Introduction     

Welcome to this course on the Revised Code of Washington Title 19 Section 28.  This course covers the PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS and PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATIONS from RCW 19.28 in 10 lessons.  This course does not cover PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATIONS.  Each lesson is followed by a 5 question Final Test for a total of 50 questions.  Each final test must be taken and passed with a 70 per cent or higher score.  Tests can be taken a maximum of 5 times.  Each time you submit a test the server grades, records, and then sends the grade back for the student to see.

To be eligible for renewal of an administrator, master electrician or electrician certificate, an individual must complete at least eight hours of approved continuing education units (CEU) for each year of the prior certification period.   At least eight hours of the total required CEU's must be on the currently adopted National Electrical Code changes.  Beginning January 1, 2005, four hours of the required CEU's must be on the currently adopted Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.28 and its related Washington Administrative Codes (WAC 296-46B)

What is expected of Students taking this course

(1)  Students are required to read all the material that is loaded by clicking on the links in the left hand frame or navigator links. 

(2)  The student is expected to read the material in all 10 lessons.

(3)  Students are limited to taking each final test five times.

(4)  Students are required to take and pass each of the ten final tests with a passing score of 70 per cent or better. 

(5)  Students are required to not copy answers and give them to other students. 

(6)  Students are required to take the courses themselves and not allow others to assist them.

(7)  Students are required to spend 4 hours of total time taking this course.

The Notification of completion block includes a statement confirming that the student has completed this course by following these rules. 

 

About Statutes and Regulations

Statutes are passed into law by the legislature and signed into law by the governor.  The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is a statute passed by the State legislature and signed into law by the Governor.  There are 91 Titles to the RCW.  Title 19 is called Business Regulations -- Miscellaneous,  and Subchapter 19.28 covers electricians and electrical installations.

Statutes generally do not contain all the rules necessary to meet the full intent of the Statute.  Therefore, statues often contain rules that permit a regulatory agency to file and adopt regulations that are reasonably necessary to carry out the Statute and within the scope of the Statute.  The State of Washington 1988 Administrative Procedure Act provides a procedure for adopting such regulations.   This act requires that agencies solicit comments from the public in order to meet the intent of providing greater public access to administrative rule making and to promote consensus among interested parties.  Provisions for making comments on proposed rules are readily available at the Labor and Industries Web Site given below.

The Labor and Industries Department has authority to file and adopt regulations that become part of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC.)   The majority of electrical rules filed and adopted by the Department of Labor and Industries as permitted by the Statue RCW 19.28 are contained in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC)  296-46B.  WAC 296-46B references RCW 19.28.  Other Statutes of interest are Chapter 19.29 RCW, on Electrical Construction and Chapter 19.27 RCW on the State Building Code.

The Changing Law and Staying Updated

What is learned today about a particular rule may not be the same in a just a few weeks.  Attorney general opinions, court cases, amendments, deletions, administrative letters,  and court orders change the way laws are interpreted and enforced.  Whenever there is a question about a particular rule students are advised to contact the Labor and Industries Department to find out the latest ruling.  RCW 19.28.321 states: The chief electrical inspector, subject to the review of the director, shall be responsible for providing the final interpretation of adopted state electrical standards, rules, and policies for the department and its inspectors, assistant inspectors, electrical plan examiners, and other individuals supervising electrical program personnel. 

Every effort will be made to keep this course up to date using the latest rules.  There are already new rules on the books going through the process of being adopted.  As these rules are incorporated into the Washington Administrative Code this course will be kept up to date.

The student is encouraged to visit the State of Washington Web Site that provides links to current rules, proposed rules, revised rules, and dates for public comments on proposed rules.   The Labor and Industries monthly newsletter, Electrical Currents, is also available from this site.   The entire Washington Revised Code and Washington Administrative Code and other information can be downloaded from the State of Washington Labor and Industries Web Site at:

http://www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Rules/ByTrade/Electrical/

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