Source: https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=296-400A&full=true
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 09:01:43+00:00

Document:
296-400A-005 What definitions do I need to know to understand these rules?
296-400A-010 Plumbing certificate types and scope of work.
296-400A-020 How do I obtain a certificate of competency?
296-400A-021 How do I obtain a medical gas piping installer endorsement?
296-400A-022 What procedure is required for renewal of a journey level medical gas endorsement?
296-400A-023 What process is required for renewal of plumber certificates of competency?
296-400A-024 How should a person performing plumbing wear or visibly display their certification, trainee card, or endorsement?
296-400A-025 Who approves medical gas piping installer endorsement training courses?
296-400A-026 What training course approval procedures for medical gas will the department follow?
296-400A-027 Where can I obtain information regarding department approved training course providers?
296-400A-028 What are the requirements for continuing education and classroom training?
296-400A-029 What is the implementation schedule for the continuing education course requirements?
296-400A-030 Do I need a temporary permit?
296-400A-031 How do I qualify for a temporary permit?
296-400A-032 How do I obtain a temporary permit?
296-400A-033 What is the duration of a temporary permit?
296-400A-035 How can I be placed on inactive status?
296-400A-045 What fees will I have to pay?
296-400A-050 When does the advisory board of plumbers meet?
296-400A-070 Can I work as a certified plumber in Washington without taking the Washington state plumbers' competency examination?
296-400A-100 For certification purposes, how are "years of employment" computed and documented?
296-400A-110 Does previous work experience count toward my trainee certificate?
296-400A-120 What do I need to know about plumber trainee certificates?
296-400A-121 What do I need to know about trainee experience and plumber examination requirements for the journey level and specialty plumber?
296-400A-130 What if I make a false statement or a material misrepresentation on an application, an employment report or a trainee certificate?
296-400A-140 How does the department enforce plumbers certification requirements?
296-400A-150 May the department audit the records of a contractor?
296-400A-155 Audit of trainee hours.
296-400A-300 What procedures does the department follow when issuing a notice of infraction?
296-400A-400 What are the monetary penalties for violating certification requirements?
296-400A-425 What if I owe outstanding penalties related to a department issued plumber infraction?
296-400A-430 If I am a certified backflow assembly maintenance and repair, journey level, or specialty plumber do I need to be a registered contractor under chapter 18.27 RCW?
296-400A-036 How can I maintain my plumbing certificate as an honorary accomplishment? [Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140. WSR 06-24-040, § 296-400A-036, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06.] Repealed by WSR 16-08-100, filed 4/5/16, effective 5/16/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.106 RCW and Uniform Plumbing Code.
296-400A-122 What do I need to know about trainee experience and certification, and the backflow assembly maintenance and repair specialty examination requirements? [Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040 and 18.106.140. WSR 09-10-080, § 296-400A-122, filed 5/5/09, effective 6/5/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140, 2002 c 82, and 2003 c 399. WSR 04-12-046, § 296-400A-122, 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. WSR 02-14-074, § 296-400A-122, filed 6/28/02, effective 7/1/02.] Repealed by WSR 16-08-100, filed 4/5/16, effective 5/16/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.106 RCW and Uniform Plumbing Code.
296-400A-135 How does the department enforce trainee supervision? [Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140. WSR 06-24-040, § 296-400A-135, filed 11/30/06, effective 12/31/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.106.040, 18.106.140, 2002 c 82, and 2003 c 399. WSR 04-12-046, § 296-400A-135, filed 5/28/04, effective 6/30/04.] Repealed by WSR 16-08-100, filed 4/5/16, effective 5/16/16. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.106 RCW and Uniform Plumbing Code.
What definitions do I need to know to understand these rules?
"Advisory board" is the state advisory board of plumbers.
"Assist" means a friend, neighbor, or other person (including a certified plumber) may assist a householder, at his or her residence, in the performance of plumbing work on the condition that the householder is present when the work is performed and the person assisting the householder does not accept money or other forms of compensation for the volunteer work. For the purposes of this subsection, a residence is a single-family residence.
"Audit" means an assessment, evaluation, examination or investigation of, contractor's accounts, books and records for the purpose of verifying the contractor's compliance with RCW 18.106.320.
