§30-17-5. Powers and duties of the board.

(a) The board has all the powers and duties set forth in §30-1-1 et seq. of this code and also the following powers and duties:

(1) Hold meetings, conduct hearings, and administer examinations;

(2) Set the requirements for a license, permit, and certificate;

(3) Establish procedures for submitting, approving, and rejecting applications for a license, permit and certificate;

(4) Determine the qualifications of any applicant for a license, permit, and certificate;

(5) Prepare, conduct, administer, and grade written, oral, or written and oral examinations for a license;

(6) Determine the passing grade for the examinations;

(7) Contract with third parties to administer the examinations required under the provisions of this article;

(8) Maintain records of the examinations the board or a third party administers, including the number of persons taking the examination and the pass and fail rate;

(9) Maintain an office, and hire, discharge, establish the job requirements, and fix the compensation of employees and contracted employees necessary to enforce the provisions of this article;

(10) Define the fees charged under the provisions of this article;

(11) Issue, renew, deny, suspend, revoke, or reinstate a license, permit, and certificate;

(12) Investigate alleged violations of the provisions of this article, legislative rules, orders, and final decisions of the board;

(13) Conduct disciplinary hearings of persons regulated by the board;

(14) Determine disciplinary action and issue orders;

(15) Institute appropriate legal action for the enforcement of the provisions of this article;

(16) Maintain an accurate registry of names and addresses of all persons regulated by the board;

(17) Keep accurate and complete records of its proceedings, and certify the same as may be necessary and appropriate;

(18) Establish the continuing education requirements for licensees, permittees, and certificate holders;

(19) Propose rules in accordance with the provisions of §29a-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement the provisions of this article;

(20) Sue and be sued in its official name as an agency of this state;

(21) Confer with the Attorney General or his or her assistant in connection with legal matters and questions; and

(22) Take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this article.

(b) The board shall approve any in-person or online training developed and provided by the Bureau or another approved entity for licenses and certificates. When applicable, training shall be provided online in lieu of in-person training.

(1) The online training shall be available for applicants to begin and complete at any time during the year.

(2) Applicants shall be able to complete their training within six months of being hired, not including on-the-job training.

(c) Anyone holding a registered sanitarian credential and five years of work experience in the state of West Virginia shall be able to certify an applicant that has satisfactorily completed their training courses and on-the-job training.