WI Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Continuing Education

LIMITED TIME! A $10 discount on any 12-hour course will automatically apply in your shopping cart as part of our limited time sale. This discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

12-Hour Continuing Education Package: $95 - $85 SALE! Save $10

4-Hour Continuing Education Course: $30

Our intelligent course chooser lets you build your own course based on the topics that interest you.

All licensees must complete the following 4-hour section:

Construction Codes, Contracts, and Risk Management [Course ID #22871]

After Wis. Stat. § 101.654(1m)(b)1 goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2022, Dwelling Contractor Qualifiers are required to take four of their twelve CE hours addressing the subjects of “construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management.” This four hour section has been approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services to meet the new requirements per Wis. Stat. § 101.654(1m)(b)1

Construction Delays: This section will discuss how contracting parties deal with construction delays, giving actual and hypothetical examples, including references to actual court decisions describing the principles discussed.

Project Risk & Estimating Practices: The first section will cover identifying and mitigating project risk in the construction industry as it pertains events, conditions, positive or negative effects to goals and overall success of the construction project. The second section will navigate the steps and rules to follow to execute a sound construction estimates for successful construction projects.

WI Admin Code ATCP 110: Home Improvement Practices

WI Uniform Dwelling Code: SPS 321 Subchapter II: Design Criteria

All licensees can then choose from the following 4-hour elective topics:

Getting Decked - And Choosing How That Happens [Course ID #22668]

Regardless of our need for shelter from the elements, we still seek ways to reconnect with nature. This involves creating outdoor living spaces, usually called patios, balconies or decks. In this study, we compare materials and finishes used to construct such places. Since nature will immediately begin seeking to reassert itself, we examine the pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses of various material choices.

Sound Advice for Acoustics [Course ID #22667]

Unwanted sound impacts and affects inhabitants of our created spaces. If it is not already, controlling noise will quickly become a mandated concern for designers. Attesting to increasing regulatory focus on noise is a recent proliferation of standards, guidelines, and codes regarding acoustics. 

Very soon, many of these guidelines will no longer be mere suggestions. Most concerns covered in these standards can be addressed with a basic understanding on how sound travels and is reflected, blocked, absorbed, or transmitted by materials and assemblies chosen in designing envelopes.  

Acoustic design is best addressed in an incremental fashion. This course was written to do just that. Fundamentals are first covered, including basic principles regarding sound, how its energy moves through matter, how its path and intensity can be altered, and how success in the manipulation of sound is measured. Known design strategies are discussed for controlling sound moving; from exterior to interior spaces, from interior spaces to adjacent spaces, within interior spaces, through structural components, and through building systems. Design considerations are outlined for numerous common building functions. Finally, acoustic codes and guidelines in existence now, are listed for consideration.

Less Power To You - Designing for Energy Efficiency [Course ID #22669]

Decisions to improve energy efficiency stem from multiple sources. Enforceable energy codes dictate some choices in new construction. Budget concerns will determine the difference between the best life-cycle cost choices and what can actually be afforded. Home energy audits identify existing points of energy loss and suggest areas of potential improvement. Becoming aware of very old and emerging technologies for energy efficiency, is enough to get the wheels turning for some. A desire to improve the environment is motivation for many. Whatever the reason, the decision to help conserve our natural resources is a good investment in the future.

Many steps that can be taken, both during the design process and after structures are completed, to reduce the use of energy. These include passive steps like insulating and tightening the building envelope. In line with this is installing more efficient doors, windows and skylights which are normally holes in those envelopes. In the design phases, choices can be made while positioning buildings on site, to strategically allow or preclude solar gain, admit or deny natural ventilation and maximize or minimize shade as needed for different seasons. After all has been accomplished that can be done to passively minimize energy use, active technologies can be installed to recapture energy or generate power for internal use or storage.

Whatever the reason behind them, this course encourages and examines the impact of decisions and methods to conserve energy. Because all such actions ultimately result in a desirable preservation of natural resources.

Starting From the Bottom [Course ID #22670]

When a floor collapses or when mold appears on it, we can be sure of one thing. Such problems likely began when poor choices were made selecting materials, from the level of the grade to the level of the finished floor. Like the problems they spawn, choices made in proper or improper floor design, begin at the bottom and work their way upward.

This course takes a systematic look at decisions made in choosing specific components of construction, from the ground to the top of the first finished floor. Those choices need to be sound and dependable, since the top of that floor is the base upon which the rest of the enclosure will rest. 

This design process includes; an analysis of water attacking the structure, why specific foundation options are selected, what framing members will support the floor, how vapor drive will be controlled, what insulation will be installed to isolate climates, the subflooring that will be the primary barrier between the inside atmosphere and any space below, and the underlayment and finish flooring that will be placed above. 

If we do our job well as designers, that last component will be the only part of everything chosen, to ever need further attention or consideration from our clients.

