(1) All deputy sheriffs in active employment on January 1, 1970, in counties of four hundred thousand inhabitants or more as determined by the most recent federal decennial census and on January 1, 1973, in counties having a population of more than one hundred fifty thousand but less than four hundred thousand inhabitants as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, and who have been such for more than two years immediately prior thereto, shall hold their positions without examinations until discharged, reduced, promoted, or transferred in accordance with sections 23-1721 to 23-1736.

(2) All deputy sheriffs in active employment on January 1, 1975, in counties having a population of more than sixty thousand but not more than one hundred fifty thousand inhabitants, and who have been deputy sheriffs for more than two years immediately prior thereto, or who have been certified by the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center and who have received a certificate of completion shall hold their positions without examinations until discharged, reduced, promoted, or transferred in accordance with sections 23-1721 to 23-1736.

(3) All deputy sheriffs in active employment on January 1, 1977, in counties having a population of more than forty thousand but not more than sixty thousand inhabitants, and who have been deputy sheriffs for more than two years immediately prior thereto, or who have been certified by the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center and who have received a certificate of completion shall hold their positions without examinations until discharged, reduced, promoted, or transferred in accordance with sections 23-1721 to 23-1736.

(4) All deputy sheriffs in active employment on January 1, 1982, in counties having a population of twenty-five thousand or more but not more than forty thousand inhabitants, and who have been deputy sheriffs for more than two years immediately prior thereto, or who have been certified by the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, and who have received a certificate of completion shall hold their positions without examinations until discharged, reduced, promoted, or transferred in accordance with sections 23-1721 to 23-1736.

(5) All deputy sheriffs who have been so employed for more than six months and less than two years on such date shall be required to take qualifying examinations, and all such deputy sheriffs who have been so employed for less than six months on such date shall be required to take competitive examinations.