7. a. (1) The department shall, upon recommendation of the board and payment of the required fee, issue new licenses to persons to engage in well drilling or pump installing.

(2) The department shall require each well driller or pump installer, as a condition for license renewal pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1947, c.377 (C. 58:4A-18), to complete any continuing education requirements established by rules and regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this section.

b. The department shall adopt various classifications of well driller licenses to reflect the different well drilling disciplines. Commencing July 5, 1997, the department:

(1) shall issue a new well driller license only for the classification of well driller for which an applicant qualifies, based upon passing a licensing examination for that classification;

(2) shall issue a new master well driller license only to an applicant who has passed the examination for each classification of well driller established by the department pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1947, c.377 (C. 58:4A-5); and

(3) shall issue a renewal of a master well driller license, a well driller license, or a pump installer license only to an applicant who has provided evidence to the department of completion of the continuing education requirements established pursuant to subsection c. of this section.

c. The department shall establish rules, regulations and standards for continuing education of well drillers and pump installers as a condition for license renewal and shall develop and implement this continuing education program. The department may, in its discretion, waive requirements for continuing education on an individual basis for reasons of hardship, including, but not limited to, active duty in the military or reserves, illness or disability, or other good cause.

L.1947,c.377,s.7; amended 1979, c.398, s.7; 1995, c.312, s.11; 2005, c.134, s.2.