19 Va. Admin. Code § 30-70-9.2
Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 22, June 17, 2024
Section 19VAC30-70-9.2 - Examinations for inspector's licenseA. The Department of State Police administers the written examination for original certification for all inspectors. With few exceptions, recertifications are done at the normal testing sites along with original certification tests.B. In order for an individual to become a certified safety inspector, the following actions shall be followed:1. The person shall download the following forms from the Virginia State Police website: a. Safety Inspector Application, Form SP-170B;b. Criminal History Record Request, Form SP-167;c. Inspector Application Worksheet;d. Authorization for Release of Information (SP-170D).2. The applicant shall (i) complete Form SP-170B in its entirety and have it notarized; (ii) complete and have notarized Form SP-167 with appropriate credit card information or an attached $15 cashier's check, business check or money order payable to "Virginia State Police"; and (iii) complete the Inspector Applicant Worksheet with two character references, two mechanical references, places of employment, and qualified automotive training, or schools completed or mechanical experience.3. The applicant shall then take the completed application forms to any State Police testing site and present it to the trooper conducting the written examination. Applicants arriving after the designated testing time are not eligible to participate in the written examination.4. The trooper verifies the notarizations and checks the driver's license for validity and identification of the applicant. If the applicant's driver's license is found to be expired, suspended, or revoked, the applicant is advised, and the application is destroyed. The applicant may reapply once the driver's license has been reissued or reinstated.5. If the applicant successfully passes the test, the trooper notes at the end of Section I on the Form SP-170B the word "passed" and the date. The trooper signs the test and sends it to Safety Division Headquarters, Inspectors File Section for further processing and investigation.6. The Class A examination consists of five sections: general information, brakes, suspension, lights, and glass. Each section contains 20 questions. A minimum score of 75% must be attained for each section and for the practical examination. The Classes B and C examinations consist of 50 questions each. A minimum score of 74 must be attained on the written and practical examination.7. If the applicant fails the test, failure is noted at the end of Section I on the Form SP-170B with the word "failed" and the date.8. If the applicant desires to test again for the written or practical test, he may do so after 30 days. If the applicant is again unsuccessful in passing either examination, the trooper shall take the application forms and forward them to Safety Division Headquarters, Inspector Files Section. The applicant may contact his assigned Safety Division trooper or the local Safety Division Area Office after six months to reapply.C. Recertification.1. Safety inspectors desiring to renew their inspector's license must participate in the recertification written examination. Inspectors arriving after the designated testing time are not eligible to participate in the written examination.2. All safety inspectors are required to satisfactorily pass the appropriate examination for the license the inspector holds.3. A safety inspector is not permitted to perform inspections after the expiration date of his inspector's license.4. A safety inspector's license shall be valid for a period of three years.5. All safety inspectors' licenses display an inspector's VSP number and do not display the social security number. The inspector's VSP number is written on the inspection sticker receipt or displayed on the automated MVIP receipt.6. Safety inspector testing sites are not included on an inspection bulletin. Testing site information is updated in the computer system so that the usual letters going to inspectors to remind them of their upcoming recertification contain the updated information. All Safety Division Area Offices also have the updated information.7. If the safety inspector has any questions about the testing sites, the safety inspector should contact the Safety Division Area Office closest to him. The office numbers are: Area 61 (Richmond) | 804-743-2217 |
Area 62 (Culpeper) | 540-829-7414 |
Area 63 (Amherst) | 434-946-7676 |
Area 64 (Wytheville) | 276-228-6220 |
Area 65 (Suffolk) | 757-925-2432 |
Area 66 (Salem) | 540-387-5437 |
Area 67 (Fairfax) | 703-803-2622 |
D. Vo-tech students who successfully complete the Vocational Automotive Mechanics Course and who are expected to graduate from the program with the required 1,080 hours and meet the requirements of the Department of State Police are certified as safety inspectors. 1. The vo-tech instructor contacts his assigned Safety Division trooper or the local Safety Division Area Office by March 15 of each year. The written examination is scheduled for students who are at least 18 years of age or who will be at least 18 years of age by March 31 of that year.2. The Safety Division troopers responsible for administering the written examinations at the vo-tech centers forward sufficient applications, Form SP-170B, for each student to complete prior to the testing date. A Criminal History Record Request (Form SP-167) if the student is at least 18 years of age must also be completed. The Safety Division trooper indicates at the top of the Form SP-170B the name of the vo-tech school where the examination is given.3. The trooper verifies the notarizations and checks the driver's license for validity and identification of the applicant. If the applicant's driver's license is found to be expired, suspended, or revoked, the applicant is advised, and the application is destroyed. The applicant may reapply once the driver's license has been reissued or reinstated.4. If the applicant successfully completes the written examination, the trooper notes at the end of Section I on the Form SP-170B the word "passed" and the date. The trooper signs the test and forwards it to Safety Division Headquarters, Inspector Files Section for further processing and investigation. Due to the age of these students, this should be done in a minimal amount of time.5. If the applicant fails the test, failure is noted at the end of Section I on the Form SP-170B with the word "failed" and the date.a. The Safety Division trooper only administers one written examination at the vo-tech center. Those students who fail the first written examination may retest, but not sooner than 30 days from the date of the last written examination. Those students who fail the first written examination keep the Form SP-170B in their possession and present it to the Safety Division trooper at the test site prior to taking the second written examination.b. The second written examination is not administered to the students prior to the end of the school year. Prior to taking the second written examination, the student shall have completed the Vocational Automotive Mechanics Course and must be employed at an official inspection station. These students are not required to have completed the one year of practical experience as an automotive mechanic.c. For those students who pass the second written examination, the Safety Division trooper will forward the student's Form SP-170B to the Safety Division for further processing and investigation. Those students who successfully pass all phases for original certification are then issued an inspector license by the Safety Division trooper.d. Students failing the second written examination are not allowed to test again for six months and must complete the application process as set forth for original certification.6. The written examination consists of five sections: general information, brakes, suspension, lights, and glass. Each section contains 20 questions. A minimum score of 75% must be attained for each section.7. Those students who successfully complete all phases of the written examination and background checks are then administered a practical examination. The vo-tech instructor, who holds a valid Class A Safety Inspector's License, administers the practical "Class A" examination to each student who is expected to graduate from the program. The Safety Division trooper should be on hand to observe at least some of the practical examinations administered by the vo-tech instructor to ensure that testing is administered according to Safety Division regulations.8. Each student who successfully completes all phases for original certification by March 31 will be issued an inspector license by the Safety Division trooper, provided the student is at least 18 years of age. The Safety Division trooper will issue the original (white copy) to the inspector, forward the canary copy to Safety Division Headquarters, and retain the pink copy at the Safety Division Area Office for six months.a. The vo-tech instructor is required to contact the Safety Division trooper prior to the end of the school year if any student fails to complete the Vocational Automotive Mechanics Course.b. Any student who fails to complete the Vocational Automotive Mechanics Course is not licensed as a certified safety inspector and is required to complete the application process as set forth for original certification.9. Those students who will be at least 18 years of age after March 31 of that year and have successfully completed the Vocational Automotive Mechanics Course must contact the Safety Division trooper assigned to the inspection stations where they are employed and complete the application process as set forth for original certification. These students are not required to have completed the one year of practical experience as an automotive mechanic.19 Va. Admin. Code § 30-70-9.2
Derived From, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 25, eff. 9/1/2019; Amended, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 25, eff. 9/4/2020.Statutory Authority: § 46.2-1165 of the Code of Virginia.