What Does a Washington Telecommunications Administrator Do?

Labor & Industries says telecommunications administrators are responsible for making sure telecommunications contractors follow Washington electrical laws, rules, and regulations. Every telecommunications contracting company must have a certified telecommunications administrator.

The job is broader than knowing how to terminate a cable. An assigned administrator needs to understand contractor licensing, the 09 scope of work, permits, inspections, applicable NEC communications rules, Washington amendments, and the legal responsibilities that come with the contractor's work.

No Experience Is Required to Take the Exam

Washington currently lists no prerequisites for the Telecommunications Administrator examination. Candidates can contact PSI directly to register.

That is different from electrician and master-electrician examinations, where Labor & Industries must first verify required experience and training.

Telecommunications Is Classification 09

Washington's WAC defines the 09 Telecommunications classification as work limited to the installation, maintenance, and testing of telecommunications systems, equipment, associated hardware, pathway systems, and cable-management systems.

That definition reaches beyond data cable alone. The scope can include telecommunications pathways, cable support, certain paging systems, certain video systems, antenna systems, and related infrastructure.

Open Telecommunications Cabling Is Included

The 09 scope expressly includes installation of open wiring systems using telecommunications cables. That covers a major part of ordinary communications cabling work.

Administrators should understand cable routing, support, separation, firestopping, communications-circuit grounding and bonding, pathway use, and the portions of NEC Chapter 8 that govern telecommunications systems.

The scope also includes cable management systems, which means the administrator needs to think about the complete pathway and support system rather than only the cable ends.

Telecommunications Raceways and Pathways Have Specific Limits

Washington allows several pathway methods within the 09 classification.

• Surface nonmetallic raceways used exclusively for telecommunications
• Optical-fiber innerduct raceway
• Underground raceways used exclusively for telecommunications when installed for additions or extensions to existing telecommunications systems, subject to the state's inside-building length limit
• Short sections of circular or surface metal raceway for access or cable protection
• Cable trays and ladder racks in telecommunications service entrance rooms, spaces, and closets

Two length limits are especially useful to remember. Underground telecommunications raceway added or extended inside a building is limited to 50 feet under the scope language, while incidental short sections of circular or surface metal raceway are limited to 10 feet.

Some Audio and Paging Systems Are Included

The 09 scope includes certain audio and paging systems when the amplification is integrated into telephone-system equipment.

It also includes audio or paging systems when the amplifier is listed as an accessory to the telephone-system equipment and the telephone system is required for the audio or paging system to function.

A stand-alone amplified sound or public-address system is different. That distinction is important because stand-alone systems are specifically listed outside the ordinary telecommunications horizontal-cabling scope.

Some Video Monitoring Systems Are Included, But Remote Control Changes the Answer

Washington allows closed-circuit video monitoring systems within the 09 scope when there is no integration of line-voltage or low-voltage controls for cameras and equipment.

Remote-controlled cameras and equipment are treated differently. Washington classifies that type of work as intrusion-security system work, which must be performed under the appropriate electrical contractor and electrician classifications.

This is a good example of why telecommunications administrators need to understand system function, not just cable type.

Customer Satellite and Conventional Antenna Systems Are Included

Specialty 09 includes customer satellite and conventional antenna systems used to receive a telecommunications service provider's signal, as long as the receiving equipment is on the customer side of the telecommunications network demarcation point.

Administrators should understand where the customer-side telecommunications system begins and how the demarcation point affects scope.

What Is Outside the 09 Telecommunications Scope?

Washington specifically excludes horizontal cabling used for several other building systems from the ordinary telecommunications classification.

• Fire protection signaling systems
• Intrusion alarms
• Access control systems
• Patient monitoring systems
• Energy-management control systems
• Industrial and automation control systems
• HVAC and refrigeration control systems
• Lighting control systems
• Stand-alone amplified sound systems
• Stand-alone public-address systems

Telecommunications systems may interface with some of these systems at cross-connection points within telecommunications closets or at extended demarcation points. The key is knowing where telecommunications ends and another regulated system begins.

Line-Voltage Services, Feeders, and Branch Circuits Are Not Telecommunications Work

Washington's 09 scope does not include installation or termination of premises line-voltage service, feeder, or branch-circuit conductors or equipment.

