General.

1. (1) To work in the electrical construction trade as an electrical trainee, an individual must possess, wear, and visibly display a current valid electrical training certificate, learning the trade in the proper ratio, per RCW 19.28.161, under the supervision of a certified master journey level electrician, journey level electrician, master specialty electrician working in their specialty, or specialty electrician working in their specialty.

   The trainee must meet all the requirements of WAC 296-46B-940 related to visibly displaying a current certificate and having a valid photo identification on his/her person.

   Unless working in a specialty, apprentices and individuals learning the electrical construction trade must have in their possession proof of apprenticeship or journey level training program registration. They must show their apprenticeship or training program registration documents to an authorized representative of the department at the representative's request.

2. (2) An active training certificate is required for all individuals throughout the individual's enrollment and matriculation in an approved construction electrician training school program described in RCW 19.28.191. A training certificate is required to work in the electrical construction trade if an individual does not:

   1. (a) Possess a current journey level certificate of competency issued by the department;
   2. (b) Possess a current specialty electrician certificate of competency issued by the department while working in that specialty's scope of work; or
   3. (c) Is not working in exempt status as allowed by chapter 19.28 RCW.

3. (3) Trainees who have had their training certificates revoked or suspended (during the duration of the revocation or suspension) will not be issued a training certificate.

   Original training certificates.

4. (4) The department will issue an original training certificate when the trainee applicant submits a complete training certificate application including:

   1. (a) Date of birth, mailing address, Social Security number; and

   2. (b) All appropriate fees as listed in WAC 296-46B-909.

      All applicants for an electrical training certificate must be at least 16 years of age. The original training certificate will be valid for two years. If an individual has previously held an electrical training certificate, then that individual is not eligible for a subsequent original training certificate.

      Specialty specific - Zero percent and 75 percent supervision modified training certificates.

5. (5) For specialties as allowed in Table 945-1 (i.e., specialties with 720 minimum hours of work experience required to be eligible for examination):

   1. (a) The department will approve the trainee to take the appropriate specialty competency examination necessary to qualify for a zero percent supervision modified training certificate. To qualify, the trainee applicant must submit a complete zero percent supervision modified training certificate application including:

      1. (i) Date of birth, mailing address, Social Security number;
      2. (ii) Affidavit of experience fulfilling the minimum work experience hours required to qualify for the specialty examination described in Table 945-1; and

      3. (iii) All appropriate fees as listed in WAC 296-46B-909.

         Upon successful completion of the appropriate examination, the trainee will be issued a nonrenewable zero percent supervision modified training certificate for the appropriate specialty. The zero percent supervision modified training certificate will be restricted in duration to the time allowed in Table 945-1, note 2.

   2. (b) Prior to the expiration of the zero percent supervision modified training certificate, the individual must submit a complete application for a 75 percent supervision modified training certificate for the appropriate specialty including:

      1. (i) Seventy-five percent supervision training certificate application including: Date of birth, mailing address, Social Security number; and
      2. (ii) All appropriate fees as listed in WAC 296-46B-909.

   3. (c) A trainee may possess multiple (i.e., in different specialties) modified supervision training certificates for specialties where reduced supervision is allowed in Table 945-1. Combination training certificates will not be issued.

      Renewal of training certificates.

6. (6) An individual must apply for renewal of their training certificate on or before the expiration date of the certificate. The individual may not apply for renewal more than 90 days prior to the expiration date. Renewed certificates are valid for two years.
7. (7) An individual may renew their training certificate after the expiration date if the individual pays the late renewal fee listed in WAC 296-46B-909.

8. (8) All applicants for training certificate renewal must:

   1. (a) Submit a complete renewal application;
   2. (b) Pay all appropriate fees; and
   3. (c) Complete the approved basic trainee classes required by WAC 296-46B-970. Basic trainee classes are only valid when all the requirements of WAC 296-46B-970 are completed.

   4. (d) (i) Deadline for affidavits of experience for hours worked by an individual while not registered in a department-approved apprenticeship program:

      1. (A) Affidavits of experience for the prior two years must be received by the department within 180 days after every electrical training certificate expiration date.
      2. (B) Affidavits must be complete, signed, and notarized.

      3. (C) Hours claimed from affidavits of experience received after the 180 day deadline described in (d)(i)(A) of this subsection, shall not count towards hours required to qualify for electrician certification examinations or unsupervised electrical training certificates unless otherwise allowed by the chief electrical inspector due to unforeseeable circumstances.

         Employers are required to provide the necessary documentation and signed affidavit of experience to the trainee within 20 days after the trainee requests the affidavit. See WAC 296-46B-942(12). See WAC 296-46B-985(4) for the penalty for providing a false or inaccurate affidavit of experience. If the individual is enrolled in a department approved apprenticeship program, the program may submit the required affidavit(s) of experience upon the individual's completion of the required experience hours without cost to the individual. The affidavit of experience must accurately attest to:

      4. (ii) The electrical installation work performed for each employer the individual worked for in the electrical trade during the previous period;
      5. (iii) The correct electrical category the individual worked in; and

      6. (iv) The actual number of hours worked in each category under the proper supervision of a Washington certified, master journey level electrician, journey level electrician or appropriate master specialty electrician or specialty electrician under that specific training certificate. If a trainee possesses multiple training certificates, an affidavit must be submitted for each training certificate for the hours worked under that specific training certificate.

