AN
ACT Relating to certification of electricians; and amending RCW 19.28.006,
19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.161, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, and
19.28.241.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
19.28.006 and 2001 c 211 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
The
definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter.
(1)
"Administrator" means a person designated by an electrical contractor
to supervise electrical work and electricians in accordance with the rules
adopted under this chapter.
(2)
"Board" means the electrical board under RCW 19.28.311.
(3)
"Chapter" or "subchapter" means the subchapter, if no
chapter number is referenced.
(4)
"Department" means the department of labor and industries.
(5)
"Director" means the director of the department or the director's
designee.
(6)
"Electrical construction trade" includes but is not limited to
installing or maintaining electrical wires and equipment that are used for
light, heat, or power and installing and maintaining remote control, signaling,
power limited, or communication circuits or systems.
(7)
"Electrical contractor" means a person, firm, partnership,
corporation, or other entity that offers to undertake, undertakes, submits a
bid for, or does the work of installing or maintaining wires or equipment that
convey electrical current.
(8)
"Equipment" means any equipment or apparatus that directly uses,
conducts, insulates, or is operated by electricity but does not mean:
Plug-in ((household)) appliances; or plug-in equipment as
determined by the department by rule.
(9)
"Industrial control panel" means a factory-wired or user-wired
assembly of industrial control equipment such as motor controllers, switches,
relays, power supplies, computers, cathode ray tubes, transducers, and
auxiliary devices. The panel may include disconnect means and motor branch
circuit protective devices.
(10)
"Journeyman electrician" means a person who has been issued a
journeyman electrician certificate of competency by the department.
(11)
"Master electrician" means either a master journeyman electrician
or master specialty electrician.
(12)
"Master journeyman electrician" means a person who has been issued a
master journeyman electrician certificate of competency by the department and
who may be designated by an electrical contractor to supervise electrical work
and electricians in accordance with rules adopted under this chapter.
(13)
"Master specialty electrician" means a person who has been issued a
specialty electrician certificate of competency by the department and who may
be designated by an electrical contractor to supervise electrical work and
electricians in accordance with rules adopted under this chapter.
(14) "Specialty electrician" means a person who
has been issued a specialty electrician certificate of competency by the
department.
Sec.
2. RCW
19.28.041 and 2001 c 211 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity
to engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of installing or maintaining
wires or equipment to convey electric current, or installing or maintaining
equipment to be operated by electric current as it pertains to the electrical
industry, without having an unrevoked, unsuspended, and unexpired electrical
contractor license, issued by the department in accordance with this chapter.
All electrical contractor licenses expire twenty-four calendar months following
the day of their issue. The department may issue an electrical contractors
license for a period of less than twenty-four months only for the purpose of
equalizing the number of electrical contractor licenses that expire each
month. Application for an electrical contractor license shall be made in
writing to the department, accompanied by the required fee. The application
shall state:
(a)
The name and address of the applicant; in case of firms or partnerships, the
names of the individuals composing the firm or partnership; in case of
corporations, the names of the managing officials thereof;
(b)
The location of the place of business of the applicant and the name under which
the business is conducted;
(c)
Employer social security number;
(d)
Evidence of workers' compensation coverage for the applicant's employees
working in Washington, as follows:
(i)
The applicant's industrial insurance account number issued by the department;
(ii)
The applicant's self-insurer number issued by the department; or
(iii)
For applicants domiciled in a state or province of Canada subject to an
agreement entered into under RCW 51.12.120(7), as permitted by the agreement,
filing a certificate of coverage issued by the agency that administers the
workers' compensation law in the applicant's state or province of domicile
certifying that the applicant has secured the payment of compensation under the
other state's or province's workers' compensation law;
(e)
Employment security department number;
(f)
State excise tax registration number;
(g)
Unified business identifier (UBI) account number may be substituted for the
information required by (d) of this subsection if the applicant will not employ
employees in Washington, and by (e) and (f) of this subsection; and
(h)
Whether a general or specialty electrical contractor license is sought and, if
the latter, the type of specialty. Electrical contractor specialties include,
but are not limited to: Residential, ((domestic appliances,)) pump and
irrigation, limited energy system, signs, nonresidential maintenance, restricted
nonresidential maintenance, appliance repair, and a combination specialty.
