(a) The board may issue a permit to practice as a forester-in-training or a forestry technician-in-training to an applicant who meets all the requirements for certification, except the experience requirements of paragraph (A) or (B), subdivision three, subsection (a), section eight or subdivision four, section nine.
(b) A permit to practice as a forester-in-training or forestry technician-in-training may be renewed annually for a period not to exceed five years. The board may extend the five year limitation if the board finds the applicant experienced an undue hardship which prevented the attainment of the required experience.