Wash. Admin. Code § 296-46B-970

Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024

Section 296-46B-970 - Continuing education and classroom education requirements

(1) DEFINITIONS - For purposes of this section.

"Applicant" means the entity submitting an application for review.

"Application" means a submittal made by an applicant seeking instructor or class approval.

"Calendar day" means each day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

"Class" means continuing education or basic trainee class.

"Currently adopted code," for this section means the code adopted in WAC 296-46B-010(1) or any more recently published National Electric Code.

"Date of notification" means the date of a request for additional information from the department or the approval/ denial letter sent to the applicant by the department.

"Electrical theory" means basic principles of electricity such as: Magnetism, ohm's law, and circuit properties such as voltage, current, power, resistance, inductance, capacitance, reactance, impedance, etc., in series, parallel, and combination AC and DC circuits.

"Examination" is any examination required by this section. Each examination must be unique and must provide randomized questions, except for classroom training. Each examination question bank must be at least two times larger than the number of questions in any individual examination. Examinations must not direct or point the individual to a correct answer or reference. Individuals must be responsible to determine the correct answer without the assistance of the sponsor. No more than twenty percent of an examination's questions may have a true/false answer. Competency is demonstrated by scoring at least seventy-five percent on the examination.

"Individual" means a master electrician, administrator or electrician seeking credit for continuing education or a trainee seeking credit for basic trainee class for renewal or certification.

"Instructor" means an individual who is authorized to instruct an approved continuing education or basic trainee class.

"Working day" means Monday through Friday, excluding state of Washington holidays.

(2) GENERAL.

(a) The department and the electrical board have the right to monitor all approved classes without notice and at no charge.

If the department or electrical board determines that the class or instructor does not meet or exceed the minimum requirements for approval, course length, or instructor qualifications, the department may revoke the class and/or instructor approval and/or reduce the number of credited hours for the class.

(b) Department-offered classes and the instructors used for department classes are automatically approved.

(c) Instructors who meet the minimum requirements using subsection (5)(d)(iv) of this section may only instruct classes sponsored by the manufacturer(s) who verified the instructors' qualifications.

(d) An individual will not be given credit for the same approved continuing education class taken more than once. A course sponsor may not submit an individual's name on a ros-ter(s) for multiple classes (i.e., multiple class numbers) when the classes are given simultaneously (e.g., code update, industry related, and/or basic trainee class that have similar class content given during the same class session). Credit will not be granted for a class that is not approved per this section.

(e) Electrical administrators, master electricians, and electricians:

(i) To be eligible for renewal of an administrator certificate, master electrician or electrician certificate of competency, the individual must have completed at least eight hours of approved continuing education for each year of the prior certification period. The individual is not required to take the classes in separate years.

(A) At least eight hours of the total required continuing education must be on the changes in the currently adopted code.

(B) Four hours of the required continuing education must be on the currently adopted chapter 19.28 RCW and/or its related WAC.

(ii) An individual changing an electrical administrator and an electrician certificate of competency into a master electrician's certificate of competency as allowed in RCW 19.28.191(1)(a) or (b) must have completed at least eight hours of approved continuing education for each year of the electrician's prior certificate period. The individual is not required to take the classes in separate years.

(A) At least eight hours of the total required continuing education must be on the changes in the currently adopted code.

(B) Four hours of the required continuing education must be on the currently adopted chapter 19.28 RCW and/or its related WAC.

(iii) Any portion of a year of a prior administrator or electrician certificate period is equal to one year for the purposes of the required continuing education.

(iv) An individual who has both an electrician certificate and an administrator certification may use the same class to fulfill the requirements for continuing education.

(f) Training certificates: To be eligible for renewal of a training certificate, the individual must have completed:

(i) At least forty-eight hours of approved basic trainee classes. The individual cannot use a basic trainee class as credit for the continuing education requirements for renewing an electrician or administrator certificate(s) when the class is also used to satisfy the training certificate renewal requirements; or

(ii) Equivalent electrical training classes taken as a part of an approved:

* Apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW; or

* Electrical training program under RCW 19.28.191(1)(h).

