(a) On or after July 1, 1992, no person shall advertise, solicit, contract or engage in commercial forest practices within this state at any time without a certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of this section, appropriate to the forest practices advertised, solicited, contracted or engaged in, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) There shall be three classifications for commercial forest practitioners: Forester, supervising forest products harvester and forest products harvester. Forester certification shall be required for commercial forest practitioners who supervise or engage in the planning and design of forest practices, including but not limited to, commercial forest product harvest operations, or act as a property owner’s agent in the sale of commercial forest products. A certified forester may also execute contracts or agreements, written or verbal, for the purchase of commercial forest products, act in the buyers behalf in the supervision of commercial forest product harvest operations and engage in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations. Supervising forest products harvester certification shall be required for commercial forest practitioners who execute contracts or agreements, written or verbal, for the purchase of commercial forest products or who act in the buyer’s behalf in the supervision of commercial forest product harvest operations. A certified supervising forest products harvester may also engage in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations. Forest products harvester certification shall be required for commercial forest practitioners who engage in the execution of commercial forest product harvest operations, provided no such certification shall be required for persons engaging in the execution of commercial forest practices under the direct, on-site supervision of a certified forest product harvester. No forest product harvester certified under this section shall engage in the on-site supervision of more than two noncertified persons executing commercial forest practices.

(c) An application for the certification as a forest practitioner 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 deems necessary.

(1) The commissioner shall require the applicant for forester certification to demonstrate, upon examination, that the applicant possesses adequate knowledge concerning the proper application of forest management techniques, the ecological and environmental consequences of harvesting activity and mitigating measures to be employed to minimize possible adverse impacts on environmental conditions within the harvest area.

(2) The commissioner shall require the applicant for supervising forest products harvester certification to demonstrate, upon examination, that the applicant possesses adequate knowledge concerning techniques and procedures normally employed in the conduct and supervision of a harvest operation, the safe and environmentally responsible operation of harvesting equipment, and mitigating measures to be employed to minimize possible adverse impacts of harvesting activity on environmental conditions within the harvest area.

(3) The commissioner shall require the applicant for forest products harvester certification to demonstrate, upon examination, that the applicant possesses adequate knowledge concerning techniques and procedures normally employed in the conduct of a harvest operation and the safe and environmentally responsible operation of harvesting equipment, except that an applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the applicant has engaged in commercial forest practices at least once per year for the ten years immediately preceding October 1, 1991, shall be exempt from such examination requirement.

(4) If the commissioner finds that the applicant is competent with respect to the required qualifications, including those provided in § 23-65o, the commissioner shall certify the applicant to perform such forest practices as appropriate to the requested certification. The certification shall be valid for a period not to exceed five years and may be renewed by the commissioner with or without further examination. The commissioner may establish regulations for forest practitioner certification so that one-fifth of the certificates expire each year. The commissioner may certify a forest practitioner for less than five years and prorate the registration fee accordingly to implement the regulations established pursuant to this subsection. The commissioner may grant a sixty-day extension for any forest practitioner who failed to submit a complete application for renewal prior to the expiration date of such forest practitioner’s certification. Such forest practitioner shall submit a complete application for renewal not later than the end date of such sixty-day extension period. Any such renewed certification issued by the commissioner following such a sixty-day extension period shall not require reexamination by such forest practitioner prior to such issuance but shall require the submission of an additional fee, as determined by the commissioner.

(5) If the commissioner finds that the applicant is not competent with respect to the requirements for the requested certification, the commissioner shall refuse to issue the applicant a certificate. The commissioner shall inform the applicant of the refusal in writing, giving the reasons for such refusal. Any person aggrieved by such refusal may, within thirty days from date of issuance of such denial, request a hearing before the commissioner, which hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 54.

(6) The commissioner may certify without examination any person who is certified in another state under a law which provides substantially similar qualifications for certification or through examination by the Society of American Foresters, or a similar organization, that provides substantially similar qualifications for certification provided such person can demonstrate knowledge of the forestry laws of this state to the commissioner’s satisfaction.

(7) The commissioner may, by regulation, adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, prescribe fees for applicants to defray the cost of administering examinations and carrying out the provisions of this chapter. A state or municipal employee who engages in activities for which certification is required by this section solely as part of his employment shall be exempt from payment of a fee. Any certificate issued to a state or municipal employee for which a fee has not been paid shall be void upon termination of such government employment.

(8) The commissioner may require the display of a decal or other evidence, indicating that a commercial forest practitioner has met the requirements of sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive, in a prominent place on any licensed motor vehicle used in the practitioner’s operations. A fee may be charged to the certified practitioner to cover the cost of the decal or other evidence.

(9) The commissioner shall require all forest practitioners certified under sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive, to participate in a relevant program of professional education to improve or maintain professional forestry skills that is sponsored by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the New England Society of American Foresters, The University of Connecticut, Yale University or the Connecticut cooperative extension system, or participation in another program approved by the department. Participation in such professional education shall occur during the recertification cycle and be in accordance with the prescribed schedule set forth in regulations adopted pursuant to sections 23-65f to 23-65o, inclusive.