Part II
Entry

18VAC50-30-20. Requirements for licensure or certification.

Each applicant shall meet or exceed the requirements set forth in this section prior to issuance of the license or certification card.

The applicant shall be required to take an examination to determine his general knowledge of the regulated activity in which he desires licensure or certification. If the applicant successfully completes the examination, an application furnished by the department shall be completed. The application shall contain the applicant's name, home address, place of employment, and business address; information on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and education or training of the applicant; and a statement certifying that the information on the application is correct. If the application is satisfactory to the board, the applicant will be approved to take the applicable examination or a license or certification card shall be issued.

18VAC50-30-30. General qualifications for licensure or certification.

Every applicant to the Board for Contractors for licensure or certification shall meet the requirements and have the qualifications provided in this section.

1. The applicant shall be at least 18 years old.

2. Unless otherwise exempted, the applicant shall meet the current educational requirements by passing all required courses prior to the time the applicant sits for the examination and applies for licensure or certification.

3. Unless exempted, the applicant shall have passed the applicable examination provided by the board or by a testing organization acting on behalf of the board.

4. The applicant shall meet the experience requirements as set forth in 18VAC50-30-40.

5. In those instances where the applicant is required to take the license or certification examination, the applicant shall follow all rules established by the board with regard to conduct at the examination. Such rules shall include any written instructions communicated prior to the examination date and any instructions communicated at the site, either written or oral, on the date of the examination. Failure to comply with all rules established by the board and the testing organization with regard to conduct at the examination shall be grounds for denial of application.

6. The Each applicant shall (i) provide a copy of a government-issued identification, (ii) provide a 2 x 2-inch photograph that meets the requirements set forth by the U.S. Department of State for passports, and (iii) disclose his physical home address; a post office box alone is not acceptable.

7. Each nonresident applicant for a license or certification card shall file and maintain with the department an irrevocable consent for the department to serve as service agent for all actions filed in any court in this Commonwealth. In those instances where service is required, the director of the department will mail the court document to the individual at the address of record.

8. The applicant shall sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands Article 3 (§ 54.1-1128 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and this chapter.

9. The board may make further inquiries and investigations with respect to the qualifications of the applicant or require a personal interview with the applicant.

10. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant shall disclose a conviction, in any jurisdiction, of any misdemeanor or felony. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for the purpose of this subdivision. The record of conviction received from a court shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of a conviction or finding of guilt. The board, at its discretion, may deny licensure or certification to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.

11. The applicant shall report any suspensions, revocations, or surrendering of a certificate or license in connection with a disciplinary action or which has been the subject of discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure or certification in Virginia. The board, at its discretion, may deny licensure or certification to any applicant based on prior suspensions, revocations, or surrender of certifications or licenses based on disciplinary action by any jurisdiction.

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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board 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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board 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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board;

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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board; 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, a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board, 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 Licensure as a journeyman in the applicable trade by the Board for Contractors for a period of a least one year; 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, a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board, 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 may be deemed qualified as a master in that trade in accordance with this chapter upon submission of verification acceptable to the Board for Contractors or continuous work in the trade since the successful completion of the Class A contractors trade examination.

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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board and 40 hours of formal vocational training in a school approved by the board; or

2. Applicants with seven or more years of experience, as verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board, 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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board; 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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board 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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board; 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 verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board 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 (i) one year of practical experience in the construction, installation, maintenance, service, repair, and testing of limited use/limited application elevators and verified by a building official, building inspector, registered design professional, licensee of the Board for Contractors, licensee of another regulatory agency, or other individual or organization approved by the board complete; (ii) completed a vocational education program approved by the board; and (iii) either satisfactorily complete completed a written examination administered by the board; or complete completed a limited use/limited application elevator training program determined to be equivalent to the requirements established by the board.