An administrator should catch this boundary during estimating, plan review, and job coordination. A telecommunications contractor may be perfectly qualified for the communications cabling while still needing an electrical contractor for the line-voltage portion of the project.

Current Telecommunications Administrator Exam at a Glance

Current 09 Telecommunications Administrator Exam Blueprint

Communications systems are the largest technical category at about eight questions. General Trade Knowledge and Theory is next at about six, followed by Special Conditions at about four.

NEC 800-830 Is the Biggest Technical Study Area

The exam assigns about eight questions to communications systems. This is where telecommunications candidates should spend a large share of their NEC study time.

Review topics such as:

• Communications circuits
• Communications cable types
• Optical fiber systems
• Network-powered broadband communications
• Community antenna television systems
• Grounding and bonding of communications systems
• Entering cables
• Separation from power conductors
• Raceway and pathway requirements
• Firestopping and building penetrations

Learn how the communications articles are organized. Open book is much more useful when Chapter 8 feels like a neighborhood instead of a maze.

General Trade Knowledge and Theory Are About Six Questions

The current outline gives about six questions to general trade knowledge and theory. This can include basic electrical and telecommunications concepts that are not answered by a quick code-section lookup.

• Voltage, current, resistance, and power basics
• Basic grounding and bonding concepts
• Low-voltage system principles
• Copper cabling basics
• Fiber-optic concepts
• Signal pathways
• Basic telecommunications hardware
• System demarcation and interfaces

Use the NEC for the rule and theory study for the reason behind the rule.

Grounding and Bonding Are About Three Questions

NEC 250 contributes about three questions, and grounding/bonding topics can also appear inside the communications articles.

Study bonding conductors, grounding connections, bonding to the building grounding system, equipment grounding concepts, and the relationship between communications systems and other building grounding infrastructure.

Telecommunications systems may operate at low voltage, but poor bonding can still create noise, damage equipment, and create safety problems. Low voltage does not mean low importance.

Wiring Methods Are About Three Questions

NEC 300-398 contributes about three questions. Telecommunications administrators should understand how general wiring-method rules affect pathways, penetrations, support, physical protection, and installation environments.

• Raceways
• Support and securing
• Boxes and fittings
• Penetrations
• Protection from physical damage
• Wet and damp locations
• Fire-resistance-rated assemblies

Special Conditions Contribute About Four Questions

NEC 705-780 contributes about four questions in the current outline. Telecommunications candidates should review the special-condition articles that can intersect with communications and low-voltage installations.

The exact question may not look like a pure "telecommunications" question. It may ask how communications work fits into a special condition or a building system with additional rules.

Washington Codes Are 17 Questions

The Washington Codes section gets a full hour and contains 17 questions. For an administrator, this section is critical because the job is built around compliance.

Study:

• Chapter 19.28 RCW
• Chapter 296-46B WAC
• Telecommunications contractor licensing
• Administrator assignment
• Telecommunications scope
• Permits and inspections
• Examination and certification rules
• Enforcement and penalties
• Bond and insurance requirements
• Renewal and late renewal

Practice deciding whether a question belongs in the NEC, RCW, or WAC before opening a reference.

The Exam Is Open Book

Washington's current electrical examination guidance says the exams are open book. Labor & Industries currently identifies the 2020 National Electrical Code, Chapter 19.28 RCW, and Chapter 296-46B WAC as the key exam references.

Permanent index tabs are allowed in qualifying copyrighted references. Highlighting and underlining are allowed. Handwritten notes, sticky notes, removable tabs, and personal computing devices are prohibited.

Printed copies of RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B should be hole-punched and placed in a three-ring binder according to Labor & Industries exam guidance.

A Useful 1ExamPrep Reference Package

The supplied telecommunications collection is the best starting point for this credential: Washington Telecommunications Administrator.

For the three core Washington administrator references, the broader Washington General Administrator Book Package includes the 2020 NEC, RCW Chapter 19.28, and WAC Chapter 296-46B. It is broader than the 09 exam, so telecommunications candidates should focus their NEC study on the 09 PSI blueprint, especially Articles 800-830.

