An applicant otherwise qualified shall be admitted to registration as a professional soil classifier without examination within one year after July 1, 1974 if he is:

1. (a) A person of good character who has been a resident of this State for at least one year immediately preceding the date of his application and was a practicing soil classifier on July 1, 1974, and meets the requirements of this chapter and has performed work of a character satisfactory to the department; or,
2. (b) A person holding a certificate of registration in the practice of soil classifying on the basis of comparable qualifications issued to him by a proper authority of another state, possession or territory of the United States and who in the opinion of the department meets the requirements of this chapter.