(A) The Inspection Department shall consist of a Building Inspector, a Plumbing Inspector, a Heating-Air Conditioning Inspector, an Electrical Inspector and such other inspectors or deputy or assistant inspectors as may be authorized by the Council. The Council may, in its discretion, designate a Department Head.
(B) On and after the applicable date set forth in the schedule in G.S. § 160A-411, no town shall employ an inspector to enforce the State Building Code as a member of the town Inspection Department who does not have one of the following types of certificates issued by the North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board attesting to his or her qualifications to hold such position:
(1) A probationary certificate, valid for one year only;
(2) A standard certificate; or
(3) A limited certificate which shall be valid only as an authorization for him or her to continue in the position held on the date specified in G.S. § 143-151.13(c) and which shall become invalid if he or she does not successfully complete in-service training specified by the Qualification Board within the period specified in G.S. § 143-151.13(c).
(C) An inspector holding one of the above certificates can be promoted to a position requiring a higher level certificate only upon issuance by the Qualification Board of a standard certificate or probationary certificate appropriate for the new position.
(G.S. § 160A-411.1) (1992 Code, § 150.50)