Wisconsin Utility Contractor Practice Exam
Questions with Answers & Rationales
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Licensing & Regulatory Framework
1. Who must hold a Wisconsin Utility Contractor license?
A. Only supervisors on the site
B. Any individual performing utility construction work
C. Only office administrative staff
D. Any subcontractor working on a project
Answer: B
Explanation: Wisconsin law requires all individuals actively performing utility construction
work to be licensed to ensure compliance and safety standards are met across all
personnel on site .
2. Which agency regulates utility contractors in Wisconsin?
A. Wisconsin Department of Transportation
B. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
C. Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
D. Wisconsin Environmental Protection Agency
Answer: C
Explanation: The DSPS oversees licensing, compliance, and enforcement for utility
contractors, including all licensing applications, renewals, and disciplinary actions .
3. How often must a Wisconsin Utility Contractor license be renewed?
A. Every year
B. Every two years
C. Every five years
D. No renewal required
Answer: B
*Explanation: The Wisconsin DSPS requires biennial (every two years) license renewal,
specifically by March 1st of even-numbered years .*
4. What is the minimum experience requirement for a Utility Contractor license in
Wisconsin?
,A. 2 years of any construction experience
B. 4 years of experience in utility construction work, with at least 2 years in a supervisory
capacity
C. 1 year of apprenticeship
D. No experience required
Answer: B
Explanation: Wisconsin requires substantial field experience—four years in utility
construction with two years in a supervisory role—to ensure licensed contractors have
practical knowledge of operations .
5. Under SPS 305.97, what is the minimum amount of work experience required
before applying?
A. 1 year of apprenticeship
B. 2 years of supervised work on utility projects
C. 3 years of utility construction with at least 1 year as a foreman
D. No experience required if you have a degree
Answer: B
Explanation: SPS 305.97 specifically requires at least two years of supervised utility work
before licensure .
6. What is the application and renewal fee for a Wisconsin utility contractor
license?
A. 50initialand50initialand50 renewal
B. 85initialand85initialand85 renewal
C. 150initialand150initialand100 renewal
D. 200initialand200initialand150 renewal
Answer: B
Explanation: The DSPS fee structure sets the initial application fee and renewal fee at $85
each to cover administrative costs .
7. What is the minimum bond requirement for a Wisconsin utility contractor?
A. 5,000B.5,000B.10,000
C. 15,000forcontractorswithgrossrevenuesunder15,000forcontractorswithgrossre
venuesunder500,000
D. No bond required
Answer: C
Explanation: The bonding requirement scales with business size. Contractors with gross
revenues under 500,000musthavea500,000musthavea15,000 bond to protect clients
against incomplete work or financial failure .
,8. What insurance coverage is required for Wisconsin utility contractors?
A. Only workers' compensation insurance
B. General liability insurance of at
least 300,000andworkers′compensationasrequiredbylawC.Generalliabilityinsura
nceofatleast300,000andworkers′compensationasrequiredbylawC.Generalliabilit
yinsuranceofatleast100,000
D. No insurance required
Answer: B
Explanation: These minimum insurance requirements—$300,000 general liability plus
workers' compensation—protect both the contractor's business and the public in case of
accidents or property damage .
9. What Wisconsin statute and administrative code govern utility contractors?
A. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 101.65 and Administrative Code Chapter SPS 305
B. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 145 and Administrative Code Chapter SPS 382
C. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 701 and Administrative Code Chapter DOT 101
D. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 201 and Administrative Code Chapter DNR 500
Answer: A
Explanation: Wisconsin Statute Chapter 101.65 and Administrative Code Chapter SPS 305
establish the legal framework for utility contractor licensing, responsibilities, and
enforcement .
10. Under SPS 302.04, what is the correct biennial renewal fee for a Class A Utility
Contractor?
A. 150B.150B.250
C. 350D.350D.450
Answer: C
Explanation: SPS 302.04 specifically sets the biennial renewal fee for a Class A Utility
Contractor at $350 .
