(a) Examinations shall be held at such times and places as the board determines and upon payment of an examination fee. The board shall determine the acceptable passing grade on state-specific examinations.

(b) When examinations are required on fundamental subjects, the applicant shall be permitted to take this part of the professional examination as specified by rules of the board.

(c) When examinations are required on applied subjects, the applicant shall be permitted to take this part of the professional examination as specified by guidelines established by the board. The scope of the examination and the methods of procedure shall be prescribed by the board with special reference to the applicant's ability to design and supervise engineering or land surveying works so as to protect health, life, safety, welfare, and property. Examinations shall be given for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for licensure separately in engineering and in land surveying. A candidate failing an examination may apply for reexamination under guidelines established by the board.

(d) The board may prepare and require additional examinations in engineering and land surveying. Specifications for additional examinations shall be published and be made available to any individual interested in being licensed as a professional engineer or professional land surveyor. The fees for examination, reexamination, and administration of the examination on the laws, procedures, and practices pertaining to engineering and land surveying in this state shall be set by the board.

(e) The board may contract with an independent testing agency to prepare, grade, or conduct the required examinations. For those examinations so designated by the board, the applicant shall pay the examination fees directly to the board authorized testing agency. The examination fee for the state-specific examinations shall be paid directly to the board.

(f) The board shall require a demonstration of continuing professional education for professional engineers and professional land surveyors as a condition of renewal or relicensure. For professional land surveyors, the continuing professional education requirements shall include a minimum of four professional development credit hours on the Standards for Practice of Surveying in the State of Alabama every two years and one professional development credit hour on ethics every year; provided, however, the total number of professional development credit hours required of professional land surveyors by the board shall not increase overall because of this requirement. A new professional land surveyor shall complete the Standards for Practice of Surveying in the State of Alabama credits within two years and complete the ethics credit within one year of initial licensure. Credit for these courses shall count toward the succeeding annual or biennial continuing professional education requirements.