(1) The Property Tax Administrator shall, in February, May, August, and November of each year, hold an examination of applicants for certification as county assessor. An applicant for the examination shall, not less than ten days before an examination, present to the Property Tax Administrator a written application on forms provided by the Property Tax Administrator. Such application shall not be considered by the Property Tax Administrator unless accompanied by a payment of a fee to the order of the Tax Commissioner. The fees shall be credited to the Department of Revenue Property Assessment Division Cash Fund. The amount of such fee shall be determined annually by the Tax Commissioner and shall be sufficient to cover the costs of the administration of the examination. Such examination shall be written and shall be of such character as fairly to test and determine the qualifications, fitness, and ability of the person tested actually to perform the duties of county assessor. The Property Tax Administrator shall prepare such examination.

(2) When the office of county assessor is vacant, the county board may for good cause request a certification examination from the Property Tax Administrator at a time different from those set out in subsection (1) of this section. The request shall be in writing and shall state the basis for the certification examination. The Property Tax Administrator shall within ten days after receipt of the request for certification review the request and send notice of approval or disapproval to the county board. If approved, the Property Tax Administrator shall state the date, time, and place of the requested certification examination.