"Backflow assembly" or "backflow prevention assembly" or "backflow preventer" is a device as described in the Uniform Plumbing Code used to prevent the undesired reversal of flow of water or other substances through a cross-connection into the public water system or consumer's potable water system.
"Backflow assembly tester" is an individual certified by the department of health to perform tests to backflow assemblies.
"Calendar day" means each day of the week, including weekends and holidays.
"Continuing education" is approved plumbing and electrical courses for journey level, domestic pump specialty plumbers, and residential specialty plumbers, to meet the requirements to maintain their plumbing certification and for trainees or individuals to become certified plumbers in Washington.
"Continuing education course provider" is an entity approved by the department, in consultation with the state advisory board of plumbers, to provide continuing education training for journey level, domestic pump specialty plumbers, residential specialty plumbers, and trainees. All training course providers must comply with the requirements in WAC 296-400A-028.
"Continuity affidavit" is a form developed by the department that is used to verify whether medical gas pipe installation work (brazing process) has been performed biannually. This form is provided to the department at the time of renewal by the person holding the medical gas piping installer endorsement and requires the notarized signature of the employer of the medical gas piping installer or another qualified verifier as determined by the department. Continuity is a visual examination by the employer of the brazing that was performed. The medical gas installer must also review the current medical gas code and sign the affidavit stating that they have done so.
"Contractor" means any person, corporate or otherwise, who engages in, or offers or advertises to engage in, any work covered by the provisions of chapter 18.106 RCW by way of trade or business, or any person, corporate or otherwise, who employs anyone, or offers or advertises to employ anyone, to engage in any work covered by the provisions of chapter 18.106 RCW and is registered as a contractor under chapter 18.27 RCW.
"Control" means that the journey level plumber, specialty plumber, or temporary permit plumber is physically on-site at the start of each day and each and every job site to diagnose, direct, and lay out the plumbing work the trainee is to perform.
"Course of study" means classroom training and practical work experience in the plumbing industry as defined in WAC 296-400A-100.
"Department" is the department of labor and industries.
"Director" is the director of the department of labor and industries.
"Dispatcher" means the contractor's employee who authorized the work assignment of the person employed in violation of chapter 18.106 RCW.
"Journey level plumber" is anyone who has learned the commercial plumbing trade and has been issued a journey level certificate of competency by the department. A journey level plumber may work on plumbing projects including residential, commercial and industrial worksite locations.
"Medical gas piping installer" is anyone who has been issued a medical gas piping installer endorsement of competency by the department.
"Medical gas piping systems" are piping systems that convey or involve oxygen, nitrous oxide, high pressure nitrogen, medical compressed air, or medical vacuum systems.
"Plumbing" is that craft involved in installing, altering, repairing and renovating potable water systems, liquid waste systems and medical gas piping systems in the footprint of a building. Potable water systems, liquid waste systems, and medical gas piping systems are defined by the current Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and amendments adopted by the state building code council. All piping, fixtures, pumps and plumbing appurtenances that are used for a reclaimed water system are included in the definition of liquid waste systems. The installation of water softening or water treatment equipment into a water system is not considered plumbing.
"Records" include, but are not limited to, all bids, invoices, billing receipts, time cards and payroll records that show the work was performed, advertised, or bid.
(b) Maintenance and repair of backflow assemblies located within a residential or commercial building or structure. For the purposes of this subsection, "maintenance and repair" includes cleaning and replacing internal parts of an assembly, but does not include installing or replacing backflow assemblies.
(B) A person exempt from the requirement to obtain a certified plumber to do such plumbing work under RCW 18.106.150.
For the purposes of the domestic pump specialty, residential structure includes any improvement to real property where that property is primarily used as a residence.
"Story" is defined by the current building codes and amendments adopted by the state building code council which includes basements or garages.
"Supervision" for the purpose of these rules means within sight and sound. Supervision requirements are met when the supervising plumber is on the premises and within sight and sound of the individual who is being trained.
"Trainee plumber" is anyone who has been issued a trainee certificate and is learning or being trained in the plumbing trade with direct supervision of either a journey level plumber or specialty plumber working in their specialty.