11. What constitutes a "utility" under Wisconsin law?
A. Only gas and electric lines
B. Only water and sewer systems
C. Gas, electric, water, sewer, telecommunications, and cable television infrastructure
D. Only publicly owned infrastructure
Answer: C
Explanation: Wisconsin law defines utilities broadly to include all essential service
infrastructure—gas, electric, water, sewer, telecommunications, and cable TV—that
requires protection during excavation .
, 12. Can an out-of-state contractor work in Wisconsin without a license?
A. Yes, if licensed in their home state
B. Yes, for projects under $10,000
C. No, all utility contractors must be licensed regardless of their home state
D. Yes, for emergency repairs only
Answer: C
Explanation: Wisconsin does not have reciprocal licensing for utility contractors. Any
contractor performing utility work in Wisconsin must hold a valid Wisconsin license .
Exam II: Excavation & Utility Locating (Questions 13-30)
13. Before excavating in a public right-of-way in Wisconsin, the FIRST step is to:
A. Notify OSHA
B. Call 811 for utility locates
C. Set up traffic control
D. Obtain soil borings
Answer: B
*Explanation: State law requires notifying the one-call system (811) before any
excavation to mark underground facilities .*
14. What is Wisconsin's "Call Before You Dig" law known as?
A. Digger's Safety Act
B. Diggers Hotline / 811
C. Utility Locator Act
D. Excavation Safety Rule
Answer: B
Explanation: Wisconsin requires contacting 811 (Diggers Hotline) before digging to have
underground utilities marked .
15. The legal minimum time to wait after making a routine 811 locate request
(non-emergency) before digging is typically:
A. Immediately
B. 1 hour
C. 3 business days (72 hours)
D. 30 days
Answer: C
*Explanation: The standard 3-business-day window allows utilities time to mark their
facilities; always verify current ticket timelines in your area .*
Questions with Answers & Rationales
Newest 2026 | INSTANT PDF DOWNLOAD
Licensing & Regulatory Framework
1. Who must hold a Wisconsin Utility Contractor license?
A. Only supervisors on the site
B. Any individual performing utility construction work
C. Only office administrative staff
D. Any subcontractor working on a project
Answer: B
Explanation: Wisconsin law requires all individuals actively performing utility construction
work to be licensed to ensure compliance and safety standards are met across all
personnel on site .
2. Which agency regulates utility contractors in Wisconsin?
A. Wisconsin Department of Transportation
B. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
C. Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
D. Wisconsin Environmental Protection Agency
Answer: C
Explanation: The DSPS oversees licensing, compliance, and enforcement for utility
contractors, including all licensing applications, renewals, and disciplinary actions .
3. How often must a Wisconsin Utility Contractor license be renewed?
A. Every year
B. Every two years
C. Every five years
D. No renewal required
Answer: B
*Explanation: The Wisconsin DSPS requires biennial (every two years) license renewal,
specifically by March 1st of even-numbered years .*
4. What is the minimum experience requirement for a Utility Contractor license in
Wisconsin?
,A. 2 years of any construction experience
B. 4 years of experience in utility construction work, with at least 2 years in a supervisory
capacity
C. 1 year of apprenticeship
D. No experience required
Answer: B
Explanation: Wisconsin requires substantial field experience—four years in utility
construction with two years in a supervisory role—to ensure licensed contractors have
practical knowledge of operations .
5. Under SPS 305.97, what is the minimum amount of work experience required
before applying?
A. 1 year of apprenticeship
B. 2 years of supervised work on utility projects
C. 3 years of utility construction with at least 1 year as a foreman
D. No experience required if you have a degree
Answer: B
Explanation: SPS 305.97 specifically requires at least two years of supervised utility work
before licensure .
6. What is the application and renewal fee for a Wisconsin utility contractor
license?
