Any person appointed to the position of engineer trainee under the provisions of this article shall be a graduate engineer and a certified engineer intern as provided in Chapter 11 of Title 34, in the State of Alabama and in good standing; provided, that should an acceptable candidate possessing these qualifications not be available, such county may appoint as engineer trainee within the terms of this article a nongraduate certified engineer intern in good standing.
Ala. Code § 11-6-21 (1975)