S-3389

AN ACT Relating to electricians; and amending RCW 19.28.530.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 19.28.530 and 1988 c 81 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon receipt of the application, the department shall review the application and determine whether the applicant is eligible to take an examination for the journeyman or specialty certificate of competency.

(a) To be eligible to take the examination for a journeyman certificate the applicant must have worked in the electrical construction trade for a minimum of four years employed full time, of which two years shall be in industrial or commercial electrical installation under the supervision of a journeyman electrician certified under this chapter and not more than a total of two years in all specialties under the supervision of a journeyman electrician certified under this chapter or an appropriate specialty electrician certified under this chapter or have successfully completed an apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04 RCW for the electrical construction trade.

(b) To be eligible to take the examination to become a specialty electrician the applicant shall have worked in that specialty of the electrical construction trade, under the supervision of a journeyman electrician certified under this chapter or an appropriate specialty electrician certified under this chapter, for a minimum of two years employed full time, or have successfully completed an approved apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW for the applicant's specialty in the electrical construction trade. Before January 1, 1984, applicants for nonresidential maintenance specialty licenses are eligible to become nonresidential maintenance specialists upon certification to the department that they have the equivalent of two years full-time experience in that specialty field.

(c) Persons applying before January 1, 1984, for a journeyman certificate are eligible to take the examination to become journeymen until July 1, 1984, upon certification to the department that they have the equivalent of five years full-time experience in nonresidential maintenance, of which two years shall be in industrial electrical installation.

(d) Any applicant who has successfully completed a two-year technical school program in the electrical construction trade in a school that is approved by the ((~~commission for vocational education~~)) director may substitute up to two years of the technical school program for two years of work experience under a journeyman electrician. The applicant shall obtain the additional two years of work experience required in industrial or commercial electrical installation prior to the beginning, or after the completion, of the technical school program.

(e) Any applicant who has received his or her training in the electrical construction trade in the armed service of the United States may be eligible to take the examination for the certificate of competency. Any applicant who is a graduate of a trade school program in the electrical construction trade that was established during 1946 is eligible to take the examination for the certificate of competency. No other requirement for eligibility may be imposed.

(f) An applicant who has received his or her training or work experience in an electrical trade as an employee of the federal government and has successfully completed a four-year apprenticeship program administered by the federal government in the electrical construction trade may take the examination for the certificate of competency. No other requirement for eligibility may be imposed.

(2) The department shall establish reasonable rules for the examinations to be given applicants for certificates of competency. In establishing the rules, the department shall consult with the board. Upon determination that the applicant is eligible to take the examination, the department shall so notify the applicant, indicating the time and place for taking the examination.