Section 296-46B-940. Electrician/certificate of competency required.

General.

(1) The department will deny application, renewal, or reinstatement of a certificate or permit if an individual owes money as a result of an outstanding final judgment(s) to the department.

(2) The scope of work for electricians is described in WAC 296-46B-920.

Electrician - Certificate of competency required.

(3) To work in the electrical construction trade, an individual must possess, wear, and visibly display on the front of the upper body, a current valid:

(a) Master journey level electrician certificate of competency issued by the department;

(b) Journey level electrician certificate of competency issued by the department;

(c) Master specialty electrician certificate of competency issued by the department;

(d) Specialty electrician certificate of competency issued by the department; or

(e) Electrical training certificate, learning the trade in the proper ratio, per RCW 19.28.161, under the supervision of a certified master journey level electrician, journey level electrician, master specialty electrician working in their specialty, or specialty electrician working in their specialty.

The certificate may be worn inside the outer layer of clothing when outer protective clothing (e.g., rain gear when outside in the rain, arc flash, welding gear, etc.) is required. The certificate must be worn inside the protective clothing so that when the protective clothing is removed, the certificate is visible. A cold weather jacket or similar apparel is not protective clothing.

The certificate may be worn inside the outer layer of clothing when working in an attic or crawl space or when operating equipment (e.g., drill motor, conduit threading machine, etc.) where wearing the certificate may pose an unsafe condition for the individual.

The certificate must be immediately available for examination at all times.

When working as a certified electrician, the electrician must not display a training certificate.

When supervising a trainee(s), the supervising electrician's certificate must be appropriate for the work being performed by the trainee(s).

Any person working as an electrician or trainee must also possess a government issued photo identification and immediately present that identification when requested by the inspector.

(4) The department issues master electrician and electrician certificates of competency in the following areas of electrical work:

(a) General journey level (01);

(b) Specialties:

(i) Residential (02);

(ii) Pump and irrigation (03);

(iii) Domestic pump (03A);

(iv) Signs (04);

(v) Limited energy system (06);

(vi) HVAC/refrigeration (06A);

(vii) HVAC/refrigeration - Restricted (06B);

(viii) Nonresidential maintenance (07);

(ix) Nonresidential lighting maintenance and lighting retrofit (07A);

(x) Residential maintenance (07B);

(xi) Restricted nonresidential maintenance (07C);

(xii) Appliance repair (07D);

(xiii) Equipment repair (07E); and

(xiv) Door, gate, and similar systems (10).

Original certificates of competency.

(5) The department will issue an original certificate of competency to master, journey level, or specialty electricians who meet the eligibility requirements listed in:

(a) RCW 19.28.191 (1)(a) or (b) and chapter 19.28 RCW; and

(i) Submit an application for an original master electrician certificate including: Date of birth, mailing address and Social Security number; and

(ii) Pay all appropriate fees, as listed in WAC 296-46B-909;

(b) RCW 19.28.191 (1)(d) and (e);

(i) Submit an original master electrician certification examination application including: Date of birth, mailing address and Social Security number; and

(ii) Pay all appropriate fees, as listed in WAC 296-46B-909; or

(c) RCW 19.28.191 (1)(f) through (g);

(i) Submit an original electrician certification examination application including: Date of birth, mailing address and Social Security number; and

(ii) Pay all appropriate fees, as listed in WAC 296-46B-909.

(6) An individual's original electrician certificate of competency will expire on their birth date at least two years, and not more than three years, from the date of original issue.

Renewal - Master electrician, journey level, and specialty electrician certificates of competency.

(7) An individual must apply for renewal of their electrician certificate of competency on or before the expiration date of the certificate. The individual may not apply for renewal more than ninety days prior to the expiration date. Renewed certificates are valid for three years.

(8) An individual may renew their certificate of competency within ninety days after the expiration date without reexamination if the individual pays the late renewal fee listed in WAC 296-46B-909.