Equivalent classes must be submitted to and approved by the chief electrical inspector thirty calendar days prior to offering the class.

(g) A continuing or basic trainee class attended or completed by an individual before the class's effective date cannot be used to meet the certificate renewal/certification requirements.

(3) CLASS AND INSTRUCTOR - GENERAL APPROVAL PROCESS.

(a) The department will review the application for completeness and conformance with the requirements in this section.

(b) The department will deny approval of applications that do not meet the minimum requirements.

(c) All applications will be considered to be new applications (i.e., Classes and instructors may not be renewed. All applications must include all information necessary to show conformance with the minimum requirements).

(d) Application process:

(i) The applicant must submit a complete application to the department at least thirty calendar days prior to offering or instructing a class.

(ii) The department will only consider material included with the application when reviewing an application.

(iii) All applications must include:

(A) Applicant's name, address, contact name, email address, and telephone number;

(B) All required fees.

(e) Review process:

(i) When the application is received:

(A) The department must review the application for completeness within seven working days after receipt.

(B) If the application is incomplete, the department must, within two working days, notify the applicant of the status of the review and what additional information is required.

* The applicant must provide any additional information requested by the department within five working days after the date of notification.

* The department will deny the application if the additional required information is not received within the five working days after the date of notification for additional information.

(C) The department must complete the review and approval/denial process within fifteen working days upon receipt of a complete application or additional requested information and within two working days notify the applicant of the approval/denial in writing or electronically.

(ii) A notification of denial must include:

(A) Applicant's name and telephone number;

(B) Date of denial;

(C) Sponsor's name and class title if applicable;

(D) Instructor's name if applicable; and

(E) The reason for denial.

(iii) A notification of approval:

(A) For classes must include:

* Applicant's name and telephone number;

* Sponsor's name and telephone number;

* Sponsor number;

* Class title;

* Class number;

* Number of hours approved for the class. The department may reduce the hours requested in the application if the review shows that the requested number of hours is excessive;

* Effective date for this class;

* Expiration date of class;

* Category for which the class is approved (i.e., code update, RCW/WAC update, industry related, basic trainee class, or pumping industry);

* Type of class (i.e., classroom, correspondence, internet); and

* Whether the class is open to the public.

(B) For instructors, must include:

* Applicant's name and telephone number;

* Instructor's name and telephone number;

* Effective date for the approval; and

* Expiration date of the approval.

(iv) The applicant may request a review, by the electrical board, of the department's denial or modification of the application. The applicant must submit a written request for review to the Secretary of the Electrical Board - Chief Electrical Inspector - Within twenty days of notification of the denial/modification. The request must include a review fee of one hundred nine dollars and fifty cents. The review fee is nonrefundable.

(4) CLASS APPROVAL PROCESS.

(a) Class applications must include:

(i) Sponsor's name, address, contact name, email address, telephone number, and sponsor's number (if a class was previously approved);

(ii) Class title;

(iii) Number of education hours requested for the class;

(iv) Category of class for which approval is sought (e.g., code update, RCW/WAC update, industry related, basic trainee class, or pumping industry);

(v) Statement that all requirements of this section will be complied with;

(vi) Statement of whether the class is open to the public;

(vii) Class syllabus (e.g., presentation method(s), description of the training, specific NEC/RCW/WAC articles taught, theory subjects, time allowed for various subject matter components, examination question samples, etc.) describing how the class meets the minimum requirements, described below, for the type of class being offered;

(viii) The applicant must show that the sponsor regularly employs at least one staff member who meets the requirements for instructors in this section;

(ix) List of resources (e.g., texts, references, etc.).

