(a) The board has all the powers and duties set forth in this article, by rule, in article one of this chapter and elsewhere in law.

(b) The board shall:

(1) Hold meetings, conduct hearings and administer examinations;

(2) Establish requirements for a certification or permit;

(3) Establish procedures for submitting, approving and rejecting applications for a certification or permit;

(4) Determine the qualifications of any applicant for a certification or permit;

(5) Prepare, conduct, administer and grade written, oral or written and oral examinations for a certificate;

(6) Determine the passing grade for the examinations;

(7) Maintain records of the examinations the board or a third party administers, including the number of persons taking the examination and the pass and fail rate;

(8) Maintain an office, and hire, discharge, establish the job requirements and fix the compensation of employees and contracted employees necessary to enforce this article;

(9) Investigate alleged violations of this article, legislative rules, orders and final decisions of the board;

(10) Conduct disciplinary hearings of persons regulated by the board;

(11) Determine disciplinary action and issue orders;

(12) Institute appropriate legal action for the enforcement of this article;

(13) Maintain an accurate registry of names and addresses of all persons regulated by the board;

(14) Keep accurate and complete records of its proceedings, and certify the same as may be necessary and appropriate;

(15) Establish, by legislative rule, the continuing education requirements for certificate holders and permittees; and

(16) Propose rules in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement this article.

(c) The board may:

(1) Contract with third parties to administer the examinations required under this article;

(2) Define, by legislative rule, the fees charged under this article;

(3) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, revoke or reinstate a certification or permit;

(4) Sue and be sued in its official name as an agency of this state;

(5) Confer with the Attorney General or his or her assistant in connection with legal matters and questions; and

(6) Take all other actions proper to effectuate the purposes of this article.