Administrator Candidates Schedule Directly With PSI

Telecommunications Administrator candidates currently do not need Labor & Industries preapproval before scheduling.

The one-year examination period begins with the first attempt. The first attempt in a new exam period must include all required sections. During the same exam period, sections already passed do not need to be repeated.

If a section is failed, Washington's current exam guidance requires at least a 14-day wait before another attempt. After three failures in the applicable exam period, later attempts require a 90-day wait until the examination is successfully completed.

Apply for the Certificate Within 90 Days

After passing all required sections, submit the PSI passing score reports, personal information, and the required certification fee to Labor & Industries.

L&I must receive the materials within 90 days of the last passing score date. If the deadline is missed, Washington can require the complete Telecommunications Administrator examination to be taken again.

The initial certificate is typically valid for at least 13 months and up to 24 months, depending on the issue date and the holder's birthdate.

Every Telecommunications Contractor Needs an Assigned Administrator

Washington requires a telecommunications contractor to have a certified telecommunications administrator assigned to the business.

The assigned administrator accepts responsibility for helping ensure that the contractor follows applicable Washington laws and rules.

Under the assignment rule, the administrator must be a member of the firm carrying out the required duties or a full-time supervisory employee.

Telecommunications administrators must notify Labor & Industries within 10 days of a change in assignment status.

Telecommunications Contractor Bond and Insurance Requirements

A Washington telecommunications contractor currently needs more than an administrator. Labor & Industries lists several business-license requirements.

• A valid Washington UBI number
• A certified telecommunications administrator assigned to the company
• A $4,000 electrical/telecommunications contractor bond or assignment of savings
• General liability insurance meeting the state's telecommunications-contractor requirement, currently listed by L&I as at least $170,000

A contractor can be suspended if required bond, insurance, or administrator assignment is no longer current.

Current Certificate and Assignment Fees

Washington's current WAC fee schedule gives Telecommunications Administrator its own lower certificate and renewal fee structure.

• Original Telecommunications Administrator certificate: $106.40
• Assignment or unassignment of administrator designation: $53.00
• Online renewal: $116.10
• Mail, fax, or in-person renewal: $134.70
• Online late renewal: $232.40
• Mail, fax, or in-person late renewal: $269.50

PSI separately charges the examination fee. A three-hour examination is currently listed at $65 under the PSI time-based fee schedule used for Washington electrical examinations.

Telecommunications Administrator Renewal Is Every 2 Years

Unlike ordinary electrical administrator certificates, Telecommunications Administrator certificates renew every two years and expire on the certificate holder's birthdate.

If the certificate is not renewed by the expiration date, the administrator is automatically separated from the telecommunications contractor assignment and a late fee applies.

If the certificate is more than 90 days expired, Washington requires the person to pass the Telecommunications Administrator examination again before recertification.

No Continuing Education Information Is Currently Required for Telecom Renewal

Washington's administrator rule makes a special exception for Telecommunications Administrators. Although ordinary electrical administrators must satisfy continuing-education requirements, Telecommunications Administrators are currently not required to provide continuing-education information for renewal.

This is another reason telecommunications cannot simply be combined into the ordinary electrical administrator certificate structure. The renewal period and renewal requirements are different.

A Practical 09 Telecommunications Administrator Study Plan

1. Learn the 09 scope first. Know what telecommunications includes and what belongs to other specialties.
2. Spend major NEC time in Articles 800-830. Communications Systems is the biggest technical category.
3. Review NEC 250. Grounding and bonding matter in communications work.
4. Review NEC 300-398. Wiring methods, support, pathways, and penetrations still matter.
5. Practice General Trade Knowledge and Theory. It carries about six questions.
6. Study the special-condition articles listed in the current outline.
7. Study RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B separately.
8. Practice contractor, administrator, permit, inspection, and scope questions.
9. Take 30-question NEC/Theory practice sections in two hours.
10. Take 17-question Washington Codes practice sections in one hour.

Study Like a Telecommunications Compliance Professional

A useful way to study is to look at a real telecommunications project and ask two sets of questions. First, ask the technical questions. What cable type is being used? How is it supported? How is it grounded or bonded? Does the pathway comply? Where is the demarcation point? Does the installation cross into another regulated system?