A general electrical contractor license shall grant to the holder the right to
engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of installing or maintaining wires
or equipment to carry electric current, and installing or maintaining
equipment, or installing or maintaining material to fasten or insulate such
wires or equipment to be operated by electric current, in the state of
Washington. A specialty electrical contractor license shall grant to the
holder a limited right to engage in, conduct, or carry on the business of
installing or maintaining wires or equipment to carry electrical current, and
installing or maintaining equipment; or installing or maintaining material to
fasten or insulate such wires or equipment to be operated by electric current
in the state of Washington as expressly allowed by the license.
(2)
The department may verify the workers' compensation coverage information
provided by the applicant under subsection (1)(d) of this section, including
but not limited to information regarding the coverage of an individual employee
of the applicant. If coverage is provided under the laws of another state, the
department may notify the other state that the applicant is employing employees
in Washington.
(3)
The application for ((a)) an electrical contractor license shall
be accompanied by a bond in the sum of four thousand dollars with the state of
Washington named as obligee in the bond, with good and sufficient surety, to be
approved by the department. The bond shall at all times be kept in full force and
effect, and any cancellation or revocation thereof, or withdrawal of the surety
therefrom, suspends the license issued to the principal until a new bond has
been filed and approved as provided in this section. Upon approval of a bond,
the department shall on the next business day deposit the fee accompanying the
application in the electrical license fund and shall file the bond in the
office. The department shall upon request furnish to any person, firm,
partnership, corporation, or other entity a certified copy of the bond upon the
payment of a fee that the department shall set by rule. The fee shall cover
but not exceed the cost of furnishing the certified copy. The bond shall be
conditioned that in any installation or maintenance of wires or equipment to
convey electrical current, and equipment to be operated by electrical current,
the principal will comply with the provisions of this chapter and with any
electrical ordinance, building code, or regulation of a city or town adopted
pursuant to RCW 19.28.010(3) that is in effect at the time of entering into a
contract. The bond shall be conditioned further that the principal will pay
for all labor, including employee benefits, and material furnished or used upon
the work, taxes and contributions to the state of Washington, and all damages
that may be sustained by any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other
entity due to a failure of the principal to make the installation or
maintenance in accordance with this chapter or any applicable ordinance,
building code, or regulation of a city or town adopted pursuant to RCW
19.28.010(3). In lieu of the surety bond required by this section the license
applicant may file with the department a cash deposit or other negotiable
security acceptable to the department. If the license applicant has filed a
cash deposit, the department shall deposit the funds in a special trust savings
account in a commercial bank, mutual savings bank, or savings and loan
association and shall pay annually to the depositor the interest derived from
the account.
(4)
The department shall issue general or specialty electrical contractor licenses
to applicants meeting all of the requirements of this chapter. The provisions
of this chapter relating to the licensing of any person, firm, partnership,
corporation, or other entity including the requirement of a bond with the state
of Washington named as obligee therein and the collection of a fee therefor,
are exclusive, and no political subdivision of the state of Washington may require
or issue any licenses or bonds or charge any fee for the same or a similar
purpose. No person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity holding
more than one specialty contractor license under this chapter may be required
to pay an annual fee for more than one such license or to post more than one
four thousand dollar bond, equivalent cash deposit, or other negotiable
security.
(5)
To obtain a general or specialty electrical contractor license the applicant
must designate an individual who currently possesses ((an)) a valid
master journeyman electrician's certificate of competency, master specialty
electrician's certificate of competency in the specialty for which application
has been made, or administrator's certificate as a general electrical contractor
administrator or as a specialty electrical contractor administrator in the
specialty for which application has been made.
(6)
Administrator certificate specialties include but are not limited to:
Residential, ((domestic, appliance,)) pump and irrigation, limited
energy system, signs, nonresidential maintenance, restricted nonresidential
maintenance, appliance repair, and combination specialty. To obtain an
administrator's certificate an individual must pass an examination as set forth
in RCW 19.28.051 unless the applicant was a licensed electrical contractor at
any time during 1974. Applicants who were electrical contractors licensed by
the state of Washington at any time during 1974 are entitled to receive a
general electrical contractor administrator's certificate without examination
if the applicants apply prior to January 1, 1984. The board of electrical
examiners shall certify to the department the names of all persons who are
entitled to either a general or specialty electrical contractor administrator's
certificate.
