R710-7-6. Certificates of Registration

  (1) No person shall service any automatic fire suppression system without a certificate of registration issued by the SFM pursuant to these rules expressly authorizing such person to perform such acts.

  (2) Application for a certificate of registration to work on automatic fire suppression systems shall be made in writing to the SFM on forms provided by the SFM.

  (a) The application shall be signed by the applicant.

  (b) The concern license shall certify in writing to the SFM that the applicant has been trained and is qualified to perform all work authorized by the certificate of registration.

  (3) The SFM shall require all applicants for a certificate of registration to take and pass a written examination, which may be supplemented by practical tests to determine the applicant's knowledge to work on automatic fire suppression systems.

  (a) Pictured identification of the applicant for a certificate of registration may be requested by the SFM or his deputies.

  (b) Examinations will be given according to the following schedule:

  (i) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month; or

  (ii) when holidays conflict with these days, the day immediately following will be used.

  (c) An appointment will be made to take an examination at least 24 hours in advance of the examination date.

  (d) Examinations may be given at various field locations as deemed necessary by the SFM. Appointments for field examinations are required.

  (e) All certification examinations given are open book examinations.

  (i) The applicant is allowed to use the statute, the administrative rule, and the NFPA standard that applies to the certification examination.

  (ii) Any other materials to include cellular telephones, lap tops, IPads, IPods, note books or any other memory storage device are prohibited in the examination room.

  (f) Completion of the certification examination will not be allowed if it appears to the test administrator that the applicant has not prepared to take the examination.

  (g) Each certification examination taken has a time limit of two hours to completion.

  (i) Leaving the office or testing location before the completion of the examination voids the examination and will require the examination to be retaken by the applicant.

  (h) If there are different levels of proficiency in the subject matter, the lower proficiency level will be fully completed before the next higher proficiency will be administered.

  (4) To successfully pass the written examination, the applicant must obtain a minimum grade of 70% in each portion of the examination taken.

  (5) The examination required shall include a written test of the applicant's knowledge of the work to be performed, the provisions of these rules, and may include an actual demonstration of his ability to perform the acts indicated on the application.

  (6) Every person who takes an examination for a certificate of registration shall have the right to contest the validity of individual questions of such examination.

  (a) Every contention as to the validity of individual questions of the examination shall be made in writing within 48 hours after taking said examination.

  (b) The decision of the SFM shall be final.

  (7) Following receipt of the completed application, compliance with the provisions of these rules, and the successful completion of the required examination, the SFM shall issue a certificate of registration.

  (8) Original certificates of registration will be valid for one year from the date of application.

  (a) Thereafter, each certificate of registration will be renewed annually and renewals will be valid for one year from the previous date of expiration.

  (b) In the event that a certificate of registration is not renewed prior to the expiration date, the applicant shall be required to apply for an original certificate of registration with a new license number.

  (c) The failure to renew a certificate of registration will cause the certificate of registration and the certificate of registration number to become invalid.

  (d) The holder of an invalid certificate of registration shall not perform any work on automatic fire suppression systems.

  (9) Renewal is the responsibility of the holder of the Certificate of Registration.

  (a) Application for renewal will be made as directed by the SFM.

  (b) A renewed certificate of registration shall be valid for one year from the previous date of expiration.

  (10) Every holder of a valid certificate of registration will take a re-examination every five years, from the date of original certificate, as follows:

  (a) the re-examination shall consist of one open book examination to be administered by the SFM at least 60 days before the renewal date;

  (b) the re-examination will consist of questions that focus on changes in the last five years to the NFPA standards, the statute, and adopted practices of concerns noted by the board or SFM;

  (c) the certificate holder is responsible to complete the re-examination prior to expiration and in sufficient time to renew; and

  (d) the certificate holder is responsible to return to the SFM the correct renewal fees to complete that certificate renewal.

  (11) The SFM may refuse to renew any certificate of registration for the reasons that are authorized pursuant to Section R710-7-9.

  (a) The applicant will, upon such refusal, have the same rights as are granted by Section R710-7-9 to an applicant for an original certificate of registration which has been denied by the SFM.

  (12) The holder of a certificate of registration will submit such certificate for inspection, upon request of the SFM, any authorized deputies, or any local fire official.

  (13) Any change of address of any holder of a certificate of registration will be reported by the registered person to the SFM within 30 days of such change.

  (a) Such change will also be made by the holder of the certificate of registration on the reverse side of the certificate of registration card.

  (14) A duplicate certificate of registration may be issued by the SFM to replace any previously issued certificate which has been lost or destroyed.

  (15) No certificate of registration shall be issued to any person who is under 18 years of age.

  (16) Restrictive Use

  (a) No certificate of registration will constitute authorization for any person to enter upon or into any property or building without expressed permission from an authorized individual.

  (b) No certificate of registration will constitute authorization for any person to enforce any provisions of these rules or the International Fire Code.

  (c) Regardless of the acts authorized to be performed by the licensed concern, only those acts for which the applicant for a certificate of registration has qualified will be permissible by such applicant.

  (17) Certificates of registration will not be transferable.

  (a) Individual certificates of registration will be carried by the person to whom issued.

  (18) No certificate of registration will be issued to any person unless that person is a licensee or an employee of a licensed concern.

  (19) New employees of a licensed concern may perform the various acts while under the direct supervision of a person holding a valid certificate of registration for a period not to exceed 45 days from the initial date of employment.

  (20) Every certificate will be identified by a number, delineated as HE-number.