(b) Class approval will be valid for three years except:

(i) If the class is "code update" and a new NEC is adopted by the department within the class approval period, the class approval will be considered automatically revoked; or

(ii) If the class is modified after the application is approved, the class approval will be considered automatically revoked (i.e., change in syllabus, hours, examination, etc.).

(c) Minimum requirements:

(i) Class length:

(A) The minimum allowed length of a class is two hours; however, the minimum length for a basic trainee class is four hours that may be delivered in multiple classroom components of not less than two hours each.

(B) Class length must be based on two-hour increments (e.g., 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.)

(C) Class length must be based on the following:

* Classroom instruction will be based on the total hours the individual is in the classroom. A continuing education class may be divided into multiple components so long as each component is not less than two hours in length and all components are completed within a one-month period. A basic trainee class may be divided into multiple components so long as each component is not less than two hours in length and all components are completed within a six-month period.

* Distance learning continuing education classes (i.e., correspondence and internet continuing education classes) will be based on clock hours necessary to complete the class if it was presented in a classroom setting.

(ii) Class content:

(A) Industry-related classes must be based on:

* Codes or rules included in the currently adopted National Electrical Code (see definition of currently adopted), the electrical law/rule;

* Electrical theory based on original copyrighted material that is readily available for retail purchase; and/or

* Materials and methods that pertain to electrical construction, building management systems, electrical maintenance, or workplace electrical safety such as NFPA 70E - Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. First aid type classes must be approved and will be limited to four hours of credit towards the individual's total continuing education requirement.

(B) Code update classes must be based on the currently adopted (see definition) National Electrical Code and must specify the code articles to be addressed in the class presentation.

(C) RCW/WAC update classes must be based on the latest adopted versions of chapter 19.28 RCW and/or chapter 296-46B WAC.

(D) All basic trainee classes must be classroom instruction only and based upon basic electrical theory based on original copyrighted material that is readily available for retail purchase, currently adopted (see definition for currently adopted) National Electrical Code, and/or use of the electrical laws or rules. Correspondence and internet classes are not allowed. All basic trainee classes must include an appropriate written competency examination(s) to ensure the participant has mastered the basic concepts of the class. The examination must consist of at least five questions per two hours of class credit.

(E) For all pumping industry classes, curriculum must include fifty percent electrical and fifty percent plumbing instruction.

(F) The sponsor of any distance learning class (e.g., correspondence/internet continuing education) must provide the following additional information with the application:

* How the sponsor will provide an orientation session with the instructor or an affiliated representative of the sponsor.

* The application must include a complete description of any hardware, software, or other technology to be used by the provider and needed by the student to effectively engage in the delivery and completion of the class material.

* In the case of internet based continuing education classes, describe how the class software addresses automatic shutdown after a period of inactivity.

* How will the sponsor provide security to ensure that the student who receives credit for the class is the student who enrolled in and completed the class. The approved sponsor and the student must certify that the student has completed the class and the required number of clock hours.

* The application must describe the process and the acceptable methods of how students can contact approved instructors to answer questions regarding the class.

* The application must describe the consistent and regular interactive events appropriate to the delivery method. The interactive elements must be designed to promote student involvement in the learning process and must directly support the student's achievement of the class learning objectives.

* The application must demonstrate that the class includes the same or reasonably similar information content as a course that would otherwise qualify for the requisite number of clock hours of classroom-based instruction.

* The application must demonstrate how the sponsor determined the number of clock hours requested.

* The application must demonstrate how mastery of the material is evaluated (e.g., describing how the material is divided into major learning units and describing how these learning units are divided into modules of instruction, describing how the student's progress toward completion of the mastery requirement will be measured, and describing how the class will provide a mechanism of individual remediation to correct any deficiencies in each module of instruction).

(5) INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL PROCESS:

(a) Except first-aid training, all instructors must be approved per this section.

(b) The instructor application will include:

(i) Instructor's name, address, telephone number, email address;

(ii) Copies of credentials or other information showing conformance with the instruction minimum qualifications.