"Training course provider" is an entity approved by the department, in consultation with the state advisory board of plumbers, to provide medical gas piping installer training. All training course providers must comply with the requirements in WAC 296-400A-026.
Plumbing certificate types and scope of work.
(1) Journey level plumber (PL01): A journey level plumber may work on all phases of plumbing projects including residential, commercial and industrial worksite locations.
(2) Residential specialty plumber (PL02): Installation, maintenance and repair of all phases of plumbing for single-family dwellings, duplexes and apartment buildings which do not exceed three stories.
(3) Backflow specialty plumber (PL30): Maintenance and repair of backflow assemblies located within a residential or commercial building or structure. For the purposes of this subsection, "maintenance and repair" includes cleaning and replacing internal parts of an assembly, but does not include installing or replacing backflow assemblies. A plumber trainee must have a PT31 certificate in order to work as a backflow specialty plumber under the supervision of a certified backflow specialty plumber, certified residential specialty plumber or certified journey level plumber. PT31 trainee requires one hundred percent supervision.
(4) Pump and irrigation specialty plumber (PL03): Installation, maintenance and repair of equipment that is used to acquire, treat, store, or move water suitable for either drinking or other domestic purposes, including irrigation or to a domestic water pumping system consisting of the pressurization, treatment, and filtration components of a domestic water system consisting of: One or more pumps; pressure, storage, and other tanks; filtration and treatment equipment. For the purposes of this subsection, if located within the interior space of a residential structure as stated in RCW 18.106.010 (10)(c), only the equipment and piping defined by RCW 18.106.010 (10)(c) are included in this specialty and other parts of the system must be worked on by the appropriate certification.
(5) Limited volume domestic pump specialty plumber (PL03A): Installation, maintenance and repair of equipment that is used to acquire, treat, store, or move water suitable for either drinking or other domestic purposes on pumping systems not exceeding one hundred gallons per minute. A domestic water pumping system consisting of the pressurization, treatment, and filtration components of a domestic water system consisting of: One or more pumps; pressure, storage, and other tanks; filtration and treatment equipment. For the purposes of this subsection, if located within the interior space of a residential structure as stated in RCW 18.106.010 (10)(c), only the equipment and piping to stated equipment in this locked room can be worked on by this certification; other parts of the system must be worked on by the appropriate certification.
(6) Plumber trainee (PT00 and PT31): Is an individual learning the trade or craft of plumbing. Trainees are required to have and maintain a valid plumber's training certificate. Trainees will be accredited for those hours worked within the scope of their supervising plumber. Any plumber trainee may perform plumbing work within the scope of their supervising journey level or specialty plumber. A trainee must keep a record of the hours worked as a trainee as required by WAC 296-400A-120(3).
(7) Certified journey level electricians, certified residential specialty electricians, or electrical trainees (EL01 and EL02): According to RCW 18.106.150 (2)(b), a current plumbing certificate of competency or plumber trainee card is not required for: Certified journey level electricians, certified residential specialty electricians, or electrical trainees working for a general or residential specialty electrical contractor (EC01 or EC02) and performing exempt work under RCW 18.27.090(18). A plumber trainee must have an electrical trainee (ET00) certificate in order to work with a journey level electrician or residential specialty electrician.
The plumbing work must be directly and immediately appropriate to the like-in-kind replacement of a household fixture or its component(s) that requires limited power and waste/water connections.
An example would be replacing the heating element (a component) of an electric hot water heater. An electrician performing a like-in-kind replacement of an electric hot water tank could only disconnect and then reconnect the water supply lines to the tank and drain line from the temperature and pressure relief valve. Gas hot water tanks are not part of the electrician's exemption.
How do I obtain a certificate of competency?
(h) Paying the certification issuance fee within ninety days of notification of passing the written examination. Failure to pay within ninety days will require reexamination.
(e) Paying the certification issuance fee within ninety days of notification of passing the written examination. Failure to pay within ninety days will require reexamination.
How do I obtain a medical gas piping installer endorsement?
(Only journey level plumbers holding active state of Washington certification may apply for this endorsement.) This section applies if you have never held the endorsement.
