New Mexico Statutes Chapter 61. Professional and Occupational Licenses § 61-15-3. Board of examiners for architects created; terms; qualifications

A. The “board of examiners for architects” is created consisting of seven members appointed by the governor for staggered terms of three years each. Six of the members