(a) The department must conduct proctored examinations to verify competence in the categories or subcategories for which certification is sought.

(b) Application for the examinations must be made on a form supplied by the department which shall be filed at the appropriate office of the department prior to the announced closing date for examination applications as determined by the department.

(c) To become certified an applicant shall be required to pass two separate written examinations: a core examination and a category or subcategory examination which must be specific to the commercial or private category or subcategory in which the applicant has applied to be certified, except an applicant requesting certification through reciprocity shall not be required to take these examinations.

(d) An applicant who applies to be certified in more than one category or subcategory must pass all the appropriate category or subcategory examinations.

(e) An applicant who fails the core examination twice must successfully complete a course or courses of instruction approved for at least eight credit hours prior to re-examination. Such courses must cover all topics enumerated in section 325.18 of this Part.

(f) An applicant who fails a category or subcategory examination three times in succession must retake both the core and category or subcategory examinations.

(g) An applicant who passes a core examination must also pass a category examination within six months. Failure to do so will require the applicant to retake the core examination.

(h) An applicant who passes a core and category examination and does not pay the required certification fees within six months, must retake both the core and category examinations.

(i) A fee in the amount specified by article 33 of the Environmental Conservation Law is required for taking a core and category examination and each subsequent examination.

(j) An applicant will be eligible for the commercial pesticide applicator, technician and private pesticide applicator certification examinations, if the applicant:

(k) An applicant who fails to attend a scheduled examination session in which a prepaid examination fee is required shall forfeit such fee.