(5) Pay the endorsement issuance fee shown in WAC 296-400A-045 to the department.
* This section applies if you previously held the endorsement.
(e) Failure to pay within ninety days will require reexamination.
What procedure is required for renewal of a journey level medical gas endorsement?
(1) Maintain an active Washington state journey level certification.
(2) Submit affidavit of continuity verifying that brazing has been performed every six months during the renewal cycle.
(3) Submit affidavit of review of current medical gas code adopted by the Washington state building code council.
(4) Pay the appropriate fee: If renewal occurs before expiration of current endorsement, the renewal fee shown in WAC 296-400A-045; if renewal occurs within ninety days of expiration of current endorsement, you must pay a double renewal fee; if the current endorsement has been expired for ninety-one days or more, you must take an examination relating to medical gas installation administered by the department and pay the examination application fee shown in WAC 296-400A-045. Medical gas endorsement is renewed every two years.
(5) Contractors must accurately verify and attest to brazing performed by the journey level by sending an affidavit of continuity to the department or in lieu of the biannual braze requirement from the contractor, a performed brazed coupon test documenting that the coupon was certified as passing from a department approved medical gas training course provider would be accepted.
(6) If affidavit of continuity and/or affidavit of review are not received within ninety days of expiration, the applicant will be required to retake the examination and pay the appropriate fees prior to being placed in active status.
How should a person performing plumbing wear or visibly display their certification, trainee card, or endorsement?
(1) The certificate must be immediately available for examination at all times.
(2) The individual must also have in their possession governmental issued photo identification.
(3) To work in the plumbing trade, an individual must possess, and is encouraged to wear, and visibly display on the front of the upper body a current, valid plumber certificate of competency, medical gas endorsement, or plumber trainee card.
(b) The certificate may be worn inside the protective clothing so that when the protective clothing is removed, the certificate is visible. A cold weather jacket or similar apparel is not protective clothing.
Who approves medical gas piping installer endorsement training courses?
(2) Set training course fees.
What training course approval procedures for medical gas will the department follow?
(1) The department will review and approve courses submitted by training course providers that offer medical gas piping systems training. Course approvals will be decided in consultation with the state advisory board of plumbers.
(2) All providers seeking course approval, must submit the required information (see subsection (5) of this section) to the department at least thirty days before a regularly scheduled advisory board meeting. No course can be offered as meeting the requirements of a medical gas endorsement until it has been approved.
(3) All material required for approval will be reviewed without testimony and the review will be based solely upon the information submitted. Once reviewed, the department has five working days to give a provider written notification of acceptance or rejection. In the case of rejection, the department must specify its reasons.
(4) If a provider has a course rejected, it may request a hearing before the advisory board at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Any information supporting the provider's position, which was not included with the original approval request, must be submitted to the board at least twenty days before the meeting at which the hearing will be held.
At the hearing, the department and the provider may produce witnesses and give testimony. The hearing must be conducted according to chapter 34.05 RCW. The board must base its decision upon the testimony and evidence presented and must notify the parties immediately upon reaching its decision. A majority of the board is necessary to render a decision.
(a) All training courses must conform to and be based upon current standards and requirements governing the installation of medical gas piping systems.
(vii) The specific fees associated with the course, as well as, the total cost of the course.
(c) All fees for approved training courses must be reasonable and in line with fees charged for other comparable code based training courses.
(6) Training courses are approved for a three-year period.
(7) A provider, whose courses are approved, must give the department literature describing the courses so the department can share this information to prospective applicants.
(8) It is the responsibility of the provider to annually review and update its courses and to notify the department of any changes.
(9) The department may withdraw its approval of any training course if it determines the provider is no longer in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. If the department withdraws its approval of a training course, it must give the provider written notification of the withdrawal specifying the reasons for its decision. If the department withdraws its approval of a training course the provider may request a hearing before the advisory board at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Any information supporting the provider's position must be submitted to the board at least twenty days before the meeting at which the hearing will be held. At the hearing the department and the provider may produce witnesses and give testimony. The hearing must be conducted according to chapter 34.05 RCW. The board must base its decision upon the testimony and evidence presented and must notify the parties immediately upon reaching its decision. A majority of the board is necessary to render a decision.
