(1) The director of the division of professions and occupations is authorized to appoint or employ competent persons licensed under this article as journeyman or master plumbers as state plumbing inspectors.

(2) Such inspectors may be employed either on a full-time or on a part-time basis as the circumstances in each case warrant. State plumbing inspectors have the right of ingress and egress to and from all public and private premises during reasonable working hours where this article applies for the purpose of making plumbing inspections or otherwise determining compliance with the provisions of this article.

(3) (a) Beginning July 1, 2014, persons licensed under this article or who are certified as residential plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization are authorized to inspect residential plumbing. Any newly hired inspectors not licensed under this article or certified by a nationally recognized model code organization have one year from the date of hire to acquire the necessary license or certification or meet the hiring requirements of the hiring authority, whichever is more stringent.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, persons licensed under this article or who are certified as commercial plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization are authorized to inspect commercial plumbing. Any newly hired inspectors not licensed under this article or certified by a nationally recognized model code organization have one year from the date of hire to acquire the necessary license or certification or meet the hiring requirements of the hiring authority, whichever is more stringent.

(4) (a) Plumbing inspectors performing inspections who are employed by a qualified state institution of higher education shall be certified as commercial plumbing inspectors by a nationally recognized model code organization and possess a valid journeyman or master plumber license issued by the state. In addition, such plumbing inspectors shall possess the same qualifications required of state plumbing inspectors under this article, shall be registered with the board prior to the assumption of their duties, shall not inspect any plumbing work in which the inspector has any financial or other personal interest, and shall not be engaged in the plumbing business by contracting, supplying material, or performing plumbing work as defined in this article. In addition, any such plumbing inspector inspecting a medical gas installation shall hold the national inspection certification ASSE 6020 or recognized equivalent.

(b) As part of their duties, plumbing inspectors performing inspections who are employed by a qualified state institution of higher education have the authority to verify the plumbing licenses or apprenticeship registration cards issued by the state for those people performing the plumbing work on a project.