I work as an coal mine inspector in West Virginia. In order to get certified as a coal mine electrician, you have to be working at a coal mine that offers a training program. You have to pass a test to be allowed to enter the training proram. The training program lasts 2 years. You have to have classroom and hands on training. At the end of the 2 years, you take the certification test. I am a journeyman electrician but it does not count for anything around the coal mine. It is a totally different type of certification. Many underground coal mine laws concerning electricity are different than NEC. On surface mines and at preparation plants serving surface mines, electrical work must meet current NEC rules. Electricians doing construction at a surface or deep mine are considered "qualified" if they are coal mine certified or Fire Marshall certified. In WV, the Fire Marshall administers the electrical certifications. In WV, workers must comply with WVOMHST laws and MSHA laws when working on coal mine property.