Certificates, trainees & supervision: Washington General Journeyman Electrician (01) Practice Questions

In Washington, what does a person need to engage in the electrical construction trade, unless exempt?

RCW 19.28.161(1) bars anyone from the electrical construction trade without a master journey level, journey level, master specialty or specialty electrician certificate of competency issued by the department (trainees work under a training certificate).

How must a Washington electrician carry the certificate while working?

WAC 296-46B-940(3) requires the certificate to be worn and visibly displayed on the front of the upper body; it may go inside the outer layer only under protective clothing or where wearing it would be unsafe.

Besides the certificate, what must an electrician or trainee in Washington have and show to an inspector on request?

WAC 296-46B-940(3) and RCW 19.28.271(1) require anyone working as an electrician or trainee to have government-issued photo identification and present it when the inspector asks.

Which certificate number identifies the general journey level electrician in Washington?

WAC 296-46B-940(4) lists general journey level as (01); residential is (02), limited energy (06) and nonresidential maintenance (07).

On a jobsite, how many trainees may one journey level electrician supervise when working as a journey level electrician?

RCW 19.28.161(4)(b) allows not more than one noncertified individual per certified journey level electrician (one to four only for students in an approved school program).

When working as a specialty electrician, how many noncertified individuals may one certified electrician supervise on a jobsite?

RCW 19.28.161(4)(a) allows not more than two noncertified individuals per certified electrician working in the specialty (one to four for students in an approved school program).

For how much of each working day must the supervising certified electrician be on the same jobsite as a trainee?

RCW 19.28.161(3) requires the certified electrician to be on the same jobsite as the noncertified individual for a minimum of 75% of each working day unless the chapter provides otherwise.

A specialty electrician supervises three trainees on one jobsite. What applies?

Under RCW 19.28.161(5), when the ratio is one certified electrician to three or four noncertified individuals, he must directly supervise and instruct, may not make the installation himself, and must be on the jobsite 100% of each working day.

How often must a Washington electrical training certificate be renewed, and with how much classroom training?

RCW 19.28.161(2)(b) and WAC 296-46B-970(2)(f) require biennial renewal with proof of 48 hours of approved classroom training on the chapter, the NEC or electrical theory (or equivalent apprenticeship classes).

What is the minimum age for a Washington electrical training certificate?

WAC 296-46B-942(4) requires applicants for an electrical training certificate to be at least 16 years of age; the original certificate is valid for two years.

A trainee not in an apprenticeship program renews the training certificate. By when must the affidavits of experience for the prior two years reach L&I?

WAC 296-46B-942(8)(d) requires affidavits for the prior two years within 180 days after every training certificate expiration date; hours on late affidavits do not count toward exam eligibility.

A trainee asks a past employer for a signed affidavit of experience. How long does the employer have to provide it?

WAC 296-46B-942(12) requires employers or apprenticeship training directors to provide the completed, signed and notarized affidavit within 20 days of the request.