(1) In accordance with RCW 48.18.620, instructions for appraisers to request that the commissioner appoint a registered competent and disinterested umpire may be found on the commissioner's website at www.insurance.wa.gov. Additionally, instructions for an umpire to become registered may be found on the commissioner's website at www.insurance.wa.gov.
(2) To become a registered umpire, one must possess the following:
(a) A minimum of five years of experience as an appraiser of auto claims or a collision repair specialist;
(b) A minimum of five times serving on an appraisal panel as an umpire;
(c) One of the following educational requirements:
(i) An associate degree or equivalent in auto repair; or
(ii) A professional auto repair certification or designation from one of the following or an equivalent:
(A) The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair;
(B) An original equipment manufacturer; or
(C) The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE); and
(d) An additional appraisal certification or designation from one of the following or an equivalent:
(i) The Bureau of Certified Auto Appraisers;
(ii) The American Society of Certified Auto Appraisers;
(iii) The National Automotive Appraiser Association; or
(iv) The Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association.
(3) Prior to presiding over an appraisal panel, a registered umpire is required to complete an attestation form and attest that they are competent and disinterested as those terms are defined in RCW 48.18.620. The attestation form and process for submitting the form to the commissioner may be found on the commissioner's website at www.insurance.wa.gov.