In order to determine the competency of any applicant for a real estate appraiser’s certification or provisional license, the commission shall, and, in the case of an applicant for a provisional license, may, subject such applicant to personal written examination as to the applicant’s competency to act as a real estate appraiser. Such examination shall be prepared by the Appraisal Qualification Board of the Appraisal Foundation, the Department of Consumer Protection or by a national testing service designated by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, shall be administered to applicants by the Department of Consumer Protection or by such testing service at such times and places as the commissioner may deem necessary and shall be consistent with guidelines established by the Appraisal Qualification Board of the Appraisal Foundation. The commission may waive the written examination requirement in the case of an applicant who, in the opinion of the commission, has taken an equivalent written examination in another state and has received a score deemed satisfactory by the commission.