(a) No person shall obtain a pyrotechnics permit under Article 54 of Chapter 14 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. unless the person possesses the appropriate license, as provided by this Article.

(b) An applicant for a license authorized by this Article shall apply on forms supplied by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall inquire as to the applicant’s qualifications and other matters relative to the applicant’s fitness to be licensed or to continue to be licensed.

(c) When a license is issued under this section, the Commissioner shall issue to the licensee an identification card approved by the Commissioner. Each licensee must carry this card at all times when working in the scope of the licensee’s employment. A licensee whose license terminates or is terminated shall surrender the identification card to the Commissioner, when requested by the Commissioner. The Commissioner may contract directly with persons for the processing and issuance of identification cards required by this section and may charge a reasonable fee in addition to the license fee in an amount that offsets the cost of the service, including the costs associated with the contract authorized by this subsection. Contracts entered into under this subsection shall not be subject to Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. (2010-22, s. 4.)