(a) In addition to any proof of honesty, truthfulness, and good reputation required of any applicant for a broker’s license, the department shall ascertain by written examination that the applicant, and in case of a partnership or corporation applicant for a broker’s license that an officer or partner thereof through whom it proposes to act as a yacht broker, has all of the following:

1. (1) Appropriate knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and spelling, and of arithmetical computations common to the yacht brokerage business.
2. (2) An understanding of the principles of the yacht brokerage business and profession, including an understanding of a certificate of ownership, certificate of number, security agreement, bill of sale, and other documents required to register and number, and to transfer title of an undocumented vessel pursuant to the Vehicle Code.
3. (3) An understanding that transfer of title of a documented vessel shall be performed in accordance with federal law as administered by the United States Coast Guard.
4. (4) An understanding of maritime and admiralty liens with respect to vessels and the requirements of the Department of Transportation or other federal agency and the United States Coast Guard with respect to documentation, mortgaging, and transferring of title of documented vessels.
5. (5) An understanding of agency contracts and of types and kinds of listings and deposit receipts with respect to vessels.
6. (6) A general knowledge of equipment legally required on a yacht.
7. (7) A general understanding of the obligations between principal and agent, and of the fiduciary relationship between them, and of business ethics pertaining to the business and profession of yacht brokers and yacht salespersons.
8. (8) A general knowledge of yachts.

(b)

1. (1) If an applicant fails to pass the required examination, the department shall so notify the applicant, may suggest further study, and, upon payment of the required fee, shall schedule a reexamination.
2. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), whenever an applicant fails to pass the written examination on the third attempt to do so, he or she shall be prohibited from retaking the examination for a period of six months from the date of taking the third examination.