For the purpose of this section public pest control consultant means any individual who is employed by a governmental agency or unit to act as a pest control consultant. No person may act as a public pest control consultant without first obtaining a license from the director. The license expires annually on a date set by rule by the director. Application for a license must be on a form prescribed by the director and must be accompanied by a fee of forty-three dollars. Federal and state employees whose principal responsibilities are in pesticide research, the jurisdictional health officer or a duly authorized representative, public pest control consultants licensed and working in the health vector field, and public operators licensed under RCW
17.21.220 shall be exempt from this licensing provision.