(a) It is unlawful for any well to be drilled or closed except by licensed individuals. In order to obtain a water well, a monitoring well or a geothermal well driller's license, an individual shall file with the commissioner, on or before July 31 of each year, an application form to be made available by the commissioner, with the following information:

(1) The name under which the individual is doing business in this state;

(2) The office address or principal place of business of the individual; and

(3) Such other information as the commissioner may deem reasonable and necessary.

(b) Each applicant for one of the three (3) types of well driller's license shall submit the required fee to the commissioner with the application. The amount of the application fee for each annual license shall not exceed the amount stated in § 68-203-103(h) and shall be set in a rule promulgated by the commissioner. The payment of the fee shall be in lieu of any additional state or county privilege tax. Upon finding that the applicant meets all requirements for the license, the commissioner shall issue the license for a period not to exceed one (1) year.

(c) An individual may apply for more than one of the three (3) types of well driller's licenses and may apply for a pump installer or water treatment installer license, or both, by applying for all licenses desired and paying the required fees.

(d) It is unlawful, except if it is done by a licensed individual:

(1) To engage in the business of installing, removing or repairing geothermal wells or water well pumps or drop lines in geothermal wells or water wells; or

(2) To engage in the business of repairing, servicing or installing filters and water treatment devices on geothermal wells or water wells.

(e) In order to obtain a license to install pumps or to install filters and treatment devices in geothermal wells or water wells, an individual shall annually file with the commissioner, on or before July 31 of each year, an application form made available by the commissioner, with the following information:

(1) The name under which the individual is doing business in this state;

(2) The office address or principal place of business of the individual; and

(3) Such other information as the commissioner may deem reasonable and necessary.

(f) Each applicant for a pump installer or a water treatment installer license, or both, shall submit the required annual fee to the commissioner with the application. The amount of the application fee for each of these annual licenses shall not exceed the amount stated in § 68-203-103(h) and shall be set in a rule promulgated by the commissioner. Upon finding that the applicant meets all requirements for the license, the commissioner shall issue the license for a period not to exceed one (1) year.

(g) Each licensee individually shall obtain continuing education credits, as determined by the commissioner and established by rules promulgated under this chapter, during each twelve-month period beginning on August 1, 2003.

(h) Reciprocity to well drillers and installers licensed in other states will be granted by the department, provided the applicant meets the requirements as required under this chapter.