1. The director shall appoint a state entomologist who shall be a graduate of a reputable college of agriculture or university where he has specialized in the science of entomology, and who has had not less than two years’ practical experience in plant regulatory inspection work. The state entomologist shall administer sections 263.010 to 263.180.

2. The state entomologist shall select his necessary employees, subject to the approval of the director, and the director shall fix reasonable compensation for all employees in keeping with duties performed and within available appropriations. Any person employed in plant inspection shall be a graduate of a reputable college of agriculture or university with training in the sciences of entomology or plant pathology to qualify him to properly perform such duties. Certain related fields such as horticulture and forestry may be substituted for such training, provided a minimum of six hours of college credit was earned in entomology or plant pathology. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to employees of a nontechnical nature such as survey technicians and quarantine enforcement personnel.