Effective July 1, 2023, a new law changes Washington’s approach to journey level (01) electrician certification to an apprenticeship-only model with some exceptions. This change effects trainees who perform 01 work and their employers.

Here are big changes with the new electrician certification law which takes effect on July 1, 2023:

• Until July 1, 2026, trainees who have worked 3,000 hours in the electrical construction trade or completed an approved two-year training school program before July 1, 2023 may continue working to accrue experience to qualify for the (01) electrician exam without joining an apprenticeship program.
• Trainees doing the kind of work limited to (01) electricians must be registered apprentices unless the 3000 hour exception applies.
• To employ registered apprentices, contractors have to be registered apprenticeship training agents or create their own registered apprenticeship to employ registered apprentices pursuing an (01) certificate.
• Trainees will not qualify for (01) examinations without completing the education and work experience requirements a registered apprenticeship program unless the 3000 hour exception applies.
• The new law allows electricians from other states to qualify for a journey level (01) electrician examination without completing a registered apprenticeship program under certain conditions detailed in  the new law, specifically, RCW 19.28.191(c)(iii) through (v) (Effective July 1, 2023).

Exception

These changes do not apply to specialty electrical contractors or the trainees they employ.

If you are a trainee looking to become a journey level (01) electrician, starting July 1, 2023 here is what you need to know:

Learning the (01) trade.

To perform work limited to (01) electricians, trainees must meet one of the following requirements:

• Trainees who have worked 3,000 hours in the electrical construction trade or completed an approved two-year training school program before July 1, 2023 may continue working to accrue experience to qualify for the (01) electrician exam without joining an apprenticeship program.
• Trainees with fewer than 3000 hours worked before July 1, 2023 must be registered apprentices if performing work limited to (01) electricians.

Electrical trainees are often referred to as “apprentices.” However, an apprentice is a trainee who is enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program. Apprentices can only be employed by employers that are apprenticeship training agents or sponsor their own programs.

Individuals learning the electrical construction trade are required to obtain and carry an active training certificate and government issued photo ID. They are also required to carry an apprenticeship ID card if they are a registered apprentice.

Joining an apprenticeship program:

• When applying to an apprenticeship program, or directly entering one when your employer becomes a training agent, you may receive credit for previous experience if you have hours approved by L&I’s Electrical Program.
  • Apprenticeship programs must grant 4,000 hours of credit toward apprenticeship completion to (02), (03), (04), (06), (06A), and (07) specialty electricians.
  • If you are not one of the electricians above, hours worked in those specialties may be evaluated as credit for previous experience.
  • Programs may also evaluate (01) industrial/commercial experience for credit towards advanced standing.
• Find apprenticeship programs serving your area under the “(01) Programs” tab at www.lni.wa.gov/ElectricalApprenticeship
• Use L&I’s Verify tool to view your approved hours.

Resources

www.lni.wa.gov/ElectricalApprenticeship

ESSB 5320