SECTION 158:50-9-5. Apprentice registration

(a)   A person may register as a mechanical apprentice if the person does not meet the qualifications for licensure but wishes to learn or perform mechanical work. An individual licensed in any category shall be permitted to work as an apprentice in any category for which they are not licensed by complying with the requirements of this chapter for ratio and direct supervision.

(b)   The apprentice will be registered for a one (1) year period if a completed application form with the application and registration fee listed in OAC 158:50-9-2(b)is submitted to the Mechanical License Unit along with verification of enrollment in an approved school or training course or a statement of employment by the licensed mechanical contractor who arranged for employment of the apprentice.

(c)   If a current apprentice re-registers within 30 days of the expiration of their current registration, the apprentice application fee is waived.

(d)   The apprentice must perform mechanical work in the same category as the licensed mechanical person who is supervising the apprentice.

(e)   An apprentice who participates in activities inconsistent with the provisions of the Act and the rules of this Chapter shall be subject to the sanctions described in OAC 158:50-11-3.

(f)   Apprenticeship registration is effective upon the posting of the application and evidence of such posting shall be a copy of the executed application form with proof of tender of the proper fee which may serve as evidence of registration for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.

(g)   Mechanical apprentices must be under the direct supervision of a licensed Mechanical contractor or journeyman when engaged in Mechanical work.

(h)   A maximum of three (3) mechanical apprentices can work under the supervision of a licensed mechanical contractor or journeyman, unless otherwise provided by law.

(i)   Registered apprentices interested in sitting for the journeyman examination for the HVAC limited category may apply for approval to sit for examination by meeting the following requirements:

(1)   The applicant must be at least seventeen (17) years of age.

(2)   The applicant must be a registered apprentice.

(3)   The applicant must have completed a formal educational program approved by the Committee consisting of one thousand (1,000) or more hours, from a school approved by the Committee, with no grade lower than seventy (70) percent in all trade courses, and the applicant must be in good standing with the school.

(4)   The applicant must present transcripts showing the Committee approved schools, the Committee approved formal educational program, courses, hours attended, grades, any certificates achieved, and a vocational diploma or certificate of completion for the specific formal educational program and school that has been approved by the Committee. The Administrator shall make the final determination on acceptability of the described supporting documentation.

(5)   The applicant must submit a completed endorsed apprentice application form, all required supporting documentation, the apprentice application fee as set forth in OAC 158:50-9-2, and the examination fee (unless the examination fee is paid directly to a testing provider) to the Construction Industries Board.

(j)   An endorsed apprentice is a registered apprentice who met the qualifications pursuant to this Section to sit for the journeyman examination in the HVAC limited category and received a passing score on the examination, but who is working to complete the required one (1) year of verifiable experience as a registered apprentice prior to being issued the journeyman license.

(k)   If the endorsed apprentice completes the one (1) year of verifiable experience within three (3) years of the date the endorsed apprentice received a passing score on the journeyman examination in the HVAC limited category, and if the endorsed apprentice is at least eighteen (18) years of age, the endorsed apprentice may apply for a journeyman license in the HVAC limited category without further journeyman examination by submitting a completed journeyman license application form, all required supporting documentation, the journeyman application fee and the initial journeyman license fee as set forth in OAC 158:50-9-2.

[Source: Added at 19 Ok Reg 732, eff 1-22-02 (emergency); Added at 19 Ok Reg 1276, eff 5-28-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2658, eff 7-26-03; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 2872, eff 8-25-07; Amended at 31 Ok Reg 920, eff 9-12-14; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1636, eff 9-11-15; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 582, eff 8-25-16; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 925, eff 10-1-18]