Where can I obtain information regarding department approved training course providers?
The department will produce a list of all approved training course providers and/or course contact persons. This list will be available to all applicants who request it. It will also be available at all department service locations.
What are the requirements for continuing education and classroom training?
What are the general and continuing education course requirements for journey level, residential specialty plumbers, domestic pump specialty plumbers, and plumber trainees?
(1) Journey level, residential specialty plumber, domestic pump specialty plumber, and plumber trainee.
(a) To be eligible for renewal of a journey level plumber or residential specialty plumber certificate, the individual must have completed at least sixteen hours of approved continuing education for each two years of the prior certification period. Individuals will be required in the prior two-year period to have completed a minimum of eight hours of plumbing code and a minimum of four hours of electrical trade related classes from the currently adopted Washington state plumbing and electrical codes. The remaining four hours may be plumbing or electrical trade related classes.
(b) Domestic pump specialty plumbers must renew their domestic pump specialty certificate once every three years, on or before the individual's birthday. Individuals will be required to complete twenty-four hours of approved continuing education. The continuing education may comprise both electrical and plumbing education with a minimum of twelve of the required twenty-four hours of continuing education in plumbing for each three-year renewal cycle.
(c) Plumber trainees must complete at least eight hours per year of training from an approved continuing education course for each year of the prior certification period. Trainees will be required during a two-year period to complete at least eight hours of plumbing code and at least four hours of electrical trade related classes from the currently adopted Washington state plumbing and electrical codes. The remaining four hours may be plumbing or electrical trade related classes.
(d) Any portion of a year of a prior plumber certification period is equal to one year for the purposes of the required continuing education.
(2) An individual will not be given credit for the same approved continuing education course taken more than once in their renewal cycle. No credit will be granted for any course not approved by the department.
(3) Continuing education requirements do not apply to backflow specialty plumbers under chapter 18.106 RCW and this chapter.
Approval process - Continuing education course.
(4) The advisory board of plumbers or plumbing board subcommittee will review each continuing education course. The advisory board of plumbers or plumbing board subcommittee will recommend approval or disapproval to the department. The department will either approve or disapprove the course.
(5) To be considered for approval, a continuing education course must consist of not less than two hours of instruction and must be open to monitoring by a representative of the department and/or the plumbing board at no charge. If the department determines that the continuing education course does not meet or exceed the minimum requirements for approval, the department may revoke the course approval or reduce the number of credited hours.
(c) Materials and methods as they pertain to the industrial practices of plumbing or electrical construction, building management systems, plumbing or electrical maintenance, or workplace health and safety.
(7) Code-update courses must be based on the currently adopted Uniform Plumbing Code with amendments as adopted by the state building code council or currently adopted National Electrical Code.
(a) Correspondence and online courses in the plumbing code or industry related plumbing category require thirty-five questions per hour of credit. Exams and answers required with course application.
(b) Correspondence and online courses in the industry related electrical category require twenty-five questions per hour of credit. Exams and answers required with course application.
(c) Classroom training requires one hour of instruction for each hour of credit.
(d) Course outline must support the number of hours requested.
Application - For continuing education course approval.
(8) All applications for course approval must be on forms provided by the department. The plumbing board and the department will only consider the written information submitted with the application when considering approval of the continuing education training course.
(9) The department will provide continuing education application forms to sponsors upon request. The course sponsor must submit an original completed application for course approval and three copies (unless submitted electronically using department prescribed technology) to the department. The department must receive the complete course application from the sponsor in writing at least forty-five days before the first class requested for approval is offered.
(h) A sample copy of the completion certificate issued to the course participants.
(11) The course sponsor seeking approval of a continuing education course will be notified of the subcommittee's decision within five days of the completed review of the application.
(12) If the application is not approved, the rejection notice will include an explanation of the reason(s) for rejection. If the course sponsor disagrees with the subcommittee's decision, the course sponsor may request a reconsideration hearing by the full plumbing board. A request to appeal course rejection must be received by the department forty-five days before a regularly scheduled board meeting. The course sponsor must submit, to the department, any additional information to be considered during the hearing, in writing, at least thirty days before the board hearing. The course sponsor must provide at least twenty copies of any written information to be submitted to the board.
