The department of agriculture may grant apprentice auctioneers' licenses to those persons that are determined to be qualified by the department. Every applicant for an apprentice auctioneer's license shall pass an examination relating to the skills, knowledge, and statutes and rules governing auctioneers. Every applicant for an apprentice auctioneer's license shall furnish to the department, on forms provided by the department, satisfactory proof that the applicant:

(A) Has a good reputation;

(B) Is of trustworthy character;

(C) Has attained the age of at least eighteen years;

(D) Has obtained a written promise of a licensed auctioneer to sponsor the applicant during the applicant's apprenticeship;

(E) Has satisfied the financial responsibility requirements established under section 4707.11 of the Revised Code if applicable;

(F) Has successfully completed a course of study in auctioneering at an institution that is approved by the state auctioneers commission. Before an apprentice may take the auctioneer's license examination, the apprentice shall serve an apprenticeship of at least twelve months and participate as a bid caller in at least twelve auction sales under the direct supervision of the sponsoring licensed auctioneer, which auctions shall be certified by the licensed auctioneer on the apprentice's application for an auctioneer's license. No apprentice auctioneer shall be under the sponsorship of more than one licensed auctioneer at one time. If an auctioneer intends to terminate sponsorship of an apprentice auctioneer, the sponsoring auctioneer shall notify the apprentice auctioneer of the sponsoring auctioneer's intention by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least ten days prior to the effective date of termination and, at the same time, shall deliver or mail by certified mail to the department a copy of the termination notice and the license of the apprentice auctioneer. No apprentice auctioneer shall perform any acts under authority of the apprentice's license after the effective date of the termination until the apprentice receives a new license . No more than one license shall be issued to any apprentice auctioneer for the same period of time. No licensed auctioneer shall have under the licensed auctioneer's sponsorship more than two apprentice auctioneers at one time. No auctioneer shall sponsor an apprentice auctioneer if the auctioneer has not been licensed and in good standing for a period of at least two years immediately before sponsoring the apprentice auctioneer. A sponsoring auctioneer whose license is suspended or revoked shall send to the department the apprentice auctioneer's license not later than fourteen days after the suspension or revocation. If a sponsoring auctioneer's license is suspended or revoked, the apprentice auctioneer shall obtain a written promise of sponsorship from another licensed auctioneer before performing any acts under the authority of an apprentice auctioneer's license. The apprentice auctioneer shall send a copy of the written promise of sponsorship of another auctioneer to the department. If the department receives a copy of such a written promise of sponsorship and the apprentice pays the fee established by the department, the department shall issue a new license to the apprentice. An apprentice auctioneer may terminate the apprentice's sponsorship with an auctioneer by notifying the auctioneer of the apprentice's intention by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least ten days prior to the effective date of termination. At the same time, the apprentice shall deliver or mail by certified mail to the department a copy of the termination notice. Upon receiving the termination notice, the sponsoring auctioneer shall promptly deliver or mail by certified mail to the department the license of the apprentice auctioneer. The termination of a sponsorship, regardless of who initiates the termination, shall not be cause for an apprentice auctioneer to lose credit for any certified auctions in which the apprentice participated as a bid caller or apprenticeship time the apprentice served under the direct supervision of the former sponsor.

Effective Date: 07-01-2003; 05-06-2005 .