Requirements, license levels, and the issuing authority, sourced from District of Columbia's official board.
The District of Columbia licenses stationary and steam engineers through the Board of Industrial Trades at the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, in four classes (1, 3, 5A and 6) set by plant size and boiler pressure.
| Requirements | All classes require a closed book multiple choice examination. Class 6 covers steam and hot water heating boilers where steam pressure does not exceed 15 pounds per square inch and the boilers do not exceed 200 horsepower, and requires at least one year of experience as a fireman or operator of a boiler other than a miniature boiler. Class 5A covers high pressure stationary steam boilers not over 25 horsepower and 125 pounds per square inch, and requires at least six months of experience in the care and operation of steam boilers. Class 3 covers plants such as high pressure steam boilers up to 400 horsepower, or a low pressure heating plant with a pump return and no capacity limit, or a hot water heating plant with no capacity limit, and requires at least two years of experience in a high pressure steam plant of more than 750 boiler horsepower as an assistant engineer, fireman or oiler, or four years in a plant of not less than 50 horsepower; one year is waived for a graduate mechanical engineer from a recognized school of technology or a graduate of an approved engineer apprentice training program. Class 1 covers any plant and requires the Class 3 experience plus two additional years, one of which must be as an engineer in a second class plant, or service as a Class 2 Steam Engineer and Assistant Engineer in a first class plant while holding a second class license. Applicants must supply a 2 inch by 2 inch passport style photo, government issued identification, an employment verification letter, and a debit or credit card for fees. New applications are filed online through the District's OPLA portal. |
| Reciprocity | The Board's own stationary engineer application instructions state that currently there is no waiver or reciprocity for stationary engineers. |
| Renewal | Regardless of when they were obtained, stationary and steam engineer licenses expire on September 30 of even numbered years, which is a two year cycle. No continuing education requirement is stated on the Board's published stationary engineer pages. |
| Notes | The District of Columbia licenses stationary and steam engineers through the Board of Industrial Trades at the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, in four classes (1, 3, 5A and 6) set by plant size and boiler pressure. |
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Sources: dlcp.dc.gov, dlcp.dc.gov, dlcp.dc.gov. Always confirm current requirements with the issuing authority.
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