(1) To become licensed an applicant for a license must successfully complete a written examination. The department shall offer the examination a minimum of two times per year at such time(s) and place(s) as the department determines. The department shall give public notice of the time and place of the examination by submitting a news release to the daily newspapers of general circulation within the state of Montana.

(2) To take the examination, the applicant must register with the department for the examination at least 20 days before an examination is scheduled by submitting a completed license application to the department and paying the license application and examination fee provided in ARM 17.56.1404.

(3) An applicant may obtain an examination study guide from the department by paying the study guide fee as provided in ARM 17.56.1404. The study guide must contain such material as the department determines will assist individuals in preparing for the licensing examination.

(4) The examination must test the applicant's knowledge of the statutes, rules, current technology, and industry recommended practices applicable to the type of license sought.

(5) An applicant for an installer license who:

(a) holds a current monitoring well constructor's license which has been issued by the Board of Water Well Contractors pursuant to the requirements of ARM Title 36, chapter 21; and

(b) requests that the installer license be restricted to the installation of external leak detection devices, must pass, in lieu of the examination required of other applicants, a department-approved test designed for licensed monitoring well constructors concerning underground storage tank law and regulations, safety, and leak detection monitoring well installation.

(6) To qualify for licensing, an applicant for a compliance and oversight inspector license must have completed an inspector training course approved by the department that includes training in the operation and maintenance of release detection, corrosion protection, spill and overfill equipment; regulatory compliance; and field testing of inspection abilities. The applicant must also successfully complete a field practical examination.

(7) To prepare and administer an examination, the department may utilize a national certification examination or the services of organizations which have expertise and experience in the development and administration of licensing and code examinations. Such organizations must use nationally recognized educational standards and methods to develop and validate the examination used by the department.

(8) A score of 80% or higher on the examination and on the compliance and oversight inspector field practical constitutes a passing grade. The department shall notify applicants of their examination score within 30 days of the date when the department receives the score.

(9) Department and local implementing program installation or closure inspectors licensed as of January 1, 2000, are not required to complete the installation or closure inspector licensing examination.

(10) An applicant who fails the examination may retake the examination only twice at any subsequently scheduled examination date by registering in the same manner as for the original examination, and by paying the reexamination fee provided in ARM 17.56.1404.