(a) The office shall employ a sufficient number of electrical inspectors as the director determines to be reasonably necessary in fully and effectively carrying out the applicable provisions of this chapter.

(b) To be eligible for employment as an electrical inspector, the applicant shall be: (1) A citizen of West Virginia, in good health, not less than twenty-four years of age, of good character and reputation, and of temperate habits; and (2) a person who has had five years of practical electrical experience in coal mines, at least two of which were in mines in this state, or a degree in electrical engineering from an accredited electrical engineering school and three years of practical electrical experience in underground coal mining. For the purposes of this section, practical electrical experience means the performance of duties requiring a person to be a certified electrician, as that term is defined in subdivision (2), subsection (d), section two of this article, prior to actually performing such duties.

(c) (1) In order to qualify for appointment as an electrical inspector, an eligible applicant shall submit to written, oral and practical examinations administered by the mine inspectors' examining board and furnish evidence of good health, character and other facts establishing eligibility as the board may require. The examinations shall relate to the duties to be performed by an electrical inspector and, subject to approval of the mine inspectors' examining board, may be prepared by the director.

(2) If the board finds after investigation and examination that an applicant: (A) Is eligible for appointment; and (B) has passed the required examinations with an average grade of at least ninety percent, the board shall add the applicant's name and grades to the register of qualified eligible candidates and promptly certify its action in writing to the director. The director shall then appoint one of the candidates from the three having the highest grades.

(d) Electrical inspectors shall be paid an annual salary of not less than $42,828, which shall be fixed by the director, who shall take into consideration ability, performance of duty and experience. Electrical inspectors shall devote all of their time to the duties of the office.

(e) Except as expressly provided in this section to the contrary, all provisions of this article relating to the eligibility, qualifications, appointment, tenure and removal of underground mine inspectors, as well as those provisions relating to compensatory time and reimbursement for necessary expenses, are applicable to mine electrical inspectors.