Sec.
3. RCW
19.28.061 and 1996 c 241 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
Each applicant for an electrical contractor's license, other than an
individual, shall designate a supervisory employee or member of the firm to
take the required master electrician's or administrator's examination.
Effective July 1, 1987, a supervisory employee designated as the electrical
contractor's master electrician or administrator shall be a full-time
supervisory employee. This person shall be designated as master electrician
or administrator under the license. No person may concurrently
qualify as master electrician or administrator for more than one
contractor. If the relationship of the master electrician or
administrator with the electrical contractor is terminated, the contractor's
license is void within ninety days unless another master electrician or
administrator is qualified by the board. However, if the master electrician
or administrator dies or is otherwise incapacitated, the
contractor's license is void within one hundred eighty days unless another master
electrician or administrator is qualified by the board. ((A certificate
issued under this section is valid for two years from the nearest birthdate of
the administrator, unless revoked or suspended, and further is nontransferable.))
The contractor must notify the department in writing within ten days if the
master electrician's or administrator's relationship with the contractor
terminates due to the master electrician's or administrator's death or
incapacitation.
(2)
The department must issue an administrator's certificate to all applicants who
have passed the examination as provided in RCW 19.28.051 and this section, and
who have complied with the rules adopted under this chapter. The
administrator's certificate must bear the date of issuance, expires on the
holder's birthday, and is nontransferable. The certificate must be renewed
every three years, upon application, on or before the holder's birthday.
(a)
If the certificate holder demonstrates to the department that he or she has
satisfactorily completed an annual eight-hour continuing education course, the
certificate may be renewed by appropriate application without examination
unless the certificate has been revoked, suspended, or not renewed within
ninety days after the expiration date.
(b)
The contents and requirements for satisfactory completion of the continuing
education course must be determined by the director and approved by the board.
(c)
The department must accept proof of a certificate holder's satisfactory
completion of a continuing education course offered in another state as meeting
the requirements for maintaining a current Washington state certificate if the
department is satisfied the course is comparable in nature to that required in
Washington state for maintaining a current certificate.
(3)
A fee must be assessed for each administrator's certificate and for each
renewal. An individual holding more than one administrator's certificate under
this chapter is not required to pay fees for more than one certificate. The
department must set the fees by rule for issuance and renewal of a
certificate. The fees must cover, but not exceed, the costs of issuing the
certificates and of administering and enforcing the administrator certification
requirements of this chapter.
(4)
The department may deny an application for an administrator's certificate for
up to two years if the applicant's previous administrator's certificate has
been revoked for a serious violation and all appeals concerning the revocation
have been exhausted. For the purposes of this section only, a serious
violation is a violation that presents imminent danger to the public. The
certificate may be renewed for a ((two-year)) three-year period
without examination by appropriate application unless the certificate has been
revoked, suspended, or not renewed within ninety days after the expiration
date. If the certificate is not renewed before the expiration date, the
individual shall pay twice the usual fee. ((An individual holding more than
one administrator's certificate under this chapter shall not be required to pay
annual fees for more than one certificate.)) A person may take the
administrator's ((test)) examination as many times as necessary to
pass without limit.
(((2)))
(5) The designated master electrician or administrator shall:
(a)
Be a member of the firm or a supervisory employee and shall be available during
working hours to carry out the duties of an administrator under this section;
(b)
Ensure that all electrical work complies with the electrical installation laws
and rules of the state;
(c)
Ensure that the proper electrical safety procedures are used;
(d)
Ensure that all electrical labels, permits, and licenses required to perform
electrical work are used;
(e)
See that corrective notices issued by an inspecting authority are complied
with; and
(f)
Notify the department in writing within ten days if the master electrician
or administrator terminates the relationship with the electrical
contractor.
(((3)))
(6) The department shall not by rule change the administrator's duties
under subsection (((2))) (5) of this section.
Sec.
