Effective on or after January 1, 1977, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any underground mine to employ as a superintendent any person who does not hold a certificate of competency as a mine manager issued by the Mining Board. Upon request, the Mining Board may issue a temporary Certificate of Competency as mine examiner or mine manager to any person who possesses a valid equivalent certificate issued by the appropriate agency in another state, provided however that such temporary certificate shall be valid only until the first available examination given by the Mining Board or 6 months, whichever is longer.
225 ILCS 705/5.05