SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5914
As of January 27, 2022
Title: An act relating to removing the requirement that an accredited technical or trade school program be not-for-profit to be an approved training program for purposes of journey level and specialty electrician certification.
Brief Description: Removing the requirement that an accredited technical or trade school program be not-for-profit to be an approved training program for purposes of journey level and specialty electrician certification.
Sponsors: Senators King and Wagoner.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs: 1/31/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Removes the requirement that a technical or trade school be not-for-profit for an applicant for a journey level or specialty electrician certificate to substitute experience from the technical or trade school for work experience under a licensed electrician.
  • Makes similar changes to statutes set to take effect on July 1, 2023. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)
Background:

An electrical contractor license is required to engage in the business of installing or maintaining wires or equipment to convey electric current, or equipment to be operated by electric current.  To work as an electrician, an individual must have a journey level or specialty electrician certificate of competency.

 

To obtain certification as a journey level electrician, an individual must work in the electrical construction trade for at least 8000 hours to take the required examination.  The number of hours required for a specialty electrician certificate is either 2000 hours or 4000 hours depending on the specialty.  Alternatively, an applicant may complete an apprenticeship program approved by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.

 

An applicant for a journey level electrician certificate who has completed a two-year program at a public community or technical college, or a nationally accredited not-for-profit technical or trade school licensed by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, may substitute up to two years of the school program for two years of work experience.  An applicant for a specialty electrician certificate may substitute up to one year of the school program for work experience. 

 

Beginning July 1, 2023, applicants for a journey level electrician certificate must complete an apprenticeship program to take the examination. 
Summary of Bill:

The requirement that a technical or trade school be not-for-profit for an applicant for a journey level or specialty electrician certificate to substitute experience from the technical or trade school for work experience under a licensed electrician is removed. 

 

Similar changes are made to provisions taking effect after July 1, 2023.  The requirement that a technical or trade school be not-for-profit for an applicant for a journey level electrician certificate to substitute experience from the technical or trade school for work experience under a licensed electrician required under an apprenticeship program is removed. 

 

Additional references to technical or trade schools being not-for-profit are removed from statutes pertaining to electrical trainee supervision. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 25, 2022.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.