4. RCW
19.28.161 and 1997 c 309 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
No person may engage in the electrical construction trade without having a ((current))
valid master journeyman electrician certificate of competency,
journeyman electrician certificate of competency, master specialty
electrician certificate of competency, or ((a current)) specialty
electrician certificate of competency issued by the department in accordance
with this chapter. Electrician certificate of competency specialties include,
but are not limited to: Residential, ((domestic appliances,)) pump and
irrigation, limited energy system, signs, ((and)) nonresidential
maintenance, restricted nonresidential maintenance, and appliance repair.
(2)
A person who is indentured in an apprenticeship program approved under chapter
49.04 RCW for the electrical construction trade or who is learning the
electrical construction trade may work in the electrical construction trade if
supervised by a certified master journeyman electrician, journeyman
electrician, master specialty electrician in that electrician's specialty,
or ((a certified)) specialty electrician in that electrician's
specialty. All apprentices and individuals learning the electrical construction
trade shall obtain an electrical training certificate from the department. The
certificate shall authorize the holder to learn the electrical construction
trade while under the direct supervision of a master journeyman electrician,
journeyman electrician, master specialty electrician working in that
electrician's specialty, or ((a)) specialty electrician working in
((his or her)) that electrician's specialty. The holder of the
electrical training certificate shall renew the certificate ((annually))
biennially. At the time of renewal, the holder shall provide the
department with an accurate list of the holder's employers in the electrical
construction industry for the previous ((year)) biennial period
and the number of hours worked for each employer. ((An annual)) A
biennial fee shall be charged for the issuance or renewal of the
certificate. The department shall set the fee by rule. The fee shall cover
but not exceed the cost of administering and enforcing the trainee
certification and supervision requirements of this chapter. Apprentices and
individuals learning the electrical construction trade shall have their
electrical training certificates in their possession at all times that they are
performing electrical work. They shall show their certificates to an
authorized representative of the department at the representative's request.
(3)
Any person who has been issued an electrical training certificate under this
chapter may work if that person is under supervision. Supervision shall
consist of a person being on the same job site and under the control of either
a certified master journeyman electrician, journeyman electrician,
master specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, or ((an
appropriate)) specialty electrician ((who has an applicable certificate
of competency issued under this chapter)) working in that electrician's
specialty.
Either
a certified master journeyman electrician, journeyman electrician,
master specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, or ((an
appropriate)) specialty electrician working in that electrician's
specialty shall be on the same job site as the noncertified individual for
a minimum of seventy-five percent of each working day unless otherwise provided
in this chapter.
(4)
The ratio of noncertified individuals to certified master journeymen
electricians, journeymen electricians, master specialty electricians,
or specialty electricians ((working)) on ((a)) any one job
site ((shall be)) is as follows:
(a)
When working as a specialty electrician, not more than two noncertified
individuals ((working on any one job site)) for every certified
master specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty,
specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, master
journeyman electrician, or journeyman electrician ((working as a
specialty electrician)), except that the ratio requirements are one
certified master specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty,
specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, master
journeyman electrician, or journeyman electrician working as a specialty
electrician to no more than four students enrolled in and working as part of an
electrical construction program at public community or technical colleges, or
not-for-profit nationally accredited trade or technical schools licensed by the
work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW.
In meeting the ratio requirements for students enrolled in an electrical
construction program at a trade school, a trade school may receive input and
advice from the electrical board; and
(b)
When working as a journeyman electrician, not more than one noncertified
individual ((working on any one job site)) for every certified master
journeyman electrician or journeyman electrician, except that the ratio
requirements shall be one certified master journeyman electrician or
journeyman electrician to no more than four students enrolled in and working as
part of an electrical construction program at public community or technical
colleges, or not-for-profit nationally accredited trade or technical schools
licensed by the work force training and education coordinating board under
chapter 28C.10 RCW. In meeting the ratio requirements for students enrolled in
an electrical construction program at a trade school, a trade school may
receive input and advice from the electrical board.
An
individual who has a current training certificate and who has successfully
completed or is currently enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program or in
an electrical construction program at public community or technical colleges,
or not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade schools licensed by
the work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10
RCW, may work without direct on-site supervision during the last six months of
meeting the practical experience requirements of this chapter.
