Certificates may be issued without an examination to persons employed as water or wastewater works operators on September 24, 1976, who request a waiver. The examination waiver shall be printed on the certificate. An operator certified under this section may request to have a certificate transferred to another facility of the same general class and type or to another facility of lower class. The request shall be granted if, in the opinion of the department, the transfer would not adversely affect the health and safety of the public or the environment. The department shall consider the recommendations of the Water and Wastewater Works Advisory Board before granting or denying a request under this section.