§ 6-244. Eligibility; certification by reciprocity.

An applicant who is licensed through another county or municipality shall apply as a reciprocal applicant according to the procedures set forth in this section. The applicant shall not be required to test again, but shall be required to complete the reciprocity procedures below.

Reciprocity procedures are as follows:

(a)

The department of growth management must have a letter on file from the reciprocating municipality or county stating acceptance of reciprocity with Okaloosa County. The correspondence must be on letterhead stationary and state the passing score(s) required by the reciprocating county.

(b)

The individual must request that a letter be sent from the reciprocating county and the test agency to the Okaloosa County Department of Growth Management, including the following information:

(1)

Applicant number.

(2)

Applicant test score.

(3)

Date of exam.

(4)

Type of exam.

(5)

State: "The exam was prepared, proctored, and graded by the approved testing organization."

(c)

Test score requirements will be the same as for the reciprocating county, but in no case, will less than a minimum of a 75 percent score be accepted.

The applicant shall provide to the department of growth management, the state license, business tax receipt, proof of general liability insurance, worker's compensation exemption insurance and a hold harmless agreement to obtain a certificate of competency. The department shall issue the certificate of competency when the above-mentioned documentation is provided and all fees are paid in full.

A reciprocal license holder whose license has been revoked in the reciprocating jurisdiction shall be automatically revoked in Okaloosa County. The effective period of revocation of a contractor's certificate of competency shall be for a period of not less than one year nor more than five years or per the reciprocating jurisdiction's board order. Any contractor, whose certificate of competency has been revoked, in order to gain reinstatement, shall have to take the appropriate examination and meet all the same requirements as a new applicant.

A reciprocal license holder whose license has been suspended in the reciprocating jurisdiction shall be automatically suspended in Okaloosa County. The effective period of the suspension shall be for a period not exceeding one year or per the reciprocating jurisdiction's board order. Any contractor whose certificate of competency has been suspended, in order to gain reinstatement shall have to appear before the appropriate competency board prior to reinstatement.

(Ord. No. 07-48, § 2(Exh. A), 9-4-07)