(5)
For the residential (as specified in WAC 296-46A-930(2)(a)), pump and
irrigation (as specified in WAC 296-46A-930(2)(b)(i)), sign (as specified in
WAC 296-46A-930(2)(c)), limited energy (as specified in WAC
296-46A-930(2)(e)(i)), nonresidential maintenance (as specified in WAC
296-46A-930(2)(f)(i)), restricted nonresidential maintenance as determined by
the department in rule, or other new nonresidential specialties, not including
appliance repair, as determined by the department in rule, either a master
journeyman electrician, journeyman electrician, master specialty electrician
working in that electrician's specialty, or specialty electrician working in
that electrician's specialty must be on the same job site as the noncertified
individual for a minimum of seventy-five percent of each working day. Other
specialties must meet the requirements specified in RCW 19.28.191(1)(f)(ii).
When the ratio of certified electricians to noncertified individuals on a job
site is one certified electrician to three or four noncertified individuals,
the certified electrician must:
(a)
Directly supervise and instruct the noncertified individuals and the certified
electrician may not directly make or engage in an electrical installation; and
(b)
Be on the same job site as the noncertified individual for a minimum of one
hundred percent of each working day.
(6)
The electrical contractor shall accurately verify and attest to the electrical
trainee hours worked by electrical trainees on behalf of the electrical
contractor.
Sec.
5. RCW
19.28.191 and 1997 c 309 s 3 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 master
journeyman electrician, journeyman electrician, master specialty
electrician, or specialty electrician certificate of competency.
(a)
Before July 1, 2005, an applicant who possesses a valid journeyman
electrician certificate of competency in effect for the previous four years and
a valid general administrator's certificate may apply for a master journeyman
electrician certificate of competency without examination.
(b)
Before July 1, 2005, an applicant who possesses a valid specialty electrician
certificate of competency, in the specialty applied for, for the previous two
years and a valid specialty administrator's certificate, in the specialty
applied for, may apply for a master specialty electrician certificate of
competency without examination.
(c)
To be eligible to take the examination for a master journeyman electrician
certificate of competency the applicant must have possessed a valid journeyman
electrician certificate of competency for four years.
(d)
To be eligible to take the examination for a master specialty electrician
certificate of competency the applicant must have possessed a valid specialty
electrician certificate of competency, in the specialty applied for, for two
years.
(e)
To be eligible to take the examination for a journeyman certificate of
competency the applicant must have:
(i)
Worked in the electrical construction trade for a minimum of ((four years
employed full time)) eight thousand hours, of which ((two years))
four thousand hours shall be in industrial or commercial electrical
installation under the supervision of a master journeyman electrician or
journeyman electrician and not more than a total of ((two years)) four
thousand hours in all specialties under the supervision of a ((journeyman
electrician or an appropriate specialty electrician)) master journeyman
electrician, journeyman electrician, master specialty electrician working in
that electrician's specialty, or specialty electrician working in that
electrician's specialty. Speciality electricians with less than a four
thousand hour work experience requirement cannot credit the time required to
obtain that specialty towards qualifying to become a journeyman electrician;
or
(ii)
Successfully completed an apprenticeship program approved under chapter 49.04
RCW for the electrical construction trade.
(((b)))
(f) To be eligible to take the examination ((to become)) for
a specialty electrician certificate of competency the applicant ((shall))
must have:
(i)
Worked in ((that specialty of the electrical construction trade, under the
supervision of a journeyman electrician or an appropriate specialty
electrician, for a minimum of two years employed full time)) the
residential (as specified in WAC 296-46A-930(2)(a)), pump and irrigation (as
specified in WAC 296-46A-930(2)(b)(i)), sign (as specified in WAC
296-46A-930(2)(c)), limited energy (as specified in WAC 296-46A-930(2)(e)(i)),
nonresidential maintenance (as specified in WAC 296-46A-930(2)(f)(i)),
restricted nonresidential maintenance as determined by the department in rule,
or other new nonresidential specialties as determined by the department in
rule under the supervision of a master journeyman electrician, journeyman
electrician, master specialty electrician working in that electrician's
specialty, or specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty for
a minimum of four thousand hours; or
(ii)
Worked in the appliance repair specialty as determined by the department in
rule or a specialty other than the designated specialties in (f)(i) of this
subsection for a minimum of the initial ninety days, or longer if set by rule
by the department. The initial period must be spent under one hundred percent
supervision of a master journeyman electrician, journeyman electrician, master
specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty, or specialty
electrician working in that electrician's specialty. After this initial
period, a person may take the specialty examination. If the person passes the
examination, the person may work unsupervised for the balance of the minimum hours
required for certification. A person may not be certified as a specialty
electrician in the appliance repair specialty or in a specialty other than the
designated specialities in (f)(i) of this subsection, however, until the person
has worked a minimum of two thousand hours in that specialty, or longer if set
by rule by the department; or
(iii)
Successfully completed an approved apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04
RCW for the applicant's specialty in the electrical construction trade.
