(a) All appointed members of the board shall be professional geologists. Minimum qualifications for these board members shall be:
(i) Residency of the state;
(ii) Seven (7) years practicing professional experience;
(iii) Five (5) years as a professional geologist but this qualification shall be waived for the first six (6) years the board is in existence; and (iv) Two (2) years in a professional decision-making capacity.