Effective on or after January 1, 1977, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any mine to employ underground any person in a supervisory capacity who does not hold a certificate of competency as a mine examiner or mine manager issued by the Mining Board; except those engineering and maintenance supervisors who supervise persons engaged in the maintenance and repair of underground equipment, provided that these supervisors have had training in mine ventilation and mine related hazards approved 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 705/6.13