(a) No license shall be issued by the board without examination of the applicant for the purpose of ascertaining his or her qualifications for such work, except those licenses issued pursuant to Section 34-21A-17. No examination shall be required for the timely annual renewal of a current license.

(b) The board shall offer and provide examinations which test the knowledge, skill, and qualifications of the applicants.

(c) The board may charge each applicant a reasonable fee for the examination based on the actual costs of administering the examinations.

(d) The board shall establish dates and locations for a minimum of three separate examinations each calendar year.

(e) The board shall establish the minimum examination grade necessary for successful completion of an examination.

(f) The board shall develop or approve two separate and specific examinations to test the knowledge and qualifications of those applicants for basic level license and advanced level licenses as follows:

(1) The basic installer level license examination shall test the knowledge and qualifications of applicants seeking a license to install, clean, service, repair, or maintain conventional onsite sewage systems.

(2) The advanced level installer license examination shall test the knowledge and qualifications of applicants seeking a license to install, clean, service, repair, or maintain engineered onsite sewage systems.

(g) A person shall first obtain a basic level installer license before qualifying to take the examination for an advanced level installer license.

(h) The board shall develop a specialized examination to test the qualifications of those applicants seeking a manufacturer's license.

(i) The board shall develop or approve any other additional examinations as may be necessary for additional areas of qualification and license levels as may be established by the board to meet industry requirements and technological advancements in the onsite sewage industry.

(j) Examinations shall be administered by the executive director or persons designated by the board. Any national standardized examination which the board may approve, or any other examination developed under the direction of the board, or any combination thereof, may be administered to applicants to test their knowledge and qualifications. The board shall establish the level of achievement as shall be required for a passing grade for examinations.

(k) Written examination results shall be provided within 14 days of taking the examination. Successful candidates shall also be informed of the procedures required to complete the license process. Any person who fails an examination may, upon reapplication and payment of required fees, take the examination when offered by the board.

(l) The executive director shall provide to the Alabama Department of Public Health and the appropriate local health authorities a list of all candidates who successfully qualify for a license within 14 days following the date the license is issued by the board.