The state’s welfare administrator says he isn’t certain Washington state will pass the first big test of performance under the nation’s new welfare law.

States were required to demonstrate this week that they have 75 percent of all two-parent welfare families in jobs or job training. Those that don’t could lose as much as 5 percent of their federal welfare money.

In Washington state, the number of two-parent families on welfare has declined 34 percent, from 14,123 in federal fiscal year 1995 to 9,358 families now.

But 75 percent of those remaining families would need to be working or in job training to meet the federal benchmark, said Jerry Friedman, the state Department of Social and Health Services’ assistant secretary for economic services.

The problem is that the federal government has not made clear which education programs qualify as job training, Friedman said.

Officials of the federal Health and Human Services Department confirmed that the agency has not yet provided states specific language on what work or training qualifies under the new law, but said they expect the new rules to be issued this month.

A 50-state survey by The Associated Press showed fewer than half the states are confident they will meet the 75 percent target. At least 16 states admit they are certain to fall short, and others remain unsure.

President Clinton said this week that he wanted to consult with federal welfare officials before determining whether states should be fined.

Friedman said he is confident that Washington state met another deadline that passed Wednesday: the requirement that states show they have 25 percent of all welfare families working. Most states expect to meet that goal.