WAC 296-400A-121   What do I need to know about trainee experience and plumber examination requirements for the journeyman and specialty plumber (excluding the backflow assembly maintenance and repair specialty)?  (1) If you possess a trainee certificate:

     (a) You may take the residential specialty plumber examination after completing 6,000 hours of documented training.

     (b) You may take the journeyman examination after completing 8,000 hours of documented training which must include 4,000 hours of commercial plumbing experience.

     (2) All journeyman trainees must work under the direct supervision of a journeyman plumber until they have completed 8,000 hours of training.

     When 8,000 training hours have been completed, the trainee must take the journeyman examination. Any trainee who has failed the journeyman plumber examination cannot retake the examination for at least one month and must work under the direct supervision of a journeyman plumber until the examination is passed.

     (3) To be eligible for the residential specialty plumber's examination, a residential specialty trainee must complete 6,000 hours of training under the direct supervision of either a certified specialty plumber or a journeyman plumber. Any residential specialty trainee who has failed the residential specialty examination, cannot retake the examination for at least one month and must work under the direct supervision of a certified plumber until the examination is passed.

     (4) For domestic pump specialty plumbers:

     (a) To be eligible for a limited volume domestic pump specialty plumbers examination defined by RCW 18.106.010 (10)(c), the trainee must complete 2,000 hours practical experience working under the direct supervision of a certified limited volume domestic pump specialty plumber, a certified unrestricted domestic pump specialty plumber, or a journeyman plumber on pumping systems not exceeding one hundred gallons per minute. The experience may be obtained at the same time the individual is meeting the experience required by RCW 19.28.191, or equivalent experience may be accepted as determined by rule by the department in consultation with the advisory board.

     (b) To be eligible for an unrestricted domestic pump specialty plumbers examination defined by RCW 18.106.010 (10)(c), the trainee must complete 4,000 hours practical experience working under the direct supervision of a certified unrestricted domestic pump specialty plumber or a journeyman plumber on pumping systems. The experience may be obtained at the same time the individual is meeting the experience required by RCW 19.28.191 or equivalent experience may be accepted as determined by rule by the department in consultation with the advisory board.

     (5) Effective January 1, 2005, all plumber trainees will be required to meet the current hour requirements to test.

     (6) Apprentice/trade school endorsement requirements. An individual who has a current journeyman plumber, domestic pump specialty plumber, or residential specialty plumber trainee certificate and who has successfully completed or is currently enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program or in a technical school program in the plumbing construction trade in a school approved by the work force training and education coordinating board, may work without direct on-site supervision during the last six months of meeting the practical experience requirements of this chapter. In order to work without direct on-site supervision applicable to the type (residential or journeyman) of training hours for which certification is being sought by the individual, this individual must obtain an apprentice/trade school trainee endorsement by submitting the applicable forms provided by the department and paying the applicable fees. This individual may work without direct on-site supervision until he or she receives the remaining hours required to be eligible to take the applicable examination. This individual may not supervise trainees. (See RCW 18.106.070.)

     (7) Any applicant (trainee, specialty plumber or journeyman) who fails an examination, will be required to wait at least until the next scheduled examination date and location. Examinations are held the first Thursday of every month, unless that date falls on a holiday. Applications shall be submitted and received by the plumbing certification program office two weeks before the next scheduled date.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140. 06-24-040, § 296-400A-121, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140, 2002 c 82, and 2003 c 399. 04-12-046, § 296-400A-121, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140, 2001 c 281, and chapter 18.106 RCW. 02-14-074, § 296-400A-121, filed 6/28/02, effective 7/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.050, [18.106.]070, [18.106.]110,[18.106.]125 , [18.106.]140 and [18.106.]270. 97-11-052, § 296-400A-121, filed 5/20/97, effective 6/30/97.]