(a) Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to engage in the business of abstracting in this state shall make application to the Arkansas Abstracters' Board for a certificate of authority.
(b) The application shall:
(1) Be in a form prepared by the board;
(2) Contain such information as may be necessary to assist the board in determining whether the applicant has complied with the provisions of this chapter; and
(3) Be accompanied by an application fee in the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
(c) The applicant shall furnish proof that:
(1) The applicant has available an abstract plant for each county for which abstracts will be prepared, which abstract plant shall be made available for examination by the board;
(2) The applicant is or has employed a registered abstracter; and
(3) The bond requirements provided for in § 17-11-324 have been complied with.
(d)
(1) When the foregoing things have been done or conditions exist and approved by the board, the board shall issue a certificate of authority in such form as it may prescribe, attesting to the same and indicating the county of this state wherein the applicant may operate.
(2) The certificate shall be prominently displayed in the office of the applicant.