13.1 Certificates of Competency, Specialty Scopes & Renewal
Key Takeaways
- Under RCW 19.28.161(1), no one may engage in the electrical construction trade without a valid master, journey level, master specialty, or specialty certificate of competency, unless working as a supervised trainee.
- WAC 296-46B-920(1) says the 01 general certificate covers all phases and all types of electrical and telecommunications installations, plus minor plumbing allowed by RCW 18.106.150.
- The 02 residential specialty covers one- and two-family dwellings and Type III, IV, or V multifamily dwellings of not more than six stories above grade (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(a)).
- Electrician certificates are renewed every three years on or before the holder's birthday; renewal more than 90 days after expiration requires passing the exam again (RCW 19.28.211; WAC 296-46B-940).
- Renewal requires 24 hours of approved continuing education, including at least 8 hours on changes in the currently adopted NEC and 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B (WAC 296-46B-970).
Why this section matters
The Washington Codes section has 17 questions, and at least 70% (12 correct) is required. Many of those questions ask who may do a job, which certificate covers it, and what happens when a certificate lapses. The answers are in two places you are allowed to bring into the test: RCW 19.28 (the statute) and WAC 296-46B (L&I's rules). Tab both.
The certificate requirement
RCW 19.28.161(1) makes it unlawful to engage in the electrical construction trade without one of four certificates of competency: master journey level, journey level, master specialty, or specialty. The only other route is an electrical training certificate, which lets a trainee learn the trade under supervision in the proper ratio (Section 13.2).
WAC 296-46B-940(3) adds day-to-day rules that show up as exam questions:
- The certificate must be worn and visibly displayed on the front of the upper body. It may be worn inside the outer layer only when protective clothing (rain gear, arc-flash or welding gear) is required, or when working in an attic or crawl space or operating equipment where wearing it would be unsafe. A cold-weather jacket is not protective clothing.
- The electrician must also carry government-issued photo identification and show it when an inspector asks.
- A certified electrician must not display a training certificate while working as an electrician.
- A supervising electrician's certificate must be appropriate for the work the trainee is doing.
The 01 general journey level scope
WAC 296-46B-920(1): the general electrical (01) license or certificate "encompasses all phases and all types of electrical and telecommunications installations," plus the minor plumbing allowed by RCW 18.106.150 (for example, like-in-kind replacement of an appliance or an appliance part such as a water heater thermostat). An 01 electrician may therefore do the work of every specialty.
The 14 specialties (WAC 296-46B-940(4) and -920(2))
L&I groups the specialties by the experience needed to test for them.
| Code | Specialty | Hours to test | Scope highlights (WAC 296-46B-920) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Residential | 4,000 | One- and two-family dwellings; Type III, IV, or V multifamily of not more than six stories above grade (or above Type I/II construction). Line-voltage outlet wiring is generally limited to nonmetallic-sheathed cable. |
| 03 | Pump and irrigation | 4,000 | Circuits, feeders, controls, and services for domestic and public water systems and irrigation pumps |
| 03A | Domestic pump | 2,000 | Branch-circuit extensions to residential potable-water or sewage pumps not over 7-1/2 hp at 250 V single-phase input |
| 04 | Signs | 4,000 | Signs and outline lighting, their supply and controls, and a service of up to 60 A, 120/240 V single phase for a remote sign |
| 06 | Limited energy system | 4,000 | Signaling and power-limited (low-voltage) circuits in all occupancies: telecommunications, fire alarm, intrusion, energy management, lighting control |
| 06A | HVAC/refrigeration | 4,000 | Not limited by voltage, phase, or amperage, but may not install line-voltage disconnects or controllers external to the equipment (one replacement exception up to 20 A, 120 V) |
| 06B | HVAC/refrigeration, restricted | 2,000 | Same type of work where the primary connection does not exceed 250 V single phase or 120 A |
| 07 | Nonresidential maintenance | 4,000 | Maintenance, repair, and like-in-kind replacement of existing equipment and conductors |
| 07A | Nonresidential lighting maintenance and retrofit | 2,000 | Work inside existing nonresidential luminaire housings |
| 07B | Residential maintenance | 2,000 | Like-in-kind repair and replacement of existing utilization equipment in dwellings |
| 07C | Restricted nonresidential maintenance | 2,000 | Like-in-kind work; no circuit breaker replacement. RCW 19.28.191(1)(d)(ii) caps it at 277 V/20 A lighting circuits and 250 V/60 A other circuits. |
| 07D | Appliance repair | 2,000 | Household and small commercial appliances |
| 07E | Equipment repair | 2,000 | Servicing and replacing utilization equipment |
| 10 | Door, gate, and similar systems | 2,000 | Operator wiring for electric gates, doors, windows, awnings, and similar systems |
Two traps:
- There is no "telecommunications electrician" certificate. Code (09) is a telecommunications contractor and administrator category (WAC 296-46B-920(2)(m)). RCW 19.28.261(4) says the certification statutes do not apply to installing or maintaining telephone, telegraph, radio, or television wires and equipment.
