PROVISIONAL COMPANY LICENSE

(a) The department may issue a provisional company license to an applicant currently licensed in another jurisdiction who seeks an equivalent company license in this state and who: (1) has been licensed in good standing as an investigations company or security services contractor for at least two years in another jurisdiction, including a foreign country, that has licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter; (2) has passed a national or other examination recognized by the commission relating to the practice of private investigations or security services contracting; and (3) is sponsored by a person licensed by the department under this chapter with whom the provisional company license holder will practice during the time the person holds a provisional company license. (b) A provisional company license is valid until the date the department approves or denies the provisional company license holder's application for a company license. The department shall issue a company license under this chapter to the provisional company license holder if: (1) the provisional company license holder is eligible to be licensed under Section 1702.1183; or (2) the provisional company license holder: (A) passes the part of the examination under Section 1702.117(a) that relates to the applicant's knowledge and understanding of the laws and rules relating to the practice of an investigations company or security services contractor in this state; (B) is verified by the department as meeting the academic and experience requirements for a company license under this chapter; and (C) satisfies any other licensing requirements under this chapter. (c) The department must approve or deny a provisional company license holder's application for a company license not later than the 180th day after the date the provisional company license is issued. The department may extend the 180-day period if the results of an examination have not been received by the department before the end of that period. (d) The commission may establish a fee for provisional company licenses in an amount reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of issuing the company license.