Title of Regulation: 18VAC50-30. Individual License and Certification Regulations (amending 18VAC50-30-40).

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2023.

Agency Contact: Eric L. Olson, Executive Director, Board for Contractors, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-2785, FAX (866) 430-1033, or email contractors@dpor.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments lower the current vocational training requirement for certified backflow prevention device workers who have fewer than seven years of experience in water distribution systems to a minimum of 32 hours.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: A summary of comments made by the public and the agency's response may be obtained from the promulgating agency or viewed at the office of the Registrar of Regulations.

18VAC50-30-40. Evidence of ability and proficiency.

A. Applicants for examination to be licensed as a journeyman shall furnish evidence that one of the following experience and education standards has been attained:

1. Four years of practical experience in the trade and 240 hours of formal vocational training in the trade. Experience in excess of four years may be substituted for formal vocational training at a ratio of one year of experience for 80 hours of formal training, but not to exceed 200 hours;

2. Four years of practical experience and 80 hours of vocational training for liquefied petroleum gas fitters and natural gas fitter providers except that no substitute experience will be allowed for liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas workers;

3. An associate degree or a certificate of completion from at least a two-year program in a tradesman-related field from an accredited community college or technical school as evidenced by a transcript from the educational institution and two years of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired;

4. A bachelor's degree received from an accredited college or university in an engineering curriculum related to the trade and one year of practical experience in the trade for which licensure is desired; or

5. An applicant with 10 years of practical experience in the trade as verified by reference letters of experience from any of the following: building officials, building inspectors, current or former employers, contractors, engineers, architects, or current or past clients attesting to the applicant's work in the trade, may be granted permission to sit for the journeyman's level examination without having to meet the educational requirements.

B. Applicants for examination to be licensed as a master shall furnish evidence that one of the following experience standards has been attained:

1. Evidence that they have one year of experience as a licensed journeyman; or

2. An applicant with 10 years of practical experience in the trade, as verified by reference letters of experience from any of the following: building officials, building inspectors, current or former employers, contractors, engineers, architects, or current or past clients, attesting to the applicant's work in the trade, may be granted permission to sit for the master's level examination without having to meet the educational requirements.

C. Individuals who have successfully passed the Class A contractors trade examination prior to January 1, 1991, administered by the Virginia Board for Contractors in a certified trade shall be deemed qualified as a master in that trade in accordance with this chapter.

D. Applicants for examination to be certified as a backflow prevention device worker shall furnish evidence that one of the following experience and education standards has been attained:

1. Four years of practical experience in water distribution systems and 40 a minimum of 32 hours of formal vocational training in a school approved by the board; or

2. Applicants with seven or more years of experience may qualify with 16 hours of formal vocational training in a school approved by the board.

The board accepts the American Society of Sanitary Engineers' (ASSE) standards for testing procedures. Other programs could be approved after board review. The board requires all backflow training to include instruction in a wet lab.

E. An applicant for certification as an elevator mechanic shall:

1. Have three years of practical experience in the construction, maintenance, and service/repair of elevators, escalators, or related conveyances; 144 hours of formal vocational training; and satisfactorily complete a written examination administered by the board. Experience in excess of four years may be substituted for formal vocational training at a ratio of one year of experience for 40 hours of formal training, but not to exceed 120 hours;

2. Have three years of practical experience in the construction, maintenance, and service/repair of elevators, escalators, or related conveyances and a certificate of completion of the elevator mechanic examination of a training program determined to be equivalent to the requirements established by the board; or

3. Successfully complete an elevator mechanic apprenticeship program that is approved by the Virginia Apprenticeship Council or registered with the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor, as evidenced by providing a certificate of completion or other official document, and satisfactorily complete a written examination administered by the board.

F. Pursuant to § 54.1-1129.1 A of the Code of Virginia, an applicant for examination as a certified water well systems provider shall provide satisfactory proof to the board of at least:

1. One year of full-time practical experience in the drilling, installation, maintenance, or repair of water wells or water well systems under the supervision of a certified master water well systems provider or other equivalent experience as approved by the board to qualify for examination as a trainee water well systems provider;

2. Three years of practical experience in the drilling, installation, maintenance, or repair of water wells or water well systems under the supervision of a certified master water well systems provider or other equivalent experience as approved by the board and 24 hours of formal vocational training in the trade to qualify for examination as a journeyman water well systems provider; or

3. Six years of practical experience in the drilling, installation, maintenance, or repair of water wells or water well systems under the supervision of a certified master water well systems provider or other equivalent experience as approved by the board and 48 hours of formal vocational training in the trade to qualify for examination as a master water well systems provider.

G. An applicant for certification as an accessibility mechanic shall:

1. Have three years of practical experience in the construction, installation, maintenance, service, repair, and testing of wheelchair lifts, incline chairlifts, dumbwaiters, residential elevators, or related conveyances; 80 hours of formal vocational training; and satisfactorily complete a written examination administered by the board. Experience in excess of four years may be substituted for formal vocational training at a ratio of one year of experience for 20 hours of formal training, but not to exceed 60 hours;

2. Have three years of practical experience in the construction, installation, maintenance, service, repair, and testing of wheelchair lifts, incline chairlifts, dumbwaiters, residential elevators, or related conveyances and a certificate of completion of an accessibility mechanic examination of a training program determined to be equivalent to the requirements established by the board; or

3. Successfully complete an accessibility mechanic apprenticeship program that is approved by the Virginia Apprenticeship Council or registered with the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor, as evidenced by providing a certificate of completion or other official document, and satisfactorily complete a written examination administered by the board.

H. An applicant for a limited use/limited application (LULA) endorsement shall:

1. Hold a current certification as an accessibility mechanic issued by the board.

2. Have one year of practical experience in the construction, installation, maintenance, service, repair, and testing of limited use/limited application elevators and complete a vocational education program approved by the board; and satisfactorily complete a written examination administered by the board; or complete a limited use/limited application elevator training program determined to be equivalent to the requirements established by the board.

I. Pursuant to § 54.1-1145 B of the Code of Virginia, an applicant for licensure as a residential building energy analyst shall provide satisfactory proof to the board of:

1. The completion of a residential building energy analyst training program approved by the board;

2. The completion of a minimum of five residential building energy analyses under the supervision of a licensed residential building energy analyst;

3. Current membership in good standing with a certifying organization approved by the board; and

4. Maintaining a minimum of $100,000 of general liability insurance from a company authorized to provide such insurance in the Commonwealth of Virginia unless the individual is employed by a company that holds a valid residential building energy analyst firm license issued by the board.

The applicant shall provide information for the past five years prior to application on any outstanding past-due debts, outstanding judgments, outstanding tax obligations, defaults on bonds, or pending or past bankruptcies.

J. Individuals applying for initial licensure as residential building energy analysts who meet the criteria of § 54.1-1145 C of the Code of Virginia are not required to meet the eligibility standards for licensure found in subsection I of this section.