A. Upon application, made upon a form to be prescribed by the Department, by an individual not less than eighteen (18) years of age, the Department shall issue a certificate when the applicant has paid a nonrefundable application fee and has met any one of the following qualifications:

1. An applicant who successfully completes training and examination as prescribed by the Department; or

2. An applicant who holds a license or certificate issued by any other state or territory of the United States, and currently valid at the time he makes application hereunder, similar to a certificate provided for herein, where the requirements of such other state or territory for the issuance of a license or certificate, at the time such applicant received said license or certificate, were of a level found by the Department to be the equivalent of the standards required hereby for a certificate of similar kind. Provided, however, that no certificate shall be issued under this paragraph unless the holder of a certificate under this act would be issued a similar license or certificate by such other state or territory under substantially the same conditions.

B. All fees shall be deposited in the Certification Fund.

C. Any certificate issued under this section shall be renewable annually for the period from July 1 to June 30.

D. A certificate shall be renewed upon approval of the Department. Application for such renewal shall be submitted to the Department on forms prescribed by the Department, shall be accompanied by a renewal fee as set by the Board and shall include documentation that the applicant has met the annual renewal training requirements of the Department. The Department may allow a thirty-one-day grace period for such renewals, from July 1 through July 31, without requiring payment of a late fee as set by the Board, provided the applicant submits the required renewal fee and qualifies for such renewal.

E. A certificate which is not so renewed by July 31 shall have no further force, effect or validity unless the Department, upon receipt of an application from the holder of the expired certificate within two (2) years after the certificate's June 30 renewal date, reactivates such certificate. Such reactivation application shall include the submission of data on forms prescribed by the Department, renewal and reactivation late fees as set by the Board, and documentation that the applicant has met the Department's renewal training requirements. A reactivated certificate may be renewed annually thereafter as provided in this section.

F. The holder of an expired and unreactivated certificate shall not be issued any new certificate unless he applies and qualifies therefor pursuant to the Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operator Certification Act.

Added by Laws 1959, p. 271, § 7. Amended by Laws 1965, c. 88, § 2, emerg. eff. May 5, 1965; Laws 1978, c. 166, § 4, eff. July 1, 1978; Laws 1993, c. 145, § 281, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 353, § 33, eff. July 1, 1994.