(1) Scope of Rule. The scope of this rule is to provide the practical examination requirements for the voluntary certification of swimming pool specialty contractors.
    (2) Practical Examination Required. The examination for licensure for any category of swimming pool specialty contractor as specified in Fl. Admin. Code R. 61G4-15.032, shall consist of a practical examination.
    (a) The practical examination shall test the applicant’s ability to perform the scope of work for the category of swimming pool specialty contractor for which the applicant applied.
    (b) The practical examination for any category of swimming pool specialty contractor shall have a maximum time limit of 14 days.
    (c) An applicant must be working under the supervision and within the scope of work of a contractor licensed pursuant to Sections 489.105(3)(j)-(k), F.S, at the time of the examination.
    (d) An applicant must make all arrangements to secure an appropriate location at which to perform the practical examination. These arrangements include all appropriate equipment and permissions for the presence of the practical examiner.
    (e) An applicant must arrange for a practical examiner who meets the requirements in subsection (3) to administer the practical examination. These arrangements include payment of the fee to the proctor.
    (3) Examiners for Practical Examinations. The practical examination shall be given by an examiner who is a contractor licensed pursuant to Sections 489.105(3)(j)-(k), F.S., and whose scope of work includes the category of swimming pool specialty contractor to be tested.
    (a) The practical examiner must register with the department by completing a prescribed form and paying a fee of $50 biannually.
    (b) The practical examiner must take a two (2) hour orientation course addressing protocols and techniques for administering practical examinations from a provider approved by the board. Orientation course approval and provider approval shall follow the processes provided for in Fl. Admin. Code Chapter 61G4-18
    (c) The practical examiner must agree to administer any and all practical examinations fairly and without bias for or against an applicant.
    (d) The practical examiner must acknowledge that he or she will be subject to discipline for improper acts or administration of any practical examination.
    (e) The practical examiner may not charge any more than $200 for administering, to completion, any practical examination. The practical examiner may not allow any practical examination to go beyond the maximum time limit of fourteen (14) days. The practical examiner may not accept any additional monies related to the administration of the practical examination.
    (f) A practical examiner may not employ or contract with an applicant or other contractor on the site at which a practical examination is to be administered.
    (g) A practical examiner may not administer practical examinations for more than five (5) applicants at a time on any one site. A practical examiner must, however, take all reasonable efforts to ensure that only the work of the applicant is evaluated in the practical examination.
    (h) The practical examiner shall have the responsibility of notifying the applicant of the scores received on the practical examination, on form DBPRCILB4373 (July 10, 2006), effective October 10, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. The form may be obtained through www.myflorida.com.
    (i) The practical examiner must maintain all records of the applicant’s examination and scores for 2 years.
    (j) The applicant shall provide the Department with the written result of the examination with the application for swimming pool specialty contractor’s license.
    (k) The practical examiner must agree to hold the department harmless for any accident or injury resulting from the administration of any practical examination.
    (4) Requirements for All Practical Examinations.
    (a) Each practical examination must test the following areas, which shall account for thirty (30) percent of each examination:
    1. 15% Reading, understanding and interpreting scaled pool construction plans and surveys.
    2. 5% Understanding and complying with job-site safety requirements.
    3. 5% Handling and properly disposing of hazardous materials.
    4. 5% Recognizing the tools required to do the job and exhibit the ability to properly use those tools.
    (b) The score necessary to achieve a passing grade on any swimming pool specialty contractors practical examination shall be no less than seventy (70) percent out of one hundred (100) percent of the total possible points on the practical examination.
    (5) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Layout Specialty Contractors. The practical examination for swimming pool layout specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, the following areas:
    (a) 8% Accurately locating and staking out a base line or center line of the pool being built with reference to fixed objects shown on the layout plan.
    (b) 8% Laying a pool out ready to be formed, including proper leveling techniques for the shell to plus or minus 1/4th inch and verifying the calculations that illustrate how the layout elevations will accommodate the coping or deck edge trim and how the finished deck elevation will meet existing finished elevations on the project such as existing patios, floors, and the surrounding landscape.
    (c) 5% Verifying the calculations necessary to show that the pool layout, including decks and retaining walls will accommodate anticipated water runoff (drainage).
    (d) 5% Understanding effective methods of managing ground water (dewatering).
    (e) 8% Supervising an excavation according to the swimming pool plan(s) and/or specifications that insures that the walls and floor are shaped according to plans, and demonstrate the skills required to place backboard materials in the event of a cave in.
    (f) 8% Properly placing and stabilizing forms.
    (g) 8% Installing the piping and fittings required before installing the rough structure of a swimming pool, displaying proper solvent weld procedures.
    (h) 15% Cutting and bending steel reinforcing bars, installing the structural steel in accordance with the pool plan, verifying that ties and overlaps are in accordance with code requirements, and showing that by proper blocking, the steel will have adequate and proper concrete coverage.
    (i) 5% Maintaining the continuity of bond beam steel in cases where the beam is modified, including skimmer openings and step-ups in the beam such as raised beams and planters.
    (6) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Structural Specialty Contractor. The practical examination for swimming pool structural specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, in the following areas:
    (a) 10% Set guide wires or piano wire to insure that concrete walls are true and proper thickness.
    (b) 5% Set up a concrete pump with an air compressor for the proper installation of pneumatically applied concrete.
