7504.  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, an
applicant for a qualification certificate shall comply with all of
the following:
   (1) Be at least 18 years of age.
   (2) Have been, for at least two years of lawful experience, during
the five years preceding the date on which his or her application is
filed, a registrant or have had two years of lawful experience in
recovering collateral within this state.  Lawful experience means
experience in recovering collateral as a registrant pursuant to this
chapter or as a salaried employee of a financial institution or
vehicle dealer.
   Two years' experience shall consist of not less than 4,000 hours
of actual compensated work performed by the applicant preceding the
filing of an application.
   An applicant shall certify that he or she has completed the
claimed hours of qualifying experience and the exact details as to
the character and nature thereof by written certifications from the
employer, licensee, financial institution, or vehicle dealer, subject
to independent verification by the director as he or she may
determine.  In the event of inability of an applicant to supply the
written certifications from the employer, licensee, financial
institution or vehicle dealer in whole or in part, applicants may
offer other written certifications from other persons substantiating
their experience for consideration by the director.  All
certifications shall include a statement that representations made
are true, correct, and contain no material omissions of fact to the
best knowledge and belief of the applicant or the person submitting
the certification.
   (3) Complete and forward to the bureau a qualified certificate
holder application which shall be on a form prescribed by the
director.  The application shall be accompanied by two recent
photographs of the applicant, of a type prescribed by the director,
and two classifiable sets of his or her fingerprints.  The residence
address, residence telephone number, and driver's license number of
each qualified certificate holder or applicant for a qualification
certificate, if requested, shall be confidential pursuant to the
Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section
1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code) and
shall not be released to the public.
   (4) Pass the required examination.
   (5) Pay the required application and examination fees to the
bureau.
   The amendments made to this section during the 1990 portion of the
1989-90 Regular Session shall only apply to applications filed on or
after January 1, 1992.
   (b) Upon the issuance of the initial qualification certificate or
renewal qualification certificate, the bureau shall issue to the
certificate holder a suitable pocket identification card which
includes a photograph of the certificate holder.  The photograph
shall be of a size prescribed by the bureau.  The card shall contain
the name of the licensee with whom the certificate holder is
employed.


7504.1.  The director may refuse to issue a qualification
certificate, or may suspend or revoke a previously issued
qualification certificate, if the individual has committed any act
which, if committed by a licensee, would be grounds for refusing to
issue a license, or for the suspension or revocation of a license
under this chapter.
   The denial shall be in writing and shall describe the basis for
the denial. The denial shall inform the applicant that if he or she
desires a hearing to contest the denial, the hearing shall be
requested of the director within 30 days of the issuance of the
denial.
   When a hearing is held under this section, it shall be conducted
in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part
1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.



7504.2.  Examinations and reexaminations shall be given at least
once every other month at such places and on such specific dates as
the chief may from time to time determine and fix.



7504.3.  In order to be eligible for an initial examination, an
applicant shall have completed and filed his or her application
together with the application fee prescribed by this chapter in the
office of the bureau in Sacramento, California, not later than 30
days prior to the next scheduled examination date.  Applicants whose
applications are not completed and filed within the time limits of
this section may, at the discretion of the bureau, be scheduled for
the first examination next following the scheduled examination.



7504.4.  If an applicant fails to pass an initial examination, he or
she shall not be eligible for any subsequent examination except upon
payment of the reexamination fee for each subsequent examination,
accompanied by a completed application for reexamination filed within
the time limits and conditions relating to applications for initial
examinations provided in Section 7504.3.



7504.5.  All applicants shall be examined concerning their
competency, experience, and qualifications by the chief and the chief
may take testimony of anyone in regard thereto under oath.



7504.6.  If an applicant fails to complete his or her application
within one year after it has been filed, or fails to take the
examination within a one-year period after becoming eligible
therefor, the application shall be considered to be abandoned.  An
application submitted subsequent to the abandonment of a former
application shall be treated as a new application.



7504.7.  (a) Except as provided in this section, every qualification
certificate issued or renewed under this chapter  on or after July
1, 1998, is subject to the same renewal provisions that apply to a
repossession agency license as set forth in Sections 7503.10,
7503.11, 7503.12, 7503.13, and 7503.14.
   (b) An initial qualification certificate shall expire one year
following the date of issuance, unless renewed as provided in this
chapter.
   (c) A renewal qualification certificate shall expire two years
following the date of renewal, unless renewed as provided in this
chapter.