(((c)))
(g) Any applicant for a journeyman electrician certificate of
competency who has successfully completed a two-year program in the
electrical construction trade at public community or technical colleges, or
not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade schools licensed by the
work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW
may substitute up to two years of the technical or trade school program for two
years of work experience under a master journeyman electrician or 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.
Any applicant who has received training in the electrical construction trade in
the armed service of the United States may be eligible to apply armed
service work experience towards qualification to take the examination for
the journeyman electrician certificate of competency.
(((d)))
(h) An applicant for a specialty electrician certificate of competency who,
after January 1, 2000, has successfully completed a two-year program in the
electrical construction trade at a public community or technical college, or a
not-for-profit nationally accredited technical or trade school licensed by the
work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW,
may substitute up to one year of the technical or trade school program for one
year of work experience under a master journeyman electrician, journeyman
electrician, master specialty electrician working in that electrician's
specialty, or specialty electrician working in that electrician's specialty.
Any applicant who has received training in the electrical construction trade in
the armed services of the United States may be eligible to apply armed service
work experience towards qualification to take the examination for an
appropriate specialty electrician certificate of competency.
(i)
The department must determine whether hours of training and experience in the
armed services or school program are in the electrical construction trade and
appropriate as a substitute for hours of work experience. The department must
use the following criteria for evaluating the equivalence of classroom
electrical training programs and work in the electrical construction trade:
(i)
A two-year electrical training program must consist of three thousand or more
hours.
(ii)
In a two-year electrical training program, a minimum of two thousand four
hundred hours of student/instructor contact time must be technical electrical
instruction directly related to the scope of work of the electrical specialty.
Student/instructor contact time includes lecture and in-school lab.
(iii)
The department may not allow credit for a program that accepts more than one
thousand hours transferred from another school's program.
(iv)
Electrical specialty training school programs of less than two years will have
all of the above student/instructor contact time hours proportionately
reduced. Such programs may not apply to more than fifty percent of the work
experience required to attain certification.
(v)
Electrical training programs of less than two years may not be credited towards
qualification for journeyman electrician unless the training program is used to
gain qualification for a four thousand hour electrical specialty.
(j)
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.
(3)
No noncertified individual may work unsupervised more than one year beyond the
date when the trainee would be eligible to test for a certificate of competency
if working on a full-time basis after original application for the trainee
certificate. For the purposes of this section, full-time basis means two
thousand hours.
Sec.
6. RCW
19.28.201 and 2001 c 211 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
The
department, in coordination with the board, shall prepare an examination to be
administered to applicants for master journeyman electrician, journeyman
electrician, master specialty electrician, and specialty electrician
certificates of competency.
The
department, with the consent of the board, may enter into a contract with a
professional testing agency to develop, administer, and score electrician
certification examinations. The department may set the examination fee by
contract with the professional testing agency.
The
department must, at least four times annually, administer the examination to
persons eligible to take it under RCW 19.28.191. The fee must cover, but not
exceed, the costs of preparing and administering the examination.
The
department must certify the results of the examination upon the terms and after
such a period of time as the department, in cooperation with the board, deems
necessary and proper.
(1)(a)
The master electrician's certificates of competency examinations must include
questions from the following categories to ensure proper safety and protection
for the general public: (i) Safety; (ii) the state electrical code; and (iii)
electrical theory.
(b)
A person may take the master electrician examination as many times as necessary
without limit. All applicants must, before taking the examination, pay the
required examination fee to the agency administering the examination.
