(a) Licenses and pesticide dealer registrations issued pursuant to this Act as a result of certification attained in calendar year 2017 or earlier shall be valid for the calendar year in which they were issued, except that private applicator licenses shall be valid for the calendar year in which they were issued plus 2 additional calendar years. All licenses and pesticide dealer registrations shall expire on December 31 of the year in which they are to expire. A license or pesticide dealer registration in effect on the 31st of December, for which renewal has been made within 60 days following the date of expiration, shall continue in full force and effect until the Director notifies the applicant that renewal has been approved and accepted or is to be denied in accordance with this Act. The Director shall not issue a license or pesticide dealer registration to a first time applicant or to a person who has not made application for renewal on or before March 1 following the expiration date of the license or pesticide dealer registration until such applicant or person has been certified by the Director as having successfully demonstrated competence and knowledge regarding pesticide use. The Director shall issue a license or pesticide dealer registration to a person that made application after March 1 and before April 15 if that application is accompanied by a late application fee. A licensee or pesticide dealer shall be required to be recertified for competence and knowledge regarding pesticide use at least once every 3 years and at such other times as deemed necessary by the Director to assure a continued level of competence and ability. The Director shall by regulation specify the standard of qualification for certification and the manner of establishing an applicant’s competence and knowledge. A certification shall remain valid only if an applicant attains licensure or pesticide dealer registration during the calendar year in which certification was granted and the licensure is maintained throughout the 3-year certification period.
     (b) Multi-year licenses and pesticide dealer registrations issued pursuant to this Act as a result of certification attained in calendar year 2018 or thereafter shall be valid for the calendar year in which they were issued plus 2 additional calendar years. All licenses and pesticide dealer registrations shall expire on December 31 of the year in which they are to expire. A license or pesticide dealer registration in effect on the 31st of December, for which recertification and licensure has been made within 60 days following the date of expiration, shall continue in full force and effect until the Director notifies the applicant that recertification and licensure has been approved and accepted or is to be denied in accordance with this Act. A licensee or pesticide dealer shall be required to be recertified for competence and knowledge regarding pesticide use at least once every 3 years and at such other times as deemed necessary by the Director to assure a continued level of competence and ability. The Director shall by rule specify the standard of qualification for certification and the manner of establishing the applicant’s competence and knowledge. A certification shall remain valid only if an applicant attains licensure or pesticide dealer registration during the calendar year in which certification was granted and the licensure is maintained throughout the 3-year certification period. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection (b), the employer of a pesticide applicator or operator licensee may notify the Director that the licensee’s employment has been terminated. If the employer submits that notification, the employer shall return to the Director the licensee’s pesticide applicator or operator license card and may request that the unused portion of the terminated licensee’s pesticide applicator or operator license term be transferred to a newly certified or re-certified individual, and the Director may issue the appropriate pesticide applicator or operator license to the newly certified or re-certified individual with an expiration date equal to the original license after payment of a $10 transfer fee.
     (c) The Director may refuse to issue a license or pesticide dealer registration based upon the violation history of the applicant.