There is hereby created the private occupational school division in the department of higher education and the office of director of the division. The division and the director shall exercise their powers and perform their duties and functions specified in this article 64 under the department of higher education and the executive director thereof as if the same were transferred to the department by atype 2 transfer as such transfer is defined in the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968", article 1 of title 24. The director shall be appointed by the executive director. The director, with the approval of the executive director, shall employ such professional and clerical personnel as deemed necessary to carry out the duties and functions of the division. The director and professional personnel are declared to hold educational offices and to be exempt from the state personnel system.