(a) Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or joint venture desiring to engage in the business as a fire alarm contractor shall submit to the State Fire Marshal on standard forms provided by the State Fire Marshal a completed application. The applicant shall include a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) when making the application. The applicant shall designate in the application the name of the proposed certificate holder and provide written proof that the individual has met all of the requirements and passed a competency test administered by NICET as a Fire Alarm System Technician - Level III or above. A copy of the current NICET certificate shall be accepted as sufficient written proof as required above. The State Fire Marshal, upon receipt of the application and fee, shall issue a State Fire Marshal's permit to a fire alarm contractor who has a current State Fire Marshal's permit, or who produces evidence of having a current state permit from another state, if the state has entered into an agreement of reciprocity with the State of Alabama.

(b)(1) Any individual desiring to engage in the programming, maintenance, testing, inspection, certification, or modification of fire alarm systems shall provide current written proof that he or she has passed a competency test administered by the NICET as a Fire Alarm System Technician-Level II or any other acceptable nationally recognized fire alarm technician certification requiring continuing education that is deemed equivalent by the State Fire Marshal.

(2) Each individual, partnership, corporation, association, or joint venture shall have 36 months after August 1, 2009, to be in full compliance with the requirement of this subsection.

(3) A new employee who is hired by a certified fire alarm contractor shall have 12 months from the date of hiring to comply with the requirements of this chapter. A new employee who is not in compliance with this chapter shall work under the direct supervision of the certificate holder of the certified fire alarm contractor.