(1) Prior to any person engaging in the testing, examination, or inspection for the certification of a crane used in lifting at a job site in Washington state, they must be recognized by the department as an accredited crane/equipment certifier.

(2) To qualify for an accredited crane/equipment certifier, an individual must:

(a) Obtain a current and valid national crane/equipment certification from a nationally recognized accredited crane certifier testing organization. The national certification must be for the types of crane(s)/equipment the applicant intends to certify;

(b) Pass a written Washington state certifier examination administered by the department or authorized representative for the type of equipment the applicant intends to certify; and

(c) Complete at minimum 40 hours of crane related training every five years, in courses recognized by the department.

(3) Initial recognition. The department will recognize an accredited crane/equipment certifier by issuing a state certification to an applicant that will be valid for a maximum of five years. To obtain recognition from the department, an accredited crane/equipment certifier must submit:

(a) An application through the application portal on the department's website;

(b) Copies of all crane/equipment national certifications the applicant is seeking recognition to certify;

(c) Proof of passing a written Washington state certifier examination administered by the department or authorized representative for the type of equipment the applicant intends to certify; and

(d) Proof of completion of a minimum 40 hours of crane-related training, in courses recognized by the department, in the five years prior to applying for recognition.

(4) Renewing recognition. The department will renew recognition of an accredited crane/equipment certifier by issuing a state certificate that will be valid for a maximum of five years. To renew a state certificate, prior to the expiration of a previously issued state certificate, an accredited crane/equipment certifier must submit:

(a) An application through the application portal on the department's website;

(b) Submit copies of all renewed crane/equipment national certifications the applicant is seeking recognition to certify;

(c) Proof of passing a written Washington state certifier examination administered by the department or authorized representative for the type of equipment the applicant intends to certify; and

(d) Proof of completion of a minimum 40 hours of crane-related training, in courses recognized by the department, in the five years prior to applying for renewal.

(5) Nationally accredited crane/equipment certifier testing organizations.

(a) For a testing organization to be considered accredited to certify crane certifiers under this part, it must:

(i) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency based on that agency's determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment, and personnel have been met;

(ii) Have procedures for crane certifiers to reapply and be retested in the event a crane certifier applicant fails a test or is decertified;

(iii) Have testing procedures for recertification designed to ensure that the crane certifier continues to meet the technical knowledge and skills for inspecting a crane; and

(iv) Administer written tests that:

(A) Assess and ensure the crane certifier applicant's knowledge and skills to properly inspect a crane; and

(B) Provide different certifications based on equipment types.

(b) If no accredited testing agency offers certifier certification examinations for a particular type of equipment, a certifier will be deemed to have complied with the certification requirements of this section for that equipment if the certifier has been certified by a nationally accredited testing agency for the type that is most similar to that equipment. The certifier's certificate must state the type of equipment for which the certifier is certified.

(6) No person that has modified, altered, or repaired a crane which affected a load sustaining member of the crane may conduct the certifying inspection and proof load testing of that particular crane within the same certification period.