(1) The secretary shall appoint a registered environmental health specialist or a sanitarian examining committee consisting of five (5) members. The secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall be an ex officio member. The other four (4) members shall be environmental health specialists or sanitarians who are registered under this chapter. The appointed members shall serve for terms of two (2) years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that when initial appointments are made under the provisions of this chapter, two (2) members' terms shall be for only one (1) year. Thereafter all appointments shall be for a period of two (2) years.
(2) The examining committee shall conduct, or cause to be conducted, examinations of applicants pursuant to minimum standards and qualifications established by the secretary. The examining committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the secretary in establishing such minimum standards and qualifications.