A. 50initialand50initialand50 renewal
B. 85initialand85initialand85 renewal
C. 150initialand150initialand100 renewal
D. 200initialand200initialand150 renewal
Answer: B
Explanation: The DSPS fee structure sets the initial application fee and renewal fee at $85
each to cover administrative costs .
7. What is the minimum bond requirement for a Wisconsin utility contractor?
A. 5,000B.5,000B.10,000
C. 15,000forcontractorswithgrossrevenuesunder15,000forcontractorswithgrossre
venuesunder500,000
D. No bond required
Answer: C
Explanation: The bonding requirement scales with business size. Contractors with gross
revenues under 500,000musthavea500,000musthavea15,000 bond to protect clients
against incomplete work or financial failure .
,8. What insurance coverage is required for Wisconsin utility contractors?
A. Only workers' compensation insurance
B. General liability insurance of at
least 300,000andworkers′compensationasrequiredbylawC.Generalliabilityinsura
nceofatleast300,000andworkers′compensationasrequiredbylawC.Generalliabilit
yinsuranceofatleast100,000
D. No insurance required
Answer: B
Explanation: These minimum insurance requirements—$300,000 general liability plus
workers' compensation—protect both the contractor's business and the public in case of
accidents or property damage .
9. What Wisconsin statute and administrative code govern utility contractors?
A. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 101.65 and Administrative Code Chapter SPS 305
B. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 145 and Administrative Code Chapter SPS 382
C. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 701 and Administrative Code Chapter DOT 101
D. Wisconsin Statute Chapter 201 and Administrative Code Chapter DNR 500
Answer: A
Explanation: Wisconsin Statute Chapter 101.65 and Administrative Code Chapter SPS 305
establish the legal framework for utility contractor licensing, responsibilities, and
enforcement .
10. Under SPS 302.04, what is the correct biennial renewal fee for a Class A Utility
Contractor?
A. 150B.150B.250
C. 350D.350D.450
Answer: C
Explanation: SPS 302.04 specifically sets the biennial renewal fee for a Class A Utility
Contractor at $350 .
11. What constitutes a "utility" under Wisconsin law?
A. Only gas and electric lines
B. Only water and sewer systems
C. Gas, electric, water, sewer, telecommunications, and cable television infrastructure
D. Only publicly owned infrastructure
Answer: C
Explanation: Wisconsin law defines utilities broadly to include all essential service
infrastructure—gas, electric, water, sewer, telecommunications, and cable TV—that
requires protection during excavation .
, 12. Can an out-of-state contractor work in Wisconsin without a license?
A. Yes, if licensed in their home state
B. Yes, for projects under $10,000
C. No, all utility contractors must be licensed regardless of their home state
D. Yes, for emergency repairs only
Answer: C
Explanation: Wisconsin does not have reciprocal licensing for utility contractors. Any
contractor performing utility work in Wisconsin must hold a valid Wisconsin license .
Exam II: Excavation & Utility Locating (Questions 13-30)
13. Before excavating in a public right-of-way in Wisconsin, the FIRST step is to:
A. Notify OSHA
B. Call 811 for utility locates
C. Set up traffic control
D. Obtain soil borings
Answer: B
*Explanation: State law requires notifying the one-call system (811) before any
excavation to mark underground facilities .*
14. What is Wisconsin's "Call Before You Dig" law known as?
A. Digger's Safety Act
B. Diggers Hotline / 811
C. Utility Locator Act
D. Excavation Safety Rule
Answer: B
Explanation: Wisconsin requires contacting 811 (Diggers Hotline) before digging to have
underground utilities marked .
15. The legal minimum time to wait after making a routine 811 locate request
(non-emergency) before digging is typically:
A. Immediately
B. 1 hour
C. 3 business days (72 hours)
D. 30 days
Answer: C
*Explanation: The standard 3-business-day window allows utilities time to mark their
facilities; always verify current ticket timelines in your area .*
