(a) No person, firm, corporation, association, county, district, municipality, or metropolitan government or agency, either as owner, agent, or otherwise, shall furnish, operate, conduct, maintain, advertise, or otherwise engage in or profess to engage in the business or service of providing EMT first response or ambulance service, or both, without obtaining a valid license and ambulance permit issued by the department.
(b) Initial license applications shall be filed with the appropriate official of the Department having authority over emergency services. As a minimum, license applications shall contain evidence of ability to conform to the standards and regulations established by the Board and such other information as may be required by the Department. Upon receipt of the application, the Department official shall approve the application if the applicant demonstrates ability to conform to the duly published standards and regulations within thirty days. If the application is approved, the license shall be issued. If the application is disapproved the applicant shall have the right to appeal such decision to the Board within thirty days after receiving the notice required below. The Department official shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for such disapproval and of his right to appeal to the Board. If the applicant appeals to the Board, the decision to grant or deny the license application shall be by majority vote of the total membership of the Board at a full evidentiary hearing to be conducted within thirty days from receipt of the applicant's appeal. The decision of the Board shall be mailed to the applicant within thirty days after the hearing together with a statement as to the reasons for denial in the event the Board denies such appeal. Such decision shall constitute final administrative action and be subject to review by the circuit court upon petition filed by the applicant with the court and a copy thereof served upon the secretary of the Board within thirty days from the date of delivery of the decision of the Board to the applicant.
(c) License and permits shall be renewable every two years, upon compliance with Section 44-61-80(d).