(1) Prior to the initiation of an investigation or hearing, any certified nurse aide may surrender his certificate to practice as a nurse aide to the board.
(2) Following the initiation of an investigation or hearing and upon a finding that to conduct such an investigation or hearing would not be in the public interest, the board may allow a certified nurse aide to surrender his certificate to practice.
(3) The board shall not issue a certificate to a former holder of a certificate whose certificate has been denied, revoked, or surrendered unless a two-year waiting period has passed since the date of the surrender and the applicant has met the requirements of this article, has successfully repeated an approved education program, and has repeated and passed a competency evaluation.
(4) The surrender of a certificate in accordance with this section removes all rights and privileges to practice as a nurse aide, including the right to apply for renewal of a certificate.