(a) Requirements for installer licensing.

1. (1) Application forms shall be supplied by the agency.

2. (2) Each application shall be accompanied by the following before license is granted:

   1. (A) Statement of compliance;
   2. (B) Fees set forth for licensing; and
   3. (C) The required deposit in the Manufactured Housing Recovery Fund.

3. (3) Testing and continuing education.

   1. (A)

(c) (c) Applicants for initial licensure who fail the examination must wait thirty (30) days before requesting to retake the exam.

1. (ii)

(b) (b) It is the responsibility of an installer who holds an initial installer’s license to notify the commission of each installation performed within three (3) business days of completion of the installation.

1. (c) (c) If inspections of installations done by an installer who holds an initial installer’s license reveal violations of the manufacturer’s installation standards or this part, the initial installer’s license may be suspended or revoked by the commission, in accordance with 20 CAR § 911-207.

   1. (B) Applicants for license renewal must successfully complete a continuing education course presented or approved by the commission once every thirty-six (36) months to be eligible for license renewal.
2. (4) Applicants shall be in good standing with the commission and shall not have any unpaid civil penalties or outstanding obligations to the commission.

(b) License fees and expiration.

1. (1) Original license and annual renewal fees shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

2. (2) An assessment fee of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) to be deposited in the Manufactured Housing Recovery Fund.

   1. (c) Violation. Any in-state or out-of-state person, firm, or corporation that installs manufactured homes for use in the state without being properly certified with the commission or any retailer or installer who does not install manufactured homes according to the rules is in violation of this act.

      1. (d) Reciprocity. An applicant applying for reciprocal licensure as an installer shall meet the following requirements:
3. (1) Hold a substantially similar license in another United States jurisdiction;
4. (2) Provide proof of having met similar educational and testing requirements as set out in subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section to attain an installer’s license in another United States jurisdiction; and
5. (3) Provide proof that the installer’s license from another United States jurisdiction is held in good standing, has not been revoked for an act of bad faith or a violation of law, rule, or ethics, and that the license is not probationary and has not been suspended.

(e) Required documentation for reciprocal licensure. An applicant applying for reciprocal licensure as an installer shall submit the following:

1. (1) A fully executed application, the required fees, and the required deposit in the Manufactured Housing Recovery Fund;
2. (2) Evidence of current and active licensure in another United States jurisdiction, verifiable by commission staff online or by telephone to the other state’s licensing board;
3. (3) Evidence that the educational requirements for installers in the other United States jurisdiction are substantially similar to those listed in subdivision (a)(3)(A) of this section, verifiable online or by telephone;
4. (4) The names of all states in which the applicant is licensed or has been licensed; and
5. (5) Letters of good standing or other information from each state in which the applicant is or has been licensed showing the applicant has not had a license revoked for the reasons listed in subdivision (d)(3) of this section and does not hold a probationary license or a license that has been suspended, verifiable online or by telephone.

(f) Reciprocity and state-specific education.

1. (1) The commission shall require an applicant to take an examination presented or approved by the commission based on knowledge of Arkansas laws and rules, and on basic skills pertaining to the installation of manufactured homes, if the applicant is licensed in another state that does not offer reciprocity to Arkansas residents that is similar to reciprocity to out-of-state applicants under Arkansas Code § 17-1-108.

2. (2) Reciprocity in another state will be considered similar to reciprocity under Arkansas Code § 17-1-108 if the reciprocity provisions of the other state:

   1. (A) Provide the least restrictive path to licensure for Arkansas applicants;
   2. (B) Do not require Arkansas applicants to participate in the apprenticeship, education, or training required as a prerequisite to licensure of a manufactured home installer in that state, except that the state may require Arkansas applicants to participate in continuing education or training that is required for all installers in that state to maintain licensure; and
   3. (C) Do not require Arkansas applicants to take a state-specified education unless required under the same conditions described in Arkansas Code § 17-1-108.

(g) Provisional license.

1. (1) The commission shall issue a provisional license immediately upon receipt of:

   1. (A) An application;
   2. (B) A statement of compliance;
   3. (C) The fees set forth for licensing;
   4. (D) The required deposit in the Manufactured Housing Recovery Fund; and
   5. (E) The documentation required under subdivisions (e)(1) – (2) of this section.
2. (2) The provisional license shall be effective until the commission makes a decision on the application, unless the commission determines the applicant does not meet the requirements of subdivisions (d)(1) – (3) of this section, in which case the provisional license shall be revoked immediately.
3. (3) An applicant may provide the rest of the documentation required above in order to receive an initial license, or the applicant may only provide the information necessary for the issuance of a provisional license, which will be effective for ninety (90) days.

(h) License for a person from a state that does not license installers.

1. (1) An applicant from a state that does not license manufactured home installers shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A) Be sufficiently competent as a manufactured home installer; and

   2. (B)

      1. (i) Complete a training and education course presented or approved by the commission and pass an examination presented or approved by the commission based on knowledge of laws, rules, and basic skills pertaining to the installation of manufactured homes.
      2. (ii) No applicant who has failed to complete such training and pass such examination shall be eligible to receive an initial license.
      3. (iii) Applicants for initial licensure who fail the examination must wait thirty (30) days before requesting to retake the exam.

2. (2) An applicant shall submit a fully executed application, statement of compliance, fees set forth for licensing, the required deposit in the Manufactured Housing Recovery Fund, and the documentation described below:

   1. (A) Proof of a passing grade on an examination presented or approved by the commission based on knowledge of laws, rules, and basic skills pertaining to the installation of manufactured homes; and
   2. (B) Letters of recommendation from prior employer or employers or customer or customers with knowledge of the applicant’s experience as a manufactured home installer.