- Specialties must stay in scope. Working outside the scope of a certificate is a civil infraction: $250 for a first offense and $500 after that (WAC 296-46B-915(3)(b)).
From journey level to master electrician
A master journey level electrician can do the work and be designated as an electrical contractor's master electrician (the administrator role). RCW 19.28.191(1)(a) requires that the applicant has held a valid journey level certificate for four years before taking the master exam. The master exam is not waived. The PSI bulletin lists three sections for the 01 master exam: 80 NEC and theory questions (4 hours), 20 Washington codes questions (1 hour), and 10 major load calculation questions (2 hours).
Certificate term and renewal
| Rule | Source | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Original certificate term | WAC 296-46B-940(6) | Expires on your birthday at least 2 and not more than 3 years after issue (L&I: 25 to 36 months) |
| Renewal cycle | RCW 19.28.211(1) | Every three years, on or before the holder's birthday |
| Earliest renewal | WAC 296-46B-940(7) | Not more than 90 days before expiration |
| Late renewal | WAC 296-46B-940(8) | Allowed within 90 days after expiration with the late fee (the current WAC 296-46B-909 table doubles the fee) |
| More than 90 days late | WAC 296-46B-940(9) | Must pass the competency exam again |
| Continuing education not finished | WAC 296-46B-940(11) | You may pay on time, but the certificate goes inactive until L&I validates the hours |
Continuing education (WAC 296-46B-970)
To renew, an electrician must complete at least 8 hours of approved continuing education for each year of the prior certification period. Any part of a year counts as a full year, so a normal three-year cycle needs 24 hours:
- at least 8 hours on changes in the currently adopted NEC;
- 4 hours on RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B;
- the remaining hours from L&I's approved course lists.
You cannot get credit twice for the same class. Basic trainee classes and electrician continuing education are separate lists: a class used for a trainee renewal cannot also count as electrician CE.
Reciprocity with Oregon
Washington has a reciprocal agreement with Oregon (WAC 296-46B-940(18)-(20); L&I).
- Oregon to Washington: Oregon general journeyman (J) holders who earned the license after an 8,000-hour apprenticeship with at least 576 classroom hours and an Oregon exam, or Oregon general supervising (S) holders licensed by exam, may apply for a reciprocal 01 certificate on form F500-148-000.
- Washington to Oregon: a Washington 01 certificate earned by passing a Washington exam after an approved apprenticeship, or a Washington master 01 certificate, can qualify for Oregon's reciprocal J license.
- Disqualifier: anyone who has taken and failed the Washington exam for that certificate within the past two years is not eligible (WAC 296-46B-940(20)(d)).
Exam strategy
When a question describes a worker, first decide which certificate is needed, then whether that certificate is current, displayed, and being used within its scope. Most "who may do this?" questions are answered by WAC 296-46B-920 (scope) or -940 (certificate rules).
Under WAC 296-46B-920, which of the following jobs is within the scope of an 02 residential specialty electrician?
A journey level electrician's certificate expired 120 days ago. What does WAC 296-46B-940 require before the electrician can be recertified?
Which continuing education package meets WAC 296-46B-970 for a normal three-year journey level renewal?