin requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle, including 2 ethics hours.

How much does it cost to renew a Wisconsin PE license?+

The approximate renewal fee is $78 per cycle. Fees can change; confirm the current amount on the Wisconsin board portal.

Where do I renew my Wisconsin PE license?+

Wisconsin renewals are handled by the state's licensing board. The current portal is at https://dsps.wi.gov/.

Does Wisconsin allow PDH carryover?+

Yes. Wisconsin allows up to 15 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.

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