(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the following education requirements apply to an applicant for a vehicle dealer license under RCW 46.70.021:

(a) An applicant for a vehicle dealer license under RCW 46.70.021 must complete a minimum of eight hours of approved education programs described in subsection (3) of this section and pass a test prior to submitting an application for the license; and

(b) An applicant for a renewal of a vehicle dealer license under RCW 46.70.083 must complete a minimum of five hours per year in a licensing period of approved continuing education programs described in subsection (3) of this section prior to submitting an application for the renewal of the vehicle dealer license.

(2) The education and test requirements in subsection (1) of this section do not apply to an applicant for a vehicle dealer license under RCW 46.70.021 if the applicant is:

(a) A franchised dealer of new recreational vehicles;

(b) A nationally franchised or corporate-owned motor vehicle rental company;

(c) A dealer of manufactured dwellings;

(d) A national auction company that holds a vehicle dealer license and a wrecker license whose primary activity in this state is the sale or disposition of totaled vehicles; or

(e) A wholesale auto auction company that holds a vehicle dealer license.

(3) The education programs and test required in subsection (1) of this section shall be developed by motor vehicle industry organizations including, but not limited to, the state independent auto dealers association and the department of licensing.

(4) A new motor vehicle dealer, as defined under RCW 46.96.020, is deemed to have met the education and test requirements required for applicants for a vehicle dealer license under this section.

Effective date—2001 c 272 § 12: "Section 12 of this act takes effect July 1, 2002." [ 2001 c 272 § 14.]