Then ask the administrator questions. Is the contractor properly licensed? Is the telecommunications administrator correctly assigned? Does the job require a permit or inspection? Is the work still inside 09 scope? Are the bond and insurance requirements current?

Review the Washington Telecommunications Administrator collection for exam-focused materials.

For the core code-and-law references, review the Washington General Administrator Book Package. For licensing paperwork support, review 1ExamPrep application services. For books, exam costs, licensing expenses, and related professional costs, review 1ExamPrep financing options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Washington Telecommunications Administrator certificate is a specialized compliance credential for the state's 09 Telecommunications contractor classification. It is designed for people who will help telecommunications contractors follow Washington electrical laws, rules, permit requirements, inspection requirements, and communications-system installation standards.

The path to the exam is straightforward. Washington currently has no prerequisite work-experience or training requirement for Telecommunications Administrator candidates. You can schedule directly with PSI without first receiving an examination approval letter from Labor & Industries.

The 09 scope is broad enough to cover ordinary telecommunications infrastructure but narrow enough that administrators need to know its boundaries. It includes installation, maintenance, and testing of telecommunications systems, equipment, hardware, pathways, and cable-management systems.

The scope includes open telecommunications cabling, surface nonmetallic telecommunications raceway, optical-fiber innerduct, qualifying underground telecommunications raceway extensions, short sections of metal raceway, cable trays, ladder racks, some integrated telephone paging systems, some closed-circuit video systems, and customer satellite and antenna receiving systems.

It does not simply absorb every low-voltage system in a building. Washington specifically excludes ordinary horizontal cabling used for fire protection signaling, intrusion alarms, access control, patient monitoring, energy-management controls, industrial automation, HVAC controls, lighting controls, and stand-alone amplified sound or public-address systems.

The 09 scope also excludes premises line-voltage service, feeder, and branch-circuit conductors and equipment. Administrators need to understand when a project requires another contractor classification or a separate electrical contractor.

The current examination contains two sections. NEC and Theory has 30 scored questions and allows two hours. Washington Codes has 17 scored questions and allows one hour. The published total is 47 scored questions over three hours, and Washington currently requires at least 70 percent on each section.

Communications Systems is the largest technical category at about eight questions. General Trade Knowledge and Theory contributes about six. Special Conditions contributes about four. NEC Introduction, General Requirements, Grounding and Bonding, Wiring Methods, and Hazardous Locations make up the rest of the published NEC/Theory outline.

The exam is open book. Current Washington Labor & Industries guidance identifies the 2020 National Electrical Code, current Chapter 19.28 RCW, and current Chapter 296-46B WAC. Permanent tabs, highlighting, and underlining are allowed under the applicable testing rules, while handwritten notes, removable tabs, and personal computing devices are not.

Open-book success depends on navigation speed. Learn where the communications articles live in NEC Chapter 8. Practice RCW and WAC navigation for contractor licensing, administrator assignment, permits, inspections, enforcement, renewal, and scope questions.

Administrator candidates have a one-year examination period beginning with the first attempt. Sections passed during that period do not need to be repeated while the period remains active. Failed sections have waiting periods before retesting.

After the final passing score, move quickly. Labor & Industries must receive the required passing reports, personal information, and certification fee within 90 days of the last passing score date. Missing that deadline can mean taking the complete exam again.

Once certified, a Telecommunications Administrator can be assigned to a telecommunications contractor. Every telecommunications contractor needs a certified administrator, and the assigned administrator accepts responsibility for contractor compliance. The administrator must be a qualifying member of the firm or a full-time supervisory employee under Washington's assignment rule.

Telecommunications contractor licensing also requires a valid UBI, a $4,000 electrical/telecommunications contractor bond or assignment of savings, and liability insurance meeting the state's current requirement. L&I currently describes the minimum telecommunications-contractor liability coverage as $170,000.

Washington's current fee schedule lists $106.40 for the original Telecommunications Administrator certificate. Current renewal is $116.10 online or $134.70 by mail, fax, or in person. Assignment or unassignment currently costs $53. PSI separately charges the examination fee.

Telecommunications renewal is different from ordinary electrical administrator renewal. The certificate renews every two years on the holder's birthdate. The current administrator rule also says Telecommunications Administrators are not required to provide continuing-education information for renewal.

