Except as provided in Section 1206, no person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or public agency shall operate, establish, manage, conduct or maintain a clinic in this state without first obtaining a license therefor as provided in this chapter; nor shall any such person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or public agency provide any special service without obtaining a special permit therefor. However, any licensed clinic offering any service which is later designated by regulation of the state department as a special service shall be allowed to continue offering such service until the state department evaluates the quality of such service and issues a special permit therefor or notifies the licensee that it is not eligible for a special permit and must cease and desist from offering such service.