Drier by Design - Designing to Keep Water Out [Course ID #22671]

With erosion paths cut into solid rock as solid evidence, water in various forms contains immense power to eat away or destroy whatever is in its path. Whether it takes a year, two hundred or ten thousand, without intervention, water can and will destroy our man-made structures. Once a problem develops that opens a pathway for intrusion, one rainy season can render a building unsuitable for human use.

We have the knowledge and tools to combat such destruction of our structures. We implement counterattacks in the design stage, during construction, and afterwards with proactive maintenance. But the battle against water begins in the design phase.

Moisture resistance principles and methods are discussed in a systematic fashion, as in one building system at a time. Fundamentals are first covered including basic principles of water behavior, and the multiple paths it takes while invading buildings. A thorough knowledge of how destruction begins and escalates, drives the known design principles and material decisions used to stop such migration. Then practical solutions are discussed in detail.

The discussion is needed. The physical price tag for both our structures and their occupants, is too high to allow water free entry into our occupied spaces.

Approved by the WI Department of Safety and Professional Services to meet all new continuing education requirements per Wis. Stat. § 101.654(1m)(b)1, which goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2022. View "NEW Continuing Education Requirements per Act 237" under "Resources" for more information.

Click here to view our approval. 

When it comes to continuing education, you certainly have plenty of options with fly-by-night providers who don’t even offer a phone number. That can get very frustrating when you're looking for simple technical support. At Leisure's mission is to provide the best experience possible to our customers.

Our course was written by an industry expert, Paul Spite, a registered architect for nearly forty years. After graduating from Ball State University with two degrees, one in Architecture and one in Environmental Design, Paul worked as a construction manager and facility manager, gaining a wide range of practical knowledge about the buildings he designs. Through his passion for teaching, he passes on his knowledge and experience to students in an interesting, easy to understand format.

Upon completion of the course, your certificate is immediately available for download so you can save it for your records.

Don't have time to finish your course(s) in one sitting? Don't worry about it. Our "bookmark" feature will automatically save your progress down to the exact location - so all you have to do is click "resume" when you're ready to continue on.

We didn't take the cheap route; we paid for a professional reader in a studio to provide you with optional audio narration. No computer voice. No echo. Just a soft, pleasant voice to read to you, if you choose.

Our website was built on one foundation: ease of use! We didn't integrate a random course player from a 3rd-party. Instead, our software is custom built to offer you the best user experience possible. To catch a glimpse of our course player, and learn about its benefits, click here.

Access your account and complete your course(s) from any Internet-enabled device, any time, any place.

Some other providers only grant you 30 days access to your course. When you enroll in our continuing education courses, you gain more than enough time to complete your course (4 months, to be exact). However, should you need more time, we'll make it happen! Our world-class customer support team is standing by to ensure your experience is as positive as it can be.

Renewing your dwelling contractor license can sneak up on you, leaving you to rush to complete your continuing education at the last minute. We have a solution for you... our license management tools! Free with your account, simply add your license expiration date, and choose when you want to be notified. Our system will automatically notify you that your license is coming due for renewal. Choose between email and/or text notification.

You don't need to be a computer expert to use our platform. Our entire site was built with the comprehension that "ease of use" is rule number one. Still, you may decide you want some help, and we are a quick phone call away. We receive a lot of positive feedback for our customer support, so rest assured, you're in good hands.

Individuals holding a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier certification must complete 12 hours of continuing education during each two year renewal cycle. As of November 1, 2022, four of the twelve hours address the subjects of “construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management" (see "NEW Continuing Education Requirements per Act 237" section below for further information).

Only courses, programs and seminars approved in writing by the department shall be used for credit to fulfill continuing education requirements.

For more information, please visit the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) website here.

A renewal notice will be mailed to each licensee at least 30 calendar days prior to expiration date.

The renewal application must be submitted along with a $30 renewal fee. For a full list of renewal fees by profession, click here.

Licenses may also be renewed online via the eSLA Customer Portal.

If you have questions regarding your renewal, please email DSPSCredTrades@wisconsin.gov.

When mailing your renewal, please allow up to 21 calendar days [per Wis. Admin. Code SPS § 305.04 (1)] from the date your payment is processed to receive an update regarding your renewal. ​

The Wisconsin State Legislature adopted amendments to the Uniform Dwelling Code, Section 1. 101.654 in the passing of 2021 Wisconsin Act 237.

This amendment effects the initial and continuing education requirements for multiple credentials, including Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, Dwelling Contractor, and Dwelling Contractor-Restricted.

As of Nov. 1, 2022, twelve hours of CE are still required for Dwelling Contractor Qualifiers, but there is an additional requirement that four of the twelve hours address the subjects of “construction laws and codes and contracts, liability, and risk management.”

At Leisure's 12 Hour continuing education package has been approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to meet the new requirements per Wis. Stat. § 101.654(1m)(b)1.