The strongest preparation plan combines technical communications knowledge with contractor-compliance knowledge. Learn NEC Chapter 8, grounding and bonding, pathways, cable support, interfaces, and system scope. Then learn the RCW and WAC rules that govern licensing, administrator assignment, permits, inspections, enforcement, and renewal. That combination matches the real work of a Washington Telecommunications Administrator.

Key Takeaways

• Washington Telecommunications Administrator is the compliance credential for the 09 Telecommunications contractor classification, and there are currently no experience prerequisites to take the exam.
• The current exam has 30 NEC/Theory questions in 2 hours plus 17 Washington Codes questions in 1 hour, with 70 percent required on each section.
• The exam is open book and current official Washington guidance identifies the 2020 NEC, RCW 19.28, and WAC 296-46B as the core references.
• NEC 800-830 Communication Systems is the largest technical category at about 8 questions, while Washington laws and rules contribute another 17 questions.
• The Telecommunications Administrator certificate renews every 2 years, and Washington currently does not require telecommunications administrators to provide continuing-education information for renewal.

Plain-Language Summary

Washington's Telecommunications Administrator certificate is for people who help telecommunications contractors follow state electrical and telecommunications rules.

The credential is connected to classification 09 Telecommunications. Every Washington telecommunications contractor needs a certified Telecommunications Administrator assigned to the business.

You do not need to prove work experience before taking the exam. Washington currently lists no exam prerequisites for Telecommunications Administrator candidates. You can register directly with PSI.

The 09 telecommunications scope includes installation, maintenance, and testing of telecommunications systems, equipment, hardware, pathways, and cable-management systems. It can include open communications cabling, telecommunications raceways, optical-fiber innerduct, cable trays, ladder racks, some telephone-based paging systems, some closed-circuit video, and customer satellite or antenna receiving systems.

The scope does not include everything people casually call low voltage. Washington excludes ordinary horizontal cabling for fire alarms, intrusion alarms, access control, patient monitoring, energy-management controls, industrial automation, HVAC controls, lighting controls, and stand-alone amplified sound or public-address systems.

The 09 contractor also does not install or terminate the premises line-voltage service, feeder, or branch-circuit conductors and equipment.

The current Telecommunications Administrator exam has two sections. NEC and Theory has 30 questions and allows two hours. Washington Codes has 17 questions and allows one hour. That is 47 published scored questions across three hours.

You currently need at least 70 percent on each required section. The exam is open book. Washington's current official examination guidance identifies the 2020 National Electrical Code, current RCW 19.28, and current WAC 296-46B.

The biggest technical exam category is NEC 800-830 Communication Systems with about eight questions. General Trade Knowledge and Theory is about six questions. Special Conditions is about four questions. Grounding and Bonding and Wiring Methods are about three questions each.

The Washington Codes section has 17 questions. Study telecommunications contractor licensing, administrator assignment, permits, inspections, scope, enforcement, certification, bond requirements, insurance requirements, and renewal.

Because the exam is open book, practice using your references under time pressure. Learn where Chapter 8 communications material lives in the NEC. Keep current RCW 19.28 and WAC 296-46B organized in an allowed binder.

Administrator candidates have one year to complete all required exam sections. After passing everything, Labor & Industries must receive your score reports and certificate materials within 90 days of the last passing score date.

Once you are certified, you can be assigned to a telecommunications contractor. That contractor currently needs a valid UBI, a certified telecommunications administrator, a $4,000 electrical/telecommunications bond or assignment of savings, and qualifying liability insurance.

The current original Telecommunications Administrator certificate fee is $106.40. Current online renewal is $116.10. Mail, fax, or in-person renewal is $134.70. Assignment or unassignment currently costs $53.

Telecommunications Administrator renewal is different from normal electrical administrator renewal. The certificate renews every two years on your birthdate. Washington currently says Telecommunications Administrators do not have to provide continuing-education information when renewing.

Use the Washington Telecommunications Administrator collection from 1ExamPrep to organize your preparation around NEC communications systems, Washington electrical law, telecommunications scope, contractor compliance, and open-book reference navigation.