Offering - Continuing education course.
(13) The course sponsor may offer an approved course for up to three years without additional approval. However, if the course is classified as code-update or code-related and a new edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code or National Electrical Code is adopted within the course approval period, the course approval will be considered automatically revoked and the course sponsor must submit a new application for review by the department and approval by the plumbing board subcommittee. On new code cycle years new code courses can be approved and taught three months prior to the formal adoption date.
(14) A continuing education course attended or completed by an individual before final approval by the plumbing board subcommittee cannot be used to meet the plumbing certificate renewal requirements.
Documentation - Washington approved training course attendance/completion.
(15) The department is not responsible for providing verification of an individual's continuing education history with the course sponsor.
(16) The course sponsor must provide the department with an accurate and typed course attendance/completion roster for each course given.
(a) The attendance/completion roster must be provided within thirty days of course completion.
(b) In addition, the course sponsor may provide the attendance/completion roster in an electronic format provided by the department.
(c) The attendance/completion roster must show each participant's name, Washington certificate number, course number, location of course, date of completion, and instructor's name. The typed roster must contain the signature of the course sponsor's authorized representative.
(17) If the course sponsor fails to submit the required attendance/completion rosters within thirty days of the course completion, the department may revoke or suspend the course approval.
(f) The type of continuing education units.
(19) The department will only use a copy of the sponsor's attendance/completion roster as final evidence that the participant completed the training course.
(20) The department will keep an electronic copy of submitted rosters of the continuing education courses on file only for audit purposes. The department is not responsible for the original of any completion certificate issued.
Documentation - Out-of-state training course attendance/completion.
(a) The individual must request that the course sponsor submit a complete continuing education course application and requirements as described in this section for in-state courses.
Application for course approval will not be considered more than three years after the date of the course.
(b) The department must have entered into a reciprocal agreement with the state providing course approval.
The participant must provide a copy of an accurate and completed award or certificate from the course sponsor identifying the course location, date of completion, participant's name, and Washington certificate number. The department will only accept a copy of the sponsor's certificate or form as evidence that the participant attended and completed the course.
What is the implementation schedule for the continuing education course requirements?
• Individuals that renew between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006, are required to complete eight hours of continuing education courses.
• Effective July 1, 2006, all journey level and residential specialty renewals will require sixteen hours of continuing education.
How do I qualify for a temporary permit?
(4) Not be a trainee or an apprentice plumber.
If you qualify, you can obtain a temporary permit by applying to the department and paying both the examination application fee and the temporary permit fee shown in WAC 296-400A-045.
What is the duration of a temporary permit?
A temporary permit is valid for four months and is nonrenewable.
How can I be placed on inactive status?
(c) Not be working in the plumbing trade.
Inactive status means that you are not currently working in the plumbing trade and you are not required to pay the certificate renewal fee or required continuing education.
(a) If you have been in inactive status for less than five years, you may return to active status, without reexamination, by paying the reinstatement fee shown in WAC 296-400A-045 and meet continuing education requirements for your certification.
(i) Journey level and residential specialty plumbers are required to meet a minimum of sixteen hours continuing education with a minimum of eight hours of plumbing code and a minimum of four hours being in electrical training before being reinstated. The remaining four hours can be from any of the approved categories.
(ii) Domestic pump plumbers are required to complete twenty-four hours, with a minimum of twelve hours of plumbing classes before being reinstated.
(b) If you have been in inactive status for five or more years, you are required to reapply and pass the competency examination pursuant to WAC 296-400A-020 and pay the appropriate fees shown in WAC 296-400A-045.
(3) Inactive status does not apply to medical gas endorsements.
Reciprocity application is only allowed for applicants that are applying work experience toward certification that was obtained in state(s) with which the department has a reciprocity agreement. The reciprocity application is valid for one year.
The trainee certificate will expire one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed on or before the date of expiration. Trainee update fee required when hours are submitted outside of renewal period.
