I have traveled quite a bit and the requirements for an electrical inspector in the North West states are very similar to what is below. I direct your attention to the portion regarding the qualification of 4 yrs. experience as a Journeyman electrician or a degree in electrical engineering (which FWIW amounts to a total of 9 yrs. experience). Either way the obvious requirement is that the persons taking the exam have taken part in some formalized training in the electrical field or done installations. I am quite sure most electricians as well as electrical engineers have done more than simply review a book about electricity for a few weeks prior to the exam. So I will stand by my statement that most, if not all fields that I know of require a person to be able to do the work before they can inspect the work. As to the statement about it being a no-brainer perhaps I should look into volunteering for one of these committees and then I would have a better understanding of how things work. I would gladly volunteer a portion of my time for a worthwhile cause if I felt it was going to get some things changed. Obviously there are others who are unsatisfied as I am with the way certain things are handled, I never addressed what QC 1 says, I addressed whether it was being adhered to as did a number of people in their post(s). The issue once again is whether or not said people are qualified and whether the documentation is being thoroughly researched etc. prior to the test being administered. I and others were merely offering up some suggestions to make improvements to the system, after all this should be the goal of everyone involved here, to improve the quality of the program at large. However at this point I am done posting regarding this issue, as well as a number of others regarding the CWI exam. Like the posts about low wages and other hot topics it is akin to discussing religion and politics. It is interesting for a while, and somewhat entertaining but most intelligent people realize they are not going to change the opinion of the other party in most instances.
RCW 19.28.321
Enforcement -- State electrical inspectors -- Qualifications -- Salaries and expenses.
The director of labor and industries of the state of Washington and the officials of all incorporated cities and towns where electrical inspections are required by local ordinances shall have power and it shall be their duty to enforce the provisions of this chapter in their respective jurisdictions. The director of labor and industries shall appoint a chief electrical inspector and may appoint other electrical inspectors as the director deems necessary to assist the director in the performance of the director's duties. The chief electrical inspector, subject to the review of the director, shall be responsible for providing the final interpretation of adopted state electrical standards, rules, and policies for the department and its inspectors, assistant inspectors, electrical plan examiners, and other individuals supervising electrical program personnel. If a dispute arises within the department regarding the interpretation of adopted state electrical standards, rules, or policies, the chief electrical inspector, subject to the review of the director, shall provide the final interpretation of the disputed standard, rule, or policy. All electrical inspectors appointed by the director of labor and industries shall have not less than: Four years experience as journeyperson electricians in the electrical construction trade installing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment, or two years electrical training in a college of electrical engineering of recognized standing and four years continuous practical electrical experience in installation work, or four years of electrical training in a college of electrical engineering of recognized standing and two years continuous practical electrical experience in electrical installation work; or four years experience as a journeyperson electrician performing the duties of an electrical inspector employed by the department or a city or town with an approved inspection program under RCW 19.28.141, except that for work performed in accordance with the national electrical safety code and covered by this chapter, such inspections may be performed by a person certified as an outside journeyperson lineworker, under RCW 19.28.261(5)(b), with four years experience or a person with four years experience as a certified outside journeyperson lineworker performing the duties of an electrical inspector employed by an electrical utility. Such state inspectors shall be paid such salary as the director of labor and industries shall determine, together with their travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended. As a condition of employment, inspectors hired exclusively to perform inspections in accordance with the national electrical safety code must possess and maintain certification as an outside journeyperson lineworker. The expenses of the director of labor and industries and the salaries and expenses of state inspectors incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter shall be paid entirely out of the electrical license fund, upon vouchers approved by the director of labor and industries.