An applicant for an apprentice license shall have a sponsor who is licensed by the Board and who meets the qualifications set forth in §B of this regulation. The sponsor of an applicant for an apprenticeship shall: Be licensed as a principal licensee in a category of license, the scope of which equals or exceeds that of the apprentice license sought; Be actively engaged in the practice of well drilling; Agree to supervise the apprentice throughout the term of the apprenticeship; Either employ the apprentice that he or she sponsors or work with the apprentice for a common employer; and Submit progress reports on a form provided by the Board upon request, but not less frequency than semiannually. Age Requirements. An applicant for an apprentice license shall be at least 18 years old, except for applicants who are 16 or 17 years old and who are: Registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training of the U.S. Department of Labor; Registered by the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council, Division of Labor and Industry; or Employed under a written apprenticeship agreement that has been determined by the U.S. Secretary of Labor and the Maryland Division of Labor and Industry to conform substantially with the federal and State standards. Term of Apprenticeship. The maximum term of apprenticeship is 60 months or 10,000 hours of on-the-job training. Failure to qualify and become licensed in a license class other than the apprentice class within 6 months after completion of the 5-year term results in: For an apprentice pump installer or apprentice water conditioner installer, automatic expiration of the apprentice license; or For an apprentice well driller, automatic conversion of the apprentice license to a well rig operator license. Extension of Term. For good cause shown, the Board may extend the term of apprenticeship for up to 6 months or 1,000 hours. An apprentice who wishes to apply for an extension shall do so at least 1 month before the termination of apprenticeship, on a form provided by the Board for that purpose. Loss of sponsorship results in automatic termination of the apprentice license. The Board may, however, approve the transfer of sponsorship to another principal licensee acceptable to the Board. Conditions on Apprentices and Well Rig Operators. Except as provided in §G(2), of this regulation, an apprentice or well rig operator may practice well drilling only under the general supervision and responsibility of a principal licensee. An apprentice or well rig operator may perform, under the responsibility of a principal licensee, all operations within the scope of the license issued to the apprentice or well rig operator if he or she can maintain contact with the principal licensee by on-site telephone, two-way radio, or radiotelephone. As part of the apprenticeship, the Board may require an apprentice to complete certain tasks that are necessary for an apprentice of that category, and may observe the completion of those tasks.