California Code of Regulations
Title 16 - Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 33 - Bureau of Automotive Repair
Chapter 1 - Automotive Repair Dealers and Official Stations and Adjusters
Article 5.5 - Motor Vehicle Inspection Program
Section 3340.29 - Licensing of Smog Check Inspectors and Repair Technicians

Universal Citation: 16 CA Code of Regs 3340.29

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) An applicant for a license as an inspector or repair technician shall submit an application with appropriate documents to the bureau on form Inspector/Tech App 1A (03/2014) "Application for Initial Smog Check Inspector, and/or Smog Check Repair Technician License," which is hereby incorporated by reference, together with an application fee of $20.00. If the applicant fails to include all required documentation, or complete all questions regarding the applicant's background, or otherwise fails to submit a complete original application the fee shall not be refunded and a license shall not be issued.

(b) An applicant for an inspector or repair technician license shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1) An applicant for an inspector or repair technician license shall pay an examination fee and successfully complete and pass the appropriate examination in order to receive a license.

(2) An applicant that receives a notice of qualification to take an examination, pursuant to section 3303.2 of this Article, shall take the appropriate examination within 90 days of receipt of notification of qualification to take the examination. A qualified applicant may attempt to pass the examination two times per application. After two attempts the applicant shall submit a new application to the bureau, pay an application fee of $20, pay the examination fee and successfully complete and pass the appropriate examination.

(c) An initial application shall be subject to the review procedures specified in section 3303.2. of Article 1 of this Chapter.

(d) Initial license for a Smog Check Inspector or Smog Check Repair Technician shall expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month. If the initial license is issued more than six months prior to the licensee's birth month the license shall expire no less than 18 months from the issuance date. If the initial license is issued within six months of the licensee's birth month, the license shall expire no more than 30 months from the issuance date. License expiration dates are calculated from the date the department is notified that an applicant has passed the licensing examination. Subsequent renewal licenses will expire on the last day of the birth month, two years thereafter. The bureau may advance the expiration date of an inspector or repair technician license for the purpose of synchronizing license expiration dates. Withholding a license for enforcement purposes, or issuance of a temporary license due to family support obligations, does not change the expiration date as calculated above.

(e) To renew a license, the inspector or repair technician shall submit a renewal fee of $20 and pay the examination fee, as applicable, and successfully complete and pass the appropriate examination, as applicable, prior to the expiration date of the license.

(f) The selection of an examination may be based on, but is not limited to, the applicant's professional or vocational certifications, education, experience, and/or disciplinary and citation history, at the bureau's discretion.

1. New section filed 6-23-95 as an emergency; operative 6-23-95 (Register 95, No. 25). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 10-21-95 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. Certificate of Compliance as to 6-23-95 order transmitted to OAL 10-20-95 and filed 12-6-95 (Register 95, No. 49).
3. Amendment of subsection (a), repealer of subsection (b)(2) and subsection renumbering, amendment of newly designated subsection (b)(2) and subsections (d), (e) and (f), repealer of subsections (f)(1) and (f)(2) and deletion of (f)(3) designator and amendment of formerly designated (f)(3) and NOTE filed 7-26-96 as an emergency; operative 7-26-96 (Register 96, No. 30). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-25-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
4. Certificate of Compliance as to 7-26-96 order, including further amendment of subsections (d)-(f), transmitted to OAL 11-19-96 and filed 1-6-97 (Register 97, No. 2).
5. Amendment of subsections (a), (e) and (f) filed 2-1-2001; operative 2-1-2001 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(c) (Register 2001, No. 5).
6. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 12-18-2008; operative 1-17-2009 (Register 2008, No. 51).
7. Amendment of section heading and section filed 2-1-2012; operative 2-1-2012 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2012, No. 5).
8. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) and amending "Application for Initial Smog Check Inspector, and/or Smog Check Repair Technician License" (incorporated by reference) filed 2-27-2013 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2013, No. 9).
9. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (a) and amending "Application for Initial Smog Check Inspector, and/or Smog Check Repair Technician License" (incorporated by reference) filed 5-21-2014 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2014, No. 21).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 44002, 44013(b), 44016, 44031.5, 44034, 44034.1 and 44045.5, Health and Safety Code; and Sections 163.5 and 9882, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 44012, 44014, 44015(a) and (b), 44030(a), 44031.5, 44032, 44034, 44034.1, 44035, 44045.5 and 44045.6, Health and Safety Code; and Section 1798.17, Civil Code.

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