1. Except as provided in subsection 5, the city council of each third class city, including a city of the third class in a county of the third class which contains a state university whose primary mission is engineering studies and technical research, shall have the power and authority to license, levy and collect a license tax on, and regulate, electrical contractors and electricians.

2. Any third class city which licenses and regulates electrical contractors and electricians under this section shall require an examination be taken by those electrical contractors and electricians prior to granting a license. The examination shall be either the multistate electrical licensing test or some other comparable examination which is based on the National Electrical Code as developed by the National Fire Protection Association. Each third class city which licenses and regulates electrical contractors and electricians shall establish a process for administering the test required in this section. The city may provide separate licenses for varying grades of electrical contractors and electricians and may exempt from licensure those electricians who are in the employ of an electrical contractor.

3. No third class city shall license and regulate electrical contractors or electricians unless and until such city shall provide for a process of inspection of and approval of electrical installations. Any inspector carrying out electrical inspections shall be a licensed electrician with a minimum of two years’ experience in electrical work.

4. The city council of each third class city which licenses and regulates electrical contractors and electricians may appoint an advisory committee to assist with the development of examinations and licensing procedures as may be provided by ordinance.

5. The provisions of this section shall not apply to third class cities located in counties of the first class having a charter form of government or to third class cities located in a county of the third class; except, however, the provisions of this section shall apply to a city of the third class in a county of the third class which contains a state university whose primary mission is engineering studies and technical research.