(a) It shall be unlawful for any personor other legal entity to contract, engage in, offer to engage, or convey the impression that he or she is certified in plumbing, gas fitting, or medical gas piping within the State of Alabama unless the person has first registered or received a certificate of competency, hereinafter referred to as "certificate," that is in force and effect at the time the plumbing, gas fitting, or medical gas piping is offered, performed, directed, or superintended, except as hereinafter provided.

(b) The board shall register all legal entities engaging in, or offering to engage in, plumbing, gas fitting, or medical gas piping in the State of Alabama upon forms provided by the board, and upon the applicant first paying all prescribed fees. Disciplinary action for the registered legal entities may be the same as for certified individuals engaged in plumbing, gas fitting, or medical gas piping.

(c) The business name which is registered with the board for each legal entity engaged in plumbing, gas fitting, or medical gas piping shall be displayed in a prominent manner on two sides of each service or construction vehicle. The lettering shall be a minimum of two inches in height.

(d) The board shall register every person who may apply for an apprentice plumber or gas fitter registration certificate upon forms provided by the board, upon the applicant first paying all prescribed fees.

(e) The board shall examine and pass upon the qualification of every person who applies for a journeyman plumber or gas fitter certificate upon forms provided by the board.

(1) An applicant for examination for a journeyman plumber or gas fitter certificate shall submit proof that the applicant has two years of current work experience as an apprentice plumber or gas fitter or has completed an apprentice training program approved by the board.

(2) Applicants for journeyman plumber or gas fitter shall be examined, orally or in writing, upon the fundamentals of plumbing or gas fitting, the theory and practice of plumbing installation and construction or gas fitting work, and the experience and ability of the applicant in practical plumbing installation and construction or gas fitting work.

(3) If the applicant is found to possess an accurate knowledge of the theory and correct practice of plumbing installation and construction or gas fitting work, and sufficient experience and ability in plumbing installation and construction or gas fitting work to safely and competently apply that knowledge and practice, the board shall issue a certificate, upon the applicant first paying all prescribed fees.

(4) The examination shall be administered by an independent examining agency.

(f) The board shall examine and pass upon the qualifications of every person who applies for a master plumber or gas fitter certificate upon forms provided by the board.

(1) Applicants for examination for a master plumber certificate shall submit proof to the board that the applicant has at least one year of current work experience as a journeyman plumber.

(2) Applicants for examination for a master gas fitter certificate shall submit proof to the board that the applicant has at least one year of current work experience as a journeyman gas fitter.

(3) An applicant for a master certificate shall be examined upon knowledge, training, and ability, in the planning, laying out, and supervision of plumbing installation and construction work or gas fitting work, and if found to possess those qualifications, the applicant shall be issued a master plumber or gas fitter certificate by the board upon the applicant first paying all prescribed fees.

(4) The examination shall be administered by an independent examining agency.

(g) No person shall be issued a certificate without passing the prescribed examination. A person who has passed the examination must become certified within 90 calendar days and shall not be required to take the examination thereafter in order to secure a certificate in subsequent years. An individual who passes the examination but fails to become certified within 90 calendar days shall be required to retake the examination. At least four examinations per year shall be conducted, at a time and place prescribed by the board after reasonable notice.

(h) Any master plumber, master gas fitter, journeyman plumber, journeyman gas fitter, apprentice plumber, or apprentice gas fitter performing medical gas piping shall provide proof to the board that he or she has successfully completed a current medical gas piping certification program approved by the board.