(9) All applications for renewal received more than ninety days after the expiration date of the certificate of competency require that the electrician pass the appropriate competency examination before being recertified.

(10) All applicants for certificate of competency renewal must:

(a) Submit a complete renewal application;

(b) Pay all appropriate fees; and

(c) Provide accurate evidence on the renewal form that the individual has completed the continuing education requirements described in WAC 296-46B-970. Continuing education classes are only valid when all the requirements of WAC 296-46B-970 are completed. If an individual files inaccurate or false evidence of continuing education information when renewing a certificate of competency, the individual's certificate of competency may be suspended or revoked.

Continuing education for pump and irrigation (03) and domestic pump (03A) electricians may be comprised of fifty percent electrical and fifty percent plumbing instruction.

(11) An individual who has not completed the required hours of continuing education can renew a certificate of competency if the individual applies for renewal before the certificate of competency expires and pays the appropriate renewal fee. However, the certificate of competency will be placed in an inactive status. The inactive certificate of competency will be returned to current status upon validation, by the department, of the required continuing education. If the certificate renewal date occurs during the inactive period, the certificate must be renewed on or before the renewal date to allow the return to current status.

(12) An individual may renew a suspended certificate of competency by submitting a complete renewal application including obtaining and submitting the continuing education required for renewal. However, the certificate will remain in a suspended status for the duration of the suspension period.

(13) An individual may not renew a revoked certificate of competency.

Exemptions - Lineworker.

(14) When performing the work described and allowed in WAC 296-46B-925 (17)(a) or (b)(i), when employed by the serving utility or its contractor or subcontractor(s), a lineworker is exempt from the requirements of chapter 19.28 RCW.

(15) When performing the work described and allowed in WAC 296-46B-925 (17)(b)(ii) or (c), when employed by the serving utility or its licensed electrical contractor or subcontractor(s), a lineworker must meet the requirements of RCW 19.28.261 (5)(b) or be an appropriately certified electrician. See the definition of a lineworker in WAC 296-46B-100.

Exemptions - Plumbers.

(16) Coincidental electrical/plumbing work. See RCW 19.28.091(8) for the plumber exemption.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. WSR 14-11-075, § 296-46B-940, filed 5/20/14, effective 7/1/14; WSR 13-03-128, § 296-46B-940, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.281, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551. WSR 09-20-032, § 296-46B-940, filed 9/29/09, effective 10/31/09; WSR 08-24-048, § 296-46B-940, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08; WSR 06-24-041, § 296-46B-940, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06; WSR 05-10-024, § 296-46B-940, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. WSR 04-12-049, § 296-46B-940, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. WSR 03-09-111, § 296-46B-940, filed 4/22/03, effective 4/22/03.]

Chapter 19.28 RCW. WSR 14-11-075, § 296-46B-940, filed 5/20/14, effective 7/1/14; WSR 13-03-128, § 296-46B-940, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.281, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551. WSR 09-20-032, § 296-46B-940, filed 9/29/09, effective 10/31/09; WSR 08-24-048, § 296-46B-940, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08; WSR 06-24-041, § 296-46B-940, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06; WSR 05-10-024, § 296-46B-940, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. WSR 04-12-049, § 296-46B-940, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.28.006, 19.28.010, 19.28.031, 19.28.041, 19.28.061, 19.28.101, 19.28.131, 19.28.161, 19.28.171, 19.28.191, 19.28.201, 19.28.211, 19.28.241, 19.28.251, 19.28.271, 19.28.311, 19.28.321, 19.28.400, 19.28.420, 19.28.490, 19.28.551, 2002 c 249, chapters 34.05 and 19.28 RCW. WSR 03-09-111, § 296-46B-940, filed 4/22/03, effective 4/22/03.

Rules

296-46B-920,296-46B-909,296-46B-909,296-46B-909,296-46B-909,296-46B-970,296-46B-970,296-46B-925,296-46B-925,296-46B-100,