Title of Regulation: 18VAC50-30. Individual License and Certification Regulations (amending 18VAC50-30-120, 18VAC50-30-130).

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-201, 54.1-1102, and 54.1-1146 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2019.

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:

Pursuant to Chapter 750 of the 2018 Acts of Assembly, the amendments distinguish tradesman licenses from other categories of individual credentials, extend the license period for individuals licensed as tradesman from two years to three years, and align renewal fees with the adjusted longer license term.

18VAC50-30-120. Renewal.

A. Licenses issued under this chapter to electricians, gas fitters, HVAC tradesmen, or plumbers shall expire three years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license.

B. All other licenses and certification cards issued under this chapter shall expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued as indicated on the license or certification card.

B. C. Effective with all licenses issued or renewed after December 31, 2007, as a condition of renewal or reinstatement and pursuant to § 54.1-1133 of the Code of Virginia, all individuals holding tradesman licenses with the trade designations of plumbing, electrical, and heating ventilation and cooling shall be required to satisfactorily complete three hours of continuing education for each designation, and individuals holding licenses as liquefied petroleum gas fitters and natural gas fitter providers, one hour of continuing education, relating to the applicable building code, from a provider approved by the board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. An inactive tradesman is not required to meet the continuing education requirements as a condition of renewal.

C. D. Certified elevator mechanics and certified accessibility mechanics, as a condition of renewal or reinstatement and pursuant to § 54.1-1143 of the Code of Virginia, shall be required to satisfactorily complete eight hours of continuing education relating to the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code pertaining to elevators, escalators, and related conveyances. This continuing education will be from a provider approved by the board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

D. E. Certified water well systems providers, as a condition of renewal or reinstatement and pursuant to § 54.1-1129.1 B of the Code of Virginia, shall be required to satisfactorily complete eight hours of continuing education in the specialty of technical aspects of water well construction, applicable statutory and regulatory provisions, and business practices related to water well construction from a provider approved by the board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

E. F. Renewal fees are as follows:

Tradesman license	$90 $135
Liquefied petroleum gas fitter license	$90
Natural gas fitter provider license	$90
Backflow prevention device worker certification	$90
Elevator mechanic certification	$90
Certified accessibility mechanic	$90
Water well systems provider certification	$90
Residential building energy analyst license	$90

All fees are nonrefundable and shall not be prorated.

For renewal fees received on or before August 31, 2019, the fee shall be $60.

F. G. The board will mail a renewal notice to the regulant outlining procedures for renewal. Failure to receive this notice, however, shall not relieve the regulant of the obligation to renew. If the regulant fails to receive the renewal notice, a photocopy of the tradesman license or backflow prevention device worker certification card may be submitted with the required fee as an application for renewal within 30 days of the expiration date.

G. H. The date on which the renewal fee is received by the department or its agent will determine whether the regulant is eligible for renewal or required to apply for reinstatement.

H. I. The board may deny renewal of a tradesman license or a backflow prevention device worker certification card for the same reasons as it may refuse initial issuance or discipline a regulant. The regulant has a right to appeal any such action by the board under the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

I. J. Failure to timely pay any monetary penalty, reimbursement of cost, or other fee assessed by consent order or final order shall result in delaying or withholding services provided by the department such as, but not limited to, renewal, reinstatement, processing of a new application, or exam administration.

J. K. Residential building energy analysts, as a condition of renewal or reinstatement, shall provide documentation of continued membership, in good standing, of a certifying organization approved by the board and proof of insurance as required in 18VAC50-30-40 I 4.

18VAC50-30-130. Reinstatement.

A. Should the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation fail to receive the renewal application or fees within 30 days of the expiration date, the regulant will be required to apply for reinstatement of the license or certification card.

B. Reinstatement fees are as follows:

Tradesman license	$140* $185*
Liquefied petroleum gas fitter license	$140*
Natural gas fitter provider license	$140*
Backflow prevention device worker certification	$140*
Elevator mechanic certification	$140*
Certified accessibility mechanic	$140*
Water well systems provider certification	$140*
Residential building energy analyst license	$140*
*Includes renewal fee listed in 18VAC50-30-120.

All fees required by the board are nonrefundable and shall not be prorated.

For reinstatement fees received on or before August 31, 2019, the fee shall be $100. This fee includes the renewal fee listed in 18VAC50-30-120.

C. Applicants for reinstatement shall meet the requirements of 18VAC50-30-30.

D. The date on which the reinstatement fee is received by the department or its agent will determine whether the license or certification card is reinstated or a new application is required.

E. In order to ensure that license or certification card holders are qualified to practice as tradesmen, gas fitters, liquefied petroleum gas fitters, natural gas fitter providers, backflow prevention device workers, elevator mechanics, water well systems providers, or residential building energy analysts, no reinstatement will be permitted once two years from the expiration date has passed. After that date the applicant must apply for a new license or certification card and meet the then current entry requirements.

F. Any tradesman, liquefied petroleum gas fitter, or natural gas fitter provider activity conducted subsequent to the expiration of the license may constitute unlicensed activity and may be subject to prosecution under Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. Further, any person who holds himself out as a certified backflow prevention device worker, as defined in § 54.1-1128 of the Code of Virginia, or as a certified elevator mechanic or certified accessibility mechanic, as defined in § 54.1-1140 of the Code of Virginia, or as a water well systems provider as defined in § 54.1-1129.1 of the Code of Virginia, without the appropriate certification, may be subject to prosecution under Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. Any activity related to the operating integrity of an elevator, escalator, or related conveyance, conducted subsequent to the expiration of an elevator mechanic certification may constitute illegal activity and may be subject to prosecution under Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. Any individual who completes a residential building energy analysis, as defined in § 54.1-1144 of the Code of Virginia, subsequent to the expiration of a residential building energy analyst license may have engaged in illegal activity and may be subject to prosecution under Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia.

G. The board may deny reinstatement of a license or certification card for the same reasons as it may refuse initial issuance or to discipline a regulant. The regulant has a right to appeal any such action by the board under the Virginia Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

H. Failure to timely pay any monetary penalty, reimbursement of cost, or other fee assessed by consent order or final order shall result in delaying or withholding services provided by the department, such as, but not limited to, renewal, reinstatement, processing of a new application, or exam administration.