(a) All applicants for licensure must submit a completed application, application fee, and supportive documentation of qualifications before taking an examination approved by the board. The board shall examine applicants at least once every three months according to the method deemed by it to be the most appropriate to test the qualifications of applicants. Any national standardized or written examination proctored by an independent third party which the board shall approve as substantially similar to the examination required to be licensed under this chapter may be administered to all applicants in lieu of or in conjunction with any other examination which the board shall give to test the qualifications of applicants. The board shall also have the right to establish such norms of achievement as shall be required for a passing grade. The board may, by rule, adopt the National Electrical Code for the purpose of examinations.

(b) The board may recognize a license issued by any other state that, in the opinion of the board, has standards of practice or licensure equal to or higher than those required by this state. The board shall actively seek to reciprocate with those states meeting such standards. The board shall actively seek to maintain those states currently under agreement.

(c) No license shall be issued except in compliance with this chapter and none shall be issued except to a person or a person in a firm, partnership, association, or corporation. A firm, partnership, association, or corporation, as such, shall not be licensed. A licensee shall be a citizen of the United States or, if not a citizen of the United States, a person who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government.

(d) An individual who has successfully passed, on or before January 1, 2010, with a minimum score of 70 percent, or an individual who has successfully passed after January 1, 2010, with a minimum score of 75 percent, a nationally standardized proctored electrical examination administered in the State of Alabama, by Block and Associates, International Code Council, Experior, Promissor, Thomson Prometric, PROV, or any other exam approved by the board, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the testing requirement set forth by the board for licensure as an electrical contractor. Individuals meeting this qualification shall also be required to complete all other qualifications set forth by this chapter and the board prior to issuance of an electrical contractor license. Electrical contractor applicants affected by this provision shall have until July 1, 2011, to apply for licensure without any further examination requirements.