         If the individual is enrolled in a department approved apprenticeship program, the program may submit the required affidavit(s) of experience upon the individual's completion of the required experience hours without cost to the individual.

9. (9) An individual may not renew a training certificate until the required hours of basic classroom education have been completed.
10. (10) An individual may renew a suspended training certificate by submitting a complete renewal application including obtaining and submitting the basic trainee class education required for renewal. However, the certificate will remain in a suspended status for the duration of the suspension period.
11. (11) An individual will not be issued a renewed or reinstated training certificate if the individual owes the department money as a result of an outstanding final judgment under chapter 19.28 RCW.

12. (12) The individual should ask each employer and/or apprenticeship training director for an accurately completed, signed, and notarized affidavit of experience for the previous certification period. The employer(s) or apprenticeship training director(s) must provide the previous period's affidavit of experience to the individual within 20 days of the request. If an individual is enrolled in an approved electrical construction trade apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW, the individual and their apprenticeship training director and/or each employer must give the department an accurately completed, signed, and notarized affidavit of experience accurately attesting to:

    1. (a) The electrical installation work the individual performed in the electrical trade during the previous certification period;
    2. (b) The correct electrical category the individual worked in; and
    3. (c) The actual number of hours worked in each category under the proper supervision of a Washington certified master journey level electrician, journey level electrician or appropriate master specialty or specialty electrician for each employer. For apprentices enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program, the training director or their designated authorized signer are the only authorized signatures the department will accept on affidavits of experience.
13. (13) The employer(s) and/or apprenticeship training director(s) or their designated authorized signer must sign and have notarized the affidavit of experience attesting to the accuracy of all information contained in the affidavit.

14. (14) The trainee, supervising electrician, contractor, and assigned administrator or master electrician are responsible for ensuring compliance with subsection (13) of this section. See WAC 296-46B-985 and 296-46B-990 (3)(c) and (f) for information about failing to submit or submitting false/fraudulent documents. Falsifying documents may be considered perjury and might result in criminal prosecution, civil penalty, or certificate revocation or suspension.

    Trainees without supervision present on the job site.

15. (15) When the supervising electrician is found to not be present on the job site, the trainee may be given a form by the inspector that must be fully completed and returned or postmarked within 24 hours to the inspector. The supervising electrician must sign the statement for the trainee if appropriate supervision was provided. If the supervising electrician fails or refuses to assist the trainee in completing the form, the trainee must return the form with a signed and dated statement stating the supervising electrician's name and saying that the supervising electrician refused to assist.

    Trainees seeking a journey level electrician certificate - Working with no supervision.

16. (16) Trainee seeking a general (01) journey level electrician certificate of competency. After review by the department, a trainee may be issued a six-month, nonrenewable unsupervised electrical training certificate that will allow the individual to work without supervision if the trainee:

    1. (a) Has submitted a complete application for an unsupervised electrical training certificate;
    2. (b) Has worked over 7,000 hours properly supervised not to include more than 4,000 of specialty experience;
    3. (c) Has successfully completed or is currently enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program or an electrical construction trade program in a school approved by the board of community and technical colleges;
    4. (d) Has paid all appropriate training certificate fees listed in WAC 296-46B-909;
    5. (e) Is currently working for and continues to work for a licensed electrical contractor that employs at least one certified journey level or specialty electrician in the appropriate specialty; and

    6. (f) Has not previously failed a journey level electrician certificate of competency examination (see WAC 296-46B-960(11)).

       Trainees seeking certain specialty electrician certificates - Working with reduced or no supervision.

17. (17) After review by the department, a trainee may be issued a nonrenewable zero percent supervision training certificate that will allow the individual to work without supervision if the trainee meets the requirements in subsection (5) of this section.
18. (18) Electrical trainees may work unsupervised when installing HVAC/R thermostat cable when the HVAC/R system consists of a single thermostat in one- and two-family dwelling units where line voltage power has not been connected to the dwelling's electrical system.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW, RCW 19.28.031, and 19.28.251. WSR 25-23-069, s 296-46B-942, filed 11/18/25, effective 12/19/25; WSR 24-05-085, § 296-46B-942, filed 2/21/24, effective 4/1/24; WSR 19-15-117, § 296-46B-942, filed 7/23/19, effective 8/23/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW, RCW 19.28.010 and 19.28.031. WSR 17-12-021, § 296-46B-942, filed 5/30/17, effective 7/1/17. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.28 RCW. WSR 14-11-075, § 296-46B-942, filed 5/20/14, effective 7/1/14; WSR 13-03-128, § 296-46B-942, filed 1/22/13, effective 3/1/13.]