This fee applies to either the original issuance or a renewal of a certificate. If you have passed the plumbers certificate of competency examination or the medical gas piping installer endorsement examination and paid the certificate fee, you will be issued a plumber certificate of competency or a medical gas endorsement that will expire on your birth date.
The two-year renewal of a Medical Gas Piping Installer Endorsement must include a continuity affidavit verifying that brazing work has been performed every six months during the renewal cycle.
This fee is paid directly to a nationally recognized testing agency under contract with the department. It covers the cost of preparing and administering the written competency examination and the materials necessary to conduct the practical competency examination required for the medical gas piping system installers endorsement or the domestic pump or pump and irrigation examination. This fee is not paid to the department.
This fee is paid directly to a training course provider approved by the department, in consultation with the state advisory board of plumbers. It covers the cost of providing training courses required for the medical gas piping system installer endorsement. This fee is not paid to the department.
This fee is for a three-year period or code cycle.
The domestic pump specialty application is valid for one year.
When does the advisory board of plumbers meet?
The advisory board of plumbers meets every quarter on the third Tuesday of January, April, July and October.
Can I work as a certified plumber in Washington without taking the Washington state plumbers' competency examination?
The director of labor and industries negotiates reciprocal agreements with states that have equivalent requirements for certification and licensing of journey level and specialty plumbers. The agreement allows plumbers from those states to work in Washington and Washington-certified plumbers to work in the other state without taking competency examinations. To find out if your state has an agreement with the department contact the plumber's certification clerk at the department's Tumwater, Washington headquarters.
(c) You pay the reciprocity application fee and journey level or specialty certificate fee shown in WAC 296-400A-045.
(2) Reciprocity agreements cannot be used to take the Washington state competency examination instead of the examination in your home state.
(3) Reciprocity application is only allowed for applicants that are applying work experience toward certification that was obtained in state(s) with which the department has a reciprocity agreement.
(4) An applicant for a reciprocal certificate must be a resident of the state in which they hold the certificate at the time they make the application for reciprocity.
(5) A certificate by reciprocity must not be granted to an individual residing in the state to which they are making application at the time of application.
(6) Reciprocal certificate holders are responsible for the renewal of their certificate. A late renewal fee and/or reexamination can result when renewal is not accomplished in accordance with each state's respective statutes.
Does previous work experience count toward my trainee certificate?
What do I need to know about trainee experience and plumber examination requirements for the journey level and specialty plumber?
(1) You may take the residential specialty plumber examination after completing 6,000 hours and not less than three years of documented training under direct supervision of a certified residential specialty or journey level plumber.
(2) You may take the journey level examination after completing 8,000 hours and not less than four years of documented training which must include 4,000 hours of commercial plumbing experience under direct supervision of a certified journey level plumber.
(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 journey level 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. Restricted domestic pump specialty trainees who have completed at least 720 hours of on-the-job training and passed the competency examination required by WAC 296-400A-020 may work unsupervised for the remainder of the time required for work experience to become a restricted domestic pump specialty plumber.
(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 but not less than two years, of practical experience working under the direct supervision of a certified unrestricted domestic pump specialty plumber or a journey level 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.
(4) To be eligible for a backflow assembly maintenance and repair specialty examination, the trainee must furnish written evidence that they have a valid backflow assembly tester certification administered and enforced by the department of health.
(5) Individuals are required to complete 16 hours of continuing education with a minimum of 4 hours of industry related electrical training prior to testing for journey level, domestic pump, or residential specialty plumber certification.
(6) Effective January 1, 2005, all plumber trainees will be required to meet the current hour requirements to test.
(8) Any applicant who fails an examination will be required to wait at least until the next scheduled examination date and location and work under the direct supervision of a certified plumber while holding an active trainee card, until they have passed the exam and their certificate of competency has been issued. Examinations are held the first Thursday of every month, unless that date falls on a holiday. Applications must be submitted and received by the plumbing certification program office two weeks before the next scheduled date.
(9) Failure to reschedule or appear on the scheduled exam date will result in forfeiture of the examination fee.
What if I make a false statement or a material misrepresentation on an application, an employment report or a trainee certificate?