(c) Instructor approval will be valid for three years except:

(i) If the instructor's credentials are invalidated (e.g., suspension or revocation by the issuing entity) for any reason, approval will be automatically revoked.

(ii) When the instructor approval expires or is revoked, a new application must be submitted to regain approved instructor status.

(d) Minimum requirements:

The application must show that the instructor meets one of the following:

(i) Has a valid Washington administrator, master electrician, or electrician's certificate and has appropriate knowledge of and experience working as an electrical/electronic trainer; or

(ii) Is currently an instructor in a two-year program in the electrical construction trade licensed by the Washington work force training and education coordinating board. The instructor's normal duties must include providing electrical/electronic education; or

(iii) Is a high school vocational teacher, community college, college, qualified instructor with a state of Washington approved electrical apprenticeship program, or university instructor. The instructor's normal duties must include providing electrical/electronic education; or

(iv) Works for and is approved by a manufacturer of electrical products to teach electrical continuing education; or

(v) Is an electrical engineer registered under chapter 18.43 RCW; or

(vi) Subject matter experts approved by the chief electrical inspector who can demonstrate appropriate knowledge of, and experience in the electrical construction trade and working as an electrical/electronic trainer.

(6) FORMS:

(a) The department will develop an appropriate form(s) for the applicant's use when submitting for instructor or class approval;

(b) Applicants must use the department's form when submitting an application for review.

(7) CLASS ATTENDANCE:

(a) The department is not responsible for providing verification of an individual's continuing education or basic trainee classroom training history with the class sponsor;

(b) Electrical approved classes offered in Washington:

(i) The sponsor must provide the department with an accurate online course attendance/completion roster for each class given. Class attendance will only be verified based on the online attendance/completion roster provided by the sponsor.

(A) Within seven days of a student completing the class, the course sponsor must provide the attendance/completion roster in an internet format provided by the department.

(B) The attendance/completion roster must show each individual's name, Washington certificate number, class number, and date of completion.

(ii) Individuals will not be granted credit for a class unless the sponsor's online attendance/completion roster shows the individual successfully completed the class.

(c) For classes approved under chapter 18.106 RCW for the pumping industry, a class number will be created for electrical continuing education. Sponsors for these classes must verify attendance for the electrical credit using the format described in subsection (b) of this section.

(8) Noncompliance with this section by a course sponsor or instructor.

(a) Before a course sponsor or instructor is revoked or suspended for noncompliance with this section, the course sponsor or instructor will be given written notice of the department's intention to suspend or revoke. The notification will describe the allegations and provide the necessary procedures to request a hearing before the electrical board as described in RCW 19.28.341.

(b) The department may also file a civil penalty action under chapter 19.28 RCW for fraudulent, inaccurate, or material misrepresentation activity.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-46B-970

Amended by WSR 14-11-075, filed 5/20/14, effective 7/1/2014

Amended by WSR 17-12-021, Filed 5/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017

Amended by WSR 20-11-053, Filed 5/19/2020, effective 7/1/2020

Amended by WSR 20-14-083, Filed 6/30/2020, effective 10/29/2020

Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. 13-03-128, § 296-46B-970, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW and 2010 c 33 . 11-12-018, § 296-46B-970, filed 5/24/11, effective 6/30/11. 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. 09-20-032, § 296-46B-970, filed 9/29/09, effective 10/31/09; 08-24-048, § 296-46B-970, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/31/08; 08-08-084, § 296-46B-970, filed 4/1/08, effective 5/2/08; 06-24-041, § 296-46B-970, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06; 05-10-024, § 296-46B-970, filed 4/26/05, effective 6/30/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. 04-21-086, § 296-46B-970, filed 10/20/04, effective 11/22/04. 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, 2003 c 399, 2003 c 211, 2003 c 78, and 2003 c 242. 04-12-049, § 296-46B-970, 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. 03-09-111, § 296-46B-970, filed 4/22/03, effective 5/23/03.