(1) Pilot applicants must pass a written examination given and graded by the board or the board's designated contracting entity. The board, in consultation with its designated contracting entity, will develop the written examination and set the minimum passing or "cut" score in conformance with a psychometrically validated process. Notice of the examination shall be published at least four months in advance by one paid advertisement in a major marine industry publication and written notice to any party who has requested notice of such examinations. The board may publish additional notices in such publications or in other media at such times as it deems appropriate. Applications will be accepted by the board immediately following the publication of the notice of the examination. The board may, in an emergency, call for an examination on less than four months notice.

The notice shall indicate which pilotage district or districts the examination is for and, if for both districts, the notice shall make it clear that applicants can elect to apply for a license in one or both of the districts. If an exam is given for both the Grays Harbor and Puget Sound pilotage districts, the applicants shall be graded and evaluated as one applicant pool.

(2) The examination may be taken by all pilot applicants who the board has determined have met the qualifications of WAC 363-116-0751 and who:

(a) Have had an application on file with the board for at least one month prior to the examination. This requirement may be waived by the chairperson of the board upon the showing of good cause. The application shall specify whether the applicant is applying for the Puget Sound pilotage district, the Grays Harbor pilotage district or both.

(b) Have tendered with the application a nonrefundable examination administration fee in such amount as may be set by the board from time to time. The board may, at its discretion, refund all or part of the examination administration fee for a pilot applicant who is unable to sit for the written examination.

(3) The written examination shall be in compliance with RCW 88.16.090 and may consist of questions covering, but not limited to, the following subjects:

(a) Rules of the Road then applicable to the pilotage district for which the pilot applicant is applying and accompanying information set forth in United States government publications on the subject;

(b) Meaning and understanding of the aids to navigation;

(c) Seamanship, including piloting and ship handling, docking and undocking problems, use of ship assist tugs and anchors;

(d) Vessel traffic system regulations;

(e) Engine and rudder order commands for United States and foreign merchant vessels and United States naval vessels;

(f) Operation and use of marine radar and automatic radar plotting aids (ARPA);

(g) Ability to calculate currents and tides;

(h) Federal laws affecting mariners and pilots including environmental laws;

(i) Use of vessel navigational equipment;

(j) Duties of a pilot;

(k) Relationship between pilot and master;

(l) Bridge resource management;

(m) United States government public health quarantine regulations;

(n) Marine VHF radio usage and phraseology, including bridge-to-bridge communications regulations;

(o) Federal navigation safety and security regulations;

(p) International distress signals;

(q) Nonlocal chart knowledge, including chart symbols and abbreviations as set forth in the latest U.S. Department of Commerce, NOS (National Ocean Survey) Chart No. 1;

(r) Maneuvering behavior for different vessel types; and

(s) Impact of propulsion and maneuvering machinery on vessel navigation.

(4) The board may require that the cost of the written examination will be at the expense of the pilot applicant.