Any person holding the position or employment of plumbing inspector under any local board of health of any municipality, which has adopted the provisions of subtitle three of Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes, who has held such position or employment continuously for twelve years from the date of his original appointment thereto, shall be placed in the classified service of civil service without examination, and such employee shall thereafter be subject to all the provisions of Title 11 of the Revised Statutes with respect to tenure, classification and compensation.
N.J.S. § 26:3-19.2