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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

State Plumbing Exams
State Electrical Exams
National Exams
State Plumbing Exams State Electrical Exams National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

Construction work of all kinds, including asbestos abatement, at the state level is regulated by registration.

Prequalification is required in order to bid on highway work in the state.

Who Regulates Construction?

The registration, contractor certification and licensing of general and specialty contractors is done by:

Washington Department of Labor & Industries Contractor Registration
Post Office Box 44450
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 902-5226 or (800) 647-0982
https://www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Contractors

For electrical licensing:

Washington Electrical Licensing
Post Office Box 44460
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 902-5269/Fax (360) 902-5296
https://www.lni.wa.gov/Tradeslicensing/Electrical

For plumber certification:

Washington Department of Labor & Industries Plumber Certification Section
Post Office Box 44470
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 902-5207
https://www.lni.wa.gov/Tradeslicensing/Plumbing

Asbestos abatement licensing information may be obtained from:

Washington Department of Labor & Industries
Post Office Box 44614
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 902-5435
https://www.lni.wa.gov/Tradeslicensing/LicensingReq/Asbestos

Contractors who are bidding as a prime contractor for Department of Transportation projects such as highway prequalification may obtain information from:

Washington Department of Transportation Prequalification Engineer
Post Office Box 47360
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 705-7837
https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa

Requirements?

Highway Prequalification:
Contractors must submit a completed standard questionnaire on experience and a completed financial statement form. Bidding rates are set by the department and are based on the information submitted. Prequalification's must be renewed annually. The average processing time on applications is 30 days. No fee for prequalification.

Asbestos Abatement:
In order to obtain certification as an asbestos contractor, applicant must submit an application to the department. The application shall provide the following information:

a. A list of asbestos projects:

4. Project Name

5. Location

6. Brief Description

7. Identity of any citations or enforcement actions issued for violations of asbestos regulations by any local, state, or federal jurisdiction relative to each individual project.

8. List Asbestos

b. Certificates shall be valid for a period of 12 months.

Certification Type / Application Fee / Renewal / Late Renewal
Asbestos Abatement / $1,050 / $1,050 / N/A
Asbestos Contractor / Initial $87.50/month / $1,050/year / N/A
Asbestos Supervisor / $65 / $65 / State Test
Asbestos Worker / $45 / $45 / State Test

Application fee will be prorated at the rate of $87.50 a month.

c. Upon approval, the department will issue the contractor a certificate. Denial of approval shall be in writing.

Initial Asbestos Supervisor class is a 40 hour class; fees are paid through the approval course sponsor. An 8 hour Asbestos Supervisor refresher class is required yearly for renewal.

If the Asbestos certificate is expired, a state test is required. State tests are issued by the approved course sponsors and may include an additional $50 fee.

Contractors: Applicants are not required to take any examination or document experience for the general contractor or specialty contractor licenses. Contractors are required to carry liability insurance in the amount of $200,000 for public liability and $50,000 for property damage. In addition, they must post cash deposits or surety bonds of $12,000 for general and $6,000 for specialty contractors.

License Type / Application Fee / Biennial Renewal Fee

General and Specialty / $117.90 / $117.90

Electricians:
Trade examinations are required for electricians, electrical administrators and master electricians. Electricians and Master Electricians require prior approval for examination. Electrical Administrators and Telecommunication Administrators contact the exam contractor directly, and then contact the department once exam is passed. A $4,000 bond is required for electrical contractors. Telecommunication contractors must also be insured in the amount $20,000 property damage and $150,000 public liability. Continuing education is required for electricians, administrators, trainees and master electricians (except for telecom administrators). Exams need to be passed with
a minimum of 70%.

License Type / Application Fee/ Renewal / late Renewal

Electrical Contractor / $319.20 / $277.60(2 years) / N/A
Electricians / $90.00 / $83.50(3 years) / $160.30
Electrical Administrator / $125.60 / $158.70(3 years) / $317.50
Telecommunication Administrator / $83.50* / $105.70(2 years) / $211.60
Electrical Trainee / $44.10 / $53.40(2 years)$74.90
Master Electrician / $160.60 / $158.70(3 years) / $317.50

* Includes original certification & application processing fee.

Plumbers:
Trade examinations are required for specialty and journeyman plumbers with a minimum score of 70%. All plumbing work must be conducted through registered contractors. Experience requirements are 6,000 hours for residential specialty and 8,000 hours, of which 4,000 must be commercial, for journeyman. Backflow specialty requires an active BAT card.

License Type / Application Fee / Renewal / Late Renewal
Journeyman/Residential / $151.90 / $121.60 / $243.20
Backflow Specialty / $151.90 / $83.90 / $167.80
Medical Gas / $55.90 / $83.60 / $167.20
Trainee / $45.20 / $45.20 / N/A
Domestic Pump Specialty/ $151.90 / $182.50 / $365

Other:
Continuing education is required for journeyman, residential specialty, plumber trainees and domestic pump and pump and irrigation plumbers.

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
Washington has been reciprocating journey level plumbers with Idaho since 1996.