Commencing on the effective date of this act, the director shall accept applications for certification as “certified county purchasing official.” An applicant shall present to the director a verified application in writing on forms provided by the Division of Local Government Services setting forth that the applicant is a citizen of the United States, has obtained a certificate or diploma issued after at least 4 years of study in approved secondary school or has received an academic education considered and accepted by the Commissioner of Education as fully equivalent, and has graduated from a 4-year course at a college of recognized standing, with a major course of study in business administration, public administration or some related subject. An applicant who does not meet the college education requirement may substitute, on a year-for-year basis, experience in a position as purchasing agent or director of purchasing for any county of this State or as the primary administrator of a centralized purchasing system maintained by any such county.

Each applicant substituting experience in one or more of said positions must have been employed in said position or positions on a full-time basis for a period in the aggregate of not less than 4 years. Proof of this service shall be verified by resolution of the board of chosen freeholders of the county or with respect to counties operating under the “Optional County Charter Law” (P.L.1972, c. 154, C. 40:41A-1 et seq.) by certification by the officer charged with exercising the executive power of the county. Every applicant shall also furnish proof that he has received certificates indicating satisfactory completion of, or has been the instructor of, principles of public purchasing courses No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 as offered by Rutgers, The State University, or such other training courses as are certified as their equivalent by Rutgers and approved by the Division of Local Government Services.

L.1981, c. 380, s. 2, eff. Dec. 31, 1981.