(a)(1) Every individual subject to the examination required in subsection (b) shall first complete a prelicensing course consisting of 20 classroom hours or equivalent individual instruction on the general principles of title insurance, the duties and responsibilities of a title insurance agent, and the title insurance laws and regulations of this state. The course shall be taught only by those educational institutions, title insurers, or title insurance trade organizations which hold written authority from the commissioner.

(2) The prelicensing course must have been completed within 12 months before the date of the examination as shown on the certificate furnished by the prelicensing course provider.

(3) Every prelicensing course provider shall apply annually for the continued authority to issue certificates of completion under rules and regulations to be prescribed by the commissioner.

(4) At the time of initial approval and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall collect from each prelicensing course provider the fee set forth in Section 27-25-4.7. Public institutions shall be exempt from paying the fee but shall otherwise be subject to the rules and regulations applicable to other providers.

(b)(1) An individual intending to apply for a title insurance agent license shall first pass a written examination unless exempt pursuant to subsection (c).

(2) The examination shall test the knowledge of the individual concerning title insurance, the duties and responsibilities of a title insurance agent, and the insurance laws of this state. Examinations required by this section shall be developed and conducted under rules prescribed by the commissioner.

(3) Each individual applying for an examination shall furnish a certificate of completion of the prelicensing course from an authorized prelicensing course provider and pay a nonrefundable examination fee pursuant to Section 27-25-4.7.

(4) The commissioner may make arrangements, including contracting with an outside testing service, for administering examinations and collecting the nonrefundable fee prescribed by the commissioner, in which case the fees approved by the commissioner for the examinations may be paid directly to the outside testing service, and the fee shall be in lieu of, but not in excess of, the fees for the examination set forth in Section 27-25-4.7.

(5) An individual who fails to appear for the examination as scheduled or fails to pass the examination shall reapply for an examination and remit all required fees and forms before being rescheduled for another examination.

(6) No individual who has taken and failed to pass two examinations given pursuant to this section shall be entitled to take any further title insurance agent examinations until after the expiration of three months from the date of the last examination which the individual failed to pass. If the individual thereafter fails to pass the examination after two more attempts, the individual shall not be eligible to take any further title insurance agent examinations until after the expiration of six months from the date of the last unsuccessful examination. An examination fee shall be paid for each and every examination.

(c) An individual shall be exempt from the examination requirement of subsection (b) only as follows:

(1) If, within 90 days after January 1, 2013, the applicant can establish to the satisfaction of the commissioner that for a period of at least five years preceding January 1, 2013, the applicant has been an authorized signatory to commitments, title insurance policies, and endorsements to title insurance policies issued by the title insurance agent on behalf of a title insurer properly authorized to conduct the business of title insurance in this state.

(2) If the individual was previously licensed as a title insurance agent in this state after having passed the examination required by subsection (b) or being exempt from the examination under subdivision (1), this exemption is available only if the application is received within 12 months of the cancellation of the applicant's previous license in this state and if, at the time of cancellation, the applicant was in good standing in this state.