§ 9-6. Examination; review and waiver.

(a)

Examinations.

(1)

Each applicant for a certificate of competency shall be examined by the board in order to determine the applicant's education, training, knowledge, experience, and ability in the trade or occupation for which the applicant has requested certification.

(2)

An examination may be written, oral, or based upon demonstrated ability, experience, and training of an applicant. Objective written examinations shall be used whenever possible; however, the board may, by a majority vote of the full board, elect to waive written examination based upon experience in the particular trade.

(3)

There shall be an examination for each of the categories, classes, and levels of certification established by this chapter or the board which shall apply to the type of work covered by the applicable certificate. Written and oral examinations shall cover knowledge of the basic principles of the category and class for which a certificate is requested. Written examinations may be open-book and contain multiple-choice, fill-in, true/false, or short-answer questions, and may include or consist of diagrams, plans, or sketches relative to the category or class in which the applicant is required to demonstrate the applicant's knowledge and proficiency by answering questions keyed to such diagrams, plans, or sketches.

(4)

Each applicant shall be required to obtain a passing grade on each part of the examination, if the examination has more than one part, before the applicant may obtain certification. A passing grade on each part of the examination shall be seventy (70) per cent, unless otherwise established by the applicable board prior to the administration of an examination.

(5)

Examinations shall be held at such times and places within the County as the board determines, but there shall be at least two (2) examinations during a calendar year in each category certified by the board.

(6)

Applicants who have been approved by the board to take an examination shall be notified in writing by the board of the date, time, and place of the next examination. If an applicant has been notified of an examination and fails to attend, the application shall be rejected by the board and the applicant will have to reapply for certification. For good cause, the board may reinstate an application and permit the applicant to take the next scheduled examination.

(7)

An applicant may review the applicant's examination paper and grades, upon a request in writing to the board, whereupon the board shall make a reasonable effort to make the applicant's examination paper and grades available to said applicant at such time and place as may be determined by the board, and under conditions which will protect the confidentiality of the examination.

(8)

An applicant found to have cheated on an examination shall have the results of said examination rejected by the board and the applicant will have to reapply for certification. In the event that an applicant who received certification from the board is found to have cheated on the examination for certification, at a disciplinary hearing pursuant to this chapter, said certification shall be revoked by the board and the applicant shall be subject to penalties as provided in this chapter.

(b)

Review. The board shall review the application, examination, and grade of each applicant before authorizing the issuance of a certificate of competency in order to ensure that all requirements for certification have been successfully met by the applicant. If an applicant fails to meet the standards or qualifications established for a particular category, class, or level of certification, the board may, in its sole discretion, issue a certificate in a category, class, or level inferior to the category, class, or level for which the applicant applied, and for which the applicant is qualified to receive certification.

(Ord. No. 78-9, § 1, 1-18-78; Ord. No. 2001-09, § 6, 3-27-01; Ord. No. 2003-16, § 1, 5-13-03; Ord. No. 2010-15, § 1, 4-13-10)