WAC 296-46B-971   Training schools.  (1) The department must evaluate and approve training school programs in the electrical trade as regulated by chapter 19.28 RCW for equivalency to hours of supervised work experience. Approved training programs must be from a Washington state 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.

     (2) The minimum total hours for an electrical technical training program must be determined per RCW 19.28.191.

     (3) Training school programs must be approved before their graduates may request credit for equivalent work experience hours toward journeyman or specialty electrician certification. Until December 31, 2003, existing electrical training programs, in effect after January 1, 2000, may apply for retroactive approval of their program to determine the number of hours that will be credited for the program graduates. After December 31, 2003, all training programs must be approved by the department prior to beginning instruction.

     (4) Training schools must submit the curriculum of each journeyman or specific specialty electrical training program to the department for approval. The curriculum must include a detailed description of each course that is included in the total training hours required by RCW 19.28.191. The curriculum must be reviewed by the department whenever significant changes in program content or course length are implemented or at an interval not to exceed three years. After department review, the program may be renewed. In evaluating the relevance of the curriculum, the department will consider the following criteria:

     (a) Scope of work for the appropriate electrician certification.

     (b) Understanding whole systems related to and integrated with electrical equipment installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and appliance repair (e.g., refrigeration, pumps, hydraulics, thermodynamics, compressed air, and similar systems).

     (c) Courses not directly related to electrical technical instruction or specific scope of work, but required to complete the specific training program (i.e., mathematics, technical writing, business, safety, first aid, ergonomics, etc.), must not exceed ten percent of the total student/instructor contact time of the program.

     (5) Within thirty days after beginning a program, the program sponsor must supply the department with a roster of individuals enrolled in the program. Within thirty days after each graduation cycle, approved training school programs must provide the department with a roster of individuals that have successfully completed the program. The roster must show each student's name, date of completion, Washington training or electrician certificate number or student identification number, and the training program title. An individual must provide a copy of the certificate of completion or proof of graduation from the electrical training program when making application to the department for an electrician examination.

     (6) All school training activities involving electrical work or appliance repair done outside of in-school lab facilities must be done under a valid Washington electrical contractor's license. All students performing such work must have a valid training certificate and work under a supervising journeyman or specialty electrician in a ratio, per RCW 19.28.161, in compliance with RCW 19.28.161.

     (7) Individuals in a two-year electrical construction trade training program for journeyman electrician must obtain the additional two years of work experience required in new industrial or commercial installation prior to the beginning, or after the completion, of the technical school program.

     All student electrical training hours obtained when working for contractors or other employers in intern programs arranged by the school must be evaluated as part of the training program hours. Additional work experience credit gained in an intern program is not allowed.

     This does not prohibit trainees in a training program for specialty electricians from having concurrent employment and obtaining additional specialty work experience while attending school. All such concurrent work must be documented in an affidavit of experience per WAC 296-46B-965 (5), (6), (7), and (8).

     The following supervision requirements must be met when working as an intern or student:

     (a) Intern when working for contractors or other employers as a:

     (i) General electrician, there must be not more than one noncertified individual for every certified master journeyman electrician or journeyman electrician.

     (ii) Specialty electrician, there must be not more than two noncertified individuals 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.

     (b) Student when working for a public community or technical college, or not-for-profit nationally accredited trade or technical school licensed by the work force training and education coordinating board under chapter 28C.10 RCW as a journeyman or specialty electrician in the training program, 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. All such work will be considered to be an integral part of the training program and work experience credit will not be allowed except as a part of the program.

     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:

     (i) Directly supervise and instruct the noncertified individuals and the certified electrician may not directly make or engage in an electrical installation; and

     (ii) Be on the same job site as the noncertified individual for a minimum of one hundred percent of each working day.

     The public community or technical colleges, or not-for-profit nationally accredited trade or technical schools must be an appropriately licensed electrical contractor when performing work outside the classroom.

     (8) The department will use the criteria in this section to evaluate the hours of credit that may be allowed for United States armed forces experience and training in the electrical construction, electrical maintenance, and appliance repair trades. See WAC 296-46B-940(20).



[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. 03-09-111, § 296-46B-971, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.]