    (c) 10% Conduct an inspection for proper placement of forms, wall fittings, drains, light niches, steel placement, and the use of steel carrier chairs.
    (d) 10% Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of concrete, including slump and the importance of taking a batch sample.
    (e) 15% Demonstrate proper gunite or shotcrete placement on pool walls and floors, including finishing techniques.
    (f) 10% Knowledge of dimensional requirements for features such as steps and benches.
    (g) 10% The ability to read and understand manufacturer’s installation instructions for fiberglass and/or vinyl liner pool structures, if applicable.
    (7) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Excavation Specialty Contractor. The practical examination for swimming pool excavation specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, in the following areas:
    (a) 5% Prepare a swimming pool construction site by grubbing or removing sod.
    (b) 10% Understand effective methods of managing ground water (dewatering).
    (c) 10% Operate an excavation machine such as a backhoe, tracked backhoe, or tracked excavator.
    (d) 20% Excavate for a swimming pool according to the plan(s) and/or specifications. The walls and floor shall be shaped according to the swimming pool plan and demonstrate an understanding of the angle of repose and shoring requirements.
    (e) 10% Understanding of different soil conditions.
    (f) 5% Proper placement of excavated materials.
    (g) 10% Backfill a swimming pool structure and compact the fill material.
    (8) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Trim Specialty Contractor. The practical examination for swimming pool trim specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, in the following areas:
    (a) 5% Prepare a “”brown coat”” or “”parge”” mix. Correct any misalignment in the swimming pool walls with a “”brown coat.””
    (b) 15% Set a vertical waterline tile job with horizontal alignment of plus or minus 1/8 inch.
    (c) 10% Demonstrate proper installation procedures for tile and water features per manufacturer’s instructions, including step edge tile, to insure a watertight condition and the ability to install a complete waterline with a fully bedded mud bed.
    (d) 15% Level the top of the beam(s) to plus or minus 1/8 inch.
    (e) 10% Set bullnose brick as the pool coping, including miter joints in the coping.
    (f) 5% Mix a custom grout color.
    (g) 5% Properly clean tile and coping to remove masonry stains.
    (h) 5% Understand effective methods of managing ground water (dewatering).
    (9) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Decking Specialty Contractor. The practical examination for swimming pool decking specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, in the following areas:
    (a) 5% Operate an under-pool dewatering system.
    (b) 5% Layout and form a deck, including verification of angles and deck dimensions.
    (c) 5% Perform the calculations to show that the deck layout will accommodate anticipated water runoff (drainage). Install a deck drainage system such as a deck drain.
    (d) 5% Understanding of backfill and compaction procedures for sub-deck materials.
    (e) 5% Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of concrete including time from batching, hydration, slump, and the effects of weather conditions. Calculate the amount of concrete required for the job.
    (f) 5% Understand proper elevation and pitch requirements to insure proper drainage.
    (g) 5% Understand the geometry of how to create accurate angles and locate pin points.
    (h) 5% Understand reinforcement requirements for concrete.
    (i) 10% Demonstrate proper placement and finishing procedures for concrete.
    (j) 5% Understanding of thermal expansion and contraction of concrete and methods to accommodate it.
    (k) 5% Remove and dispose of concrete forms and forming materials.
    (l) 5% Set anchors and/or ladders, handrails, etc. straight and true.
    (m) 5% Be aware of pressurized piping procedures and the requirement that they be maintained during the forming process and placement of concrete decking.
    (10) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Piping Specialty Contractor. The practical examination for swimming pool piping specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, in the following areas:
    (a) 10% Read, understand, and interpret a swimming pool piping plan.
    (b) 15% Install pool piping, including the proper handling and solvent welding of PVC.
    (c) 10% Understanding of the different applications for different solvent weld cements.
    (d) 10% Proper testing and pressurization procedures for pool piping systems.
    (e) 25% Proper installation procedures for pool piping, circulation, sanitation, filtration, hydraulics and venting and related equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
    (11) Practical Examination for Swimming Pool Finishes Specialty Contractor. The practical examination for swimming pool finishes specialty contractors shall evaluate, through the use of a grading sheet which includes spaces for grading and comments by the practical examiner, in the following areas:
    (a) 10% Operate an under-pool dewatering system.
    (b) 10% Understand proper shell preparation to insure a tight bond and a watertight application, including the areas around all shell penetrations, and the neutralizing of all cleaning agents.
    (c) 5% Install/repair step or underwater bench trim tile.
    (d) 15% Mix plaster, including admixtures.
    (e) 20% Properly apply plaster finish to a swimming pool structure in the correct thickness. Insure that plaster was troweled sufficiently.
    (f) 10% Demonstrate an understanding of application and filling procedures per manufacturer’s instructions to insure a clean smooth finish and a watertight condition.
    (12) Retaking a Practical Examination. An applicant who fails to achieve a passing score on a practical examination must wait two (2) weeks before attempting to retake the practical examination for the category of specialty pool contractor which the applicant failed. The applicant is required to repay the fees provided in paragraph (3)(e) of this rule.
Specific Authority 255.217(1), 489.108, 489.133(6) FS. Law Implemented 289.115, 455.217(1), 489.109, 489.113(6) FS. History-New 2-16-06, Amended 10-10-06.