(2)
The journeyman electrician and specialty electrician examinations
shall be constructed to determine:
(((1)))
(a) Whether the applicant possesses varied general knowledge of the
technical information and practical procedures that are identified with the
status of journeyman electrician or specialty electrician; and
(((2)))
(b) Whether the applicant is sufficiently familiar with the applicable
electrical codes and the rules of the department pertaining to electrical
installations and electricians.
((The
department shall, at least four times annually, administer the examination to
persons eligible to take it under RCW 19.28.191. A person may take the
journeyman or specialty test as many times as necessary without limit. All
applicants shall, before taking the examination, pay the required examination
fee to the agency administering the examination. The fee shall cover but not
exceed the costs of preparing and administering the examination.
The
department shall certify the results of the examination upon such terms and
after such a period of time as the department, in cooperation with the board,
deems necessary and proper.
(3)
The department upon the consent of the board may enter into a contract with a
professional testing agency to develop, administer, and score journeyman and/or
specialty electrician certification examinations. The department may set the
examination fee by contract with the professional testing agency.))
A
person may take the examination as many times as necessary without limit. All
applicants must, before taking the examination, pay the required examination
fee to the agency administering the examination.
Sec.
7. RCW
19.28.211 and 2001 c 211 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The department shall issue a certificate of competency to all applicants who
have passed the examination provided in RCW 19.28.201, and who have complied
with RCW 19.28.161 through 19.28.271 and the rules adopted under this chapter.
The certificate shall bear the date of issuance, and shall expire on the
holder's birthday. The certificate shall be renewed every three years, upon
application, on or before the holder's birthdate. A fee shall be assessed for
each certificate and for each annual renewal.
(2)
If the certificate holder demonstrates to the department that he or she has
satisfactorily completed an annual eight-hour continuing education course, the
certificate may be renewed without examination by appropriate application
unless the certificate has been revoked, suspended, or not renewed within
ninety days after the expiration date.
(a)
The contents and requirements for satisfactory completion of the continuing
education course shall be determined by the director and approved by the board.
(b)
The department shall accept proof of a certificate holder's satisfactory
completion of a continuing education course offered in another state as meeting
the requirements for maintaining a current Washington state certificate of
competency if the department is satisfied the course is comparable in nature to
that required in Washington state for maintaining a current certificate of
competency.
(3)
If the certificate is not renewed before the expiration date, the individual
shall pay twice the usual fee. The department shall set the fees by rule for
issuance and renewal of a certificate of competency. The fees shall cover but
not exceed the costs of issuing the certificates and of administering and
enforcing the electrician certification requirements of this chapter.
(4)
The certificates of competency and temporary permits provided for in this
chapter grant the holder the right to work in the electrical construction trade
as a master electrician, journeyman electrician, or specialty
electrician in accordance with their provisions throughout the state and within
any of its political subdivisions without additional proof of competency or any
other license, permit, or fee to engage in such work.
Sec.
8. RCW
19.28.241 and 2001 c 211 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The department may revoke any certificate of competency upon the following
grounds:
(a)
The certificate was obtained through error or fraud;
(b)
The holder thereof is judged to be incompetent to work in the electrical
construction trade as a journeyman electrician or specialty electrician;
(c)
The holder thereof has violated any of the provisions of RCW 19.28.161 through
19.28.271 or any rule adopted under this chapter; or
(d)
The holder thereof has committed a serious violation of this chapter or any
rule adopted under this chapter. A serious violation is a violation that
presents imminent danger to the public.
(2)
The department may deny an application for a certificate of competency for up
to two years if the applicant's previous certificate of competency has been
revoked.
(((2)))
(3) Before any certificate of competency shall be revoked, the holder
shall be given written notice of the department's intention to do so, mailed by
registered mail, return receipt requested, to the holder's last known address.
The notice shall enumerate the allegations against the holder, and shall give
the holder the opportunity to request a hearing before the board. At the
hearing, the department and the holder may produce witnesses and give
testimony. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.05
RCW. The board shall render its decision based upon the testimony and evidence
presented, and shall notify the parties immediately upon reaching its
decision. A majority of the board shall be necessary to render a decision.
(((3)))
(4) The department shall immediately suspend the license or certificate
of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department
of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a
support order. If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for
reinstatement during the suspension, reissuance of the license or certificate
shall be automatic upon the department's receipt of a release issued by the
department of social and health services stating that the licensee is in
compliance with the order.
