(a) No person shall advertise, solicit or contract to do arboriculture within this state at any time without a license issued in accordance with the provisions of this section, except that any person may improve or protect any tree on such person’s own premises or on the property of such person’s employer without securing such a license provided such activity does not violate the provisions of chapter 441, subsection (a) of § 23-61a or this section. Application for an examination for such license shall be made to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and shall contain such information regarding the applicant’s qualifications and proposed operations and other relevant matters as the commissioner may require and shall be accompanied by a fee of two hundred dollars which shall not be returnable.

(b) The commissioner shall require the applicant to show upon examination that the applicant possesses adequate knowledge concerning the proper methods of arboriculture and the dangers involved and the precautions to be taken in connection with these operations, together with knowledge concerning the proper use and application of pesticides and the danger involved and precautions to be taken in connection with their application. If the applicant is other than an individual, the applicant shall designate an officer, member or technician of the organization to take the examination, which designee shall be subject to approval of the commissioner except that any person who uses pesticides in arboriculture shall be licensed to do arboriculture or shall be a licensed commercial applicator under chapter 441. If the extent of the applicant’s operations warrant, the commissioner may require more than one such member or technician to be examined. If the commissioner finds the applicant qualified, the commissioner shall issue a license to perform arboriculture within this state. A license shall be valid for a period of five years, provided the commissioner may issue such licenses such that one-fifth of such licenses expire each year and the commissioner may issue a license for a period of less than five years and prorate the license fee accordingly. If the commissioner finds that the applicant is not qualified, or if the commissioner refuses to issue a license for any other reason, the commissioner shall so inform the applicant in writing, giving reasons for such refusal.

(c) The commissioner may issue a license without examination to any nonresident who is licensed in another state under a law that provides substantially similar qualifications for licensure and which grants similar privileges of licensure without examination to residents of this state licensed under the provisions of this section.

(d) Each licensee shall pay a license fee of two hundred eighty-five dollars for each license or renewal. All examination and license fees shall be deposited as provided in § 4-32, and any expenses incurred by the commissioner in making examinations, issuing certificates, inspecting tree work or performing any duties of the commissioner shall be charged against appropriations of the General Fund.

(e) Each licensee shall maintain and, upon request, furnish such records concerning licensed activities as the commissioner may require.

(f) The commissioner may suspend for not more than ten days and, after notice and hearing as provided in any regulations established by the commissioner, may suspend for additional periods, or the commissioner may revoke, any license issued under this section if the commissioner finds that the licensee is no longer qualified or has violated any provision of § 23-61a or this section, or any regulation adopted thereunder.

(g) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the board, shall establish standards for examining applicants and reexamining applicators with respect to the proper use and application of pesticides and arboricultural methods. Such standards shall provide that in order to be certified, an individual shall be competent with respect to the use and handling of pesticides or the use and handling of the pesticide or class of pesticides covered by such individual’s application or certification and in the proper and safe application of recognized arboricultural methods.

(h) Any licensed arborist shall be considered to be a certified applicator under § 22a-54 with respect to the use of pesticides.

(i) Any person who is a certified supervisory pesticide applicator, as described in § 22a-54, and who is also licensed as an arborist pursuant to this section, shall not be required to pay a license fee pursuant to this section provided such person pays any fee required pursuant to § 22a-54.