(a) Applications for licenses, permits, and certificates provided for in this section shall be made under policies adopted by the Arkansas Fire Protection Licensing Board and shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the board.

(b)

(1) Each firm or person desiring to engage in or to continue to engage in the business of installing, inspecting, or servicing portable fire extinguishers, selling, inspecting, installing, or servicing fixed fire protection systems, performing hydrostatic testing of fire extinguishers or fire extinguisher cylinders, or planning, selling, installing, maintaining, inspecting, or servicing fire protection sprinkler systems in the State of Arkansas as a condition of engaging or continuing to engage in such a business shall obtain from the board a certificate of registration and appropriate individual licenses as prescribed in this subchapter.

(2) Each firm engaged in the business of installing or servicing portable fire extinguishers or selling, installing, inspecting, or servicing fixed fire protection systems shall obtain a certificate of registration and shall pay the following fees:

(A) For engaging in the business of inspecting, installing, or servicing portable fire extinguishers, the fee for the initial certificate of registration shall be no more than five hundred dollars ($500), and the annual renewal fee shall be no more than five hundred dollars ($500); and

(B) For engaging in the business of selling, installing, inspecting, or servicing fixed fire protection systems, the fee for the initial certificate of registration shall be no more than five hundred dollars ($500), and the annual renewal fee shall be no more than five hundred dollars ($500).

(3) Each employee of a registered firm who engages in installing, inspecting, or servicing portable fire extinguishers or selling, installing, inspecting, or servicing fixed fire protection systems, other than an apprentice, shall obtain an individual license and pay the following fees:

(A) For a license to install, inspect, or service portable fire extinguishers, an initial fee of no more than one hundred dollars ($100), and for each annual renewal thereof a fee of no more than fifty dollars ($50.00); and

(B) For a license to sell, install, inspect, or service fixed fire protection systems, an initial fee of no more than one hundred dollars ($100), and an annual renewal fee of no more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

(4) Each firm performing hydrostatic testing of United States Department of Transportation-specification compressed gas cylinders used for or with portable fire extinguishers or for or with fixed fire protection systems, as a condition of engaging in such a business, shall obtain a Class A hydrostatic testing certificate for which the initial fee shall be no more than two hundred dollars ($200), and an annual renewal fee shall be no more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(5) Each firm performing hydrostatic testing of pressure vessels used for or with portable fire extinguishers or for or with fixed fire protection systems, other than United States Department of Transportation-specification compressed gas cylinders, shall obtain a Class B hydrostatic testing certificate as a condition of engaging in such a business, for which the initial fee shall be no more than one hundred dollars ($100), and an annual renewal fee shall be no more than fifty dollars ($50.00).

(6)

(A) An employee of a registered firm who has been issued an apprentice permit may service, inspect, and install fire protection sprinkler systems, portable fire extinguishers, and fixed fire protection systems under the direct supervision of a licensed employee subject to rules promulgated by the board.

(B) Each application for an apprentice permit shall be:

(i) Made by a registered firm; and

(ii) Accompanied by a fee of no more than thirty dollars ($30.00).

(C) A copy of the application may be used by the applicant as proof of a temporary permit until the official apprentice permit is issued or denied by the board.

(D) A copy of the application or the apprentice permit is valid for one (1) year from the date of issue and is not renewable.

(7)

(A) Each employee of a registered firm desiring to take an examination in order to obtain a license as required in this subchapter shall apply to the board and pay an initial testing fee of no less than thirty dollars ($30.00) per examination nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) per examination.

(B) Testing fees are to be paid each separate time an examination or series of examinations is taken.

(8) Each firm engaged in a fire protection sprinkler business in the state shall obtain a certificate of registration and shall pay the following fees:

(A) An initial application fee not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for the certificate of registration; and

(B) A fee not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the issuance of either the initial certificate of registration or any annual renewal of the certificate of registration.

(9) Each firm holding a certificate of registration for a fire protection sprinkler system business shall at all times employ at least one (1) responsible managing employee who must obtain a license issued by the board after successful completion of the requirements in this subchapter and under the rules of the board, including without limitation the passage of examinations, and by payment of fees established by rule of the board subject to the following limitations:

(A) An examination fee not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) per examination to be paid each time an examination is taken for any individual license issued by the board; and

(B) A license fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) shall be paid for issuance of the initial license and each annual renewal thereof for any individual license issued by the board.

(10) A fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be paid for:

(A) The duplication of:

(i) A certificate of registration;

(ii) An individual license;

(iii) A Class A hydrostatic testing certificate;

(iv) A Class B hydrostatic testing certificate; and

(v) An apprentice permit; or

(B) The issuance of a new document under subdivision (b)(10)(A) of this section if a change in the information on the document of this section requires the issuance of a new document.

(11) A firm with more than one (1) physical location, including without limitation one (1) or more branch offices, shall pay a fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) for an additional certificate of registration for each additional location.