(1) A person making a false statement or material misrepresentation on an application, statement of hours, or signed statement to the department may be referred to the county prosecutor for criminal prosecution. The department may also file a civil action under chapter 18.106 RCW and may revoke or suspend a certificate under chapter 18.106 RCW.
(2) The department may file a civil action under chapter 18.106 RCW and may revoke or suspend a certificate of competency under chapter 18.106 RCW for inaccurate or false reporting of continuing education hours.
(3) If the department determines that a course sponsor has issued an inaccurate or incomplete course application or attendance/completion roster, the department may suspend or revoke the course approval and deny future approval of a continuing education course(s) by the course sponsor.
(4) The department may file a civil action under chapter 18.106 RCW against both the trainee and the contractor, apprentice training director, or other entity verifying the training hours and may subtract the falsified hours of employment from a trainee's total hours if the department determines a false statement or material misrepresentation has been made in an affidavit of experience.
How does the department enforce plumbers certification requirements?
(5) Persons who are certified as backflow assembly maintenance and repair specialties have an active backflow assembly tester certification from the department of health.
May the department audit the records of a contractor?
Yes, for any reason such as: Dispatching, ratio, supervision, excessive hours, and certification. The department may audit the records of contractors as authorized under RCW 18.106.320 when the department has reason to believe that a violation of the plumbing certification laws has occurred.
(1) The department, under RCW 18.106.320, may audit the employment records of the plumbing contractor or employer who verified the plumbing trainee hours.
(2) Every contractor must keep a record of trainee employment so the department may obtain the necessary information to verify plumbing trainee work experience.
(a) The contractor must keep the records of jobs performed for a least five years.
(b) Upon request, these records must be made available to the department for inspection within seven business days.
(a) The number of hours the trainee worked as a supervised trainee by category.
(b) The type of plumbing work the trainee performed (e.g., commercial or residential).
(4) Any information obtained from the trainee's contractor or employer during the audit under the provisions of RCW 18.106.320 is confidential and is not open to public inspection under chapter 42.17 RCW.
(b) An audit covering a specific time period and examination of a contractor's or employer's books and records which may include their reporting of the trainee's payroll hours required for industrial insurance, employment security or prevailing wage purposes.
What procedures does the department follow when issuing a notice of infraction?
(1) If an authorized representative of the department determines that an individual has violated plumber certification requirements, including medical gas piping installer endorsement requirements, the department must issue a notice of infraction describing the reasons for the infraction.
(d) An individual for not having their department issued certification card and governmental issued photo identification in their possession on the job site.
(4) The department may issue an infraction to a contractor advertising or performing work under this chapter or chapter 18.27 RCW who is not properly registered under chapter 18.27 RCW.
(5) An individual may appeal a notice of infraction by complying with the appropriate provisions of RCW 18.106.220.
(6) If good cause is shown, an administrative law judge may waive, reduce or suspend any monetary penalties resulting from the infraction.
(7) Any monetary penalties collected under this chapter, must be deposited in the plumbing certificate fund.
What are the monetary penalties for violating certification requirements?
(2) Each day a person is in violation is considered a separate infraction.
(3) Each job site at which a person is in violation is considered a separate infraction.
What if I owe outstanding penalties related to a department issued plumber infraction?
The department may deny your application or renewal of your certificate or endorsement if you owe outstanding penalties. The department must notify you of their denial by registered mail, return receipt requested. This notice of denial will be mailed to the address on your application.
Upon receipt of the notice, you have twenty days to file a notice of appeal with the department. Your notice of appeal must be accompanied by a certified check for two hundred dollars. This amount will be returned to you if the department's decision is not upheld by the hearings officer. If the hearings officer upholds the department's decision, the two hundred dollars will be applied to the cost of the hearing.
The office of administrative hearings must conduct the hearing under chapter 34.05 RCW.
If I am a certified backflow assembly maintenance and repair, journey level, or specialty plumber do I need to be a registered contractor under chapter 18.27 RCW?
Anyone who advertises, offers to do work, submits a bid, or performs any work under chapter 18.106 RCW and these rules must be a registered contractor as required under chapter 18.27 RCW, or an employee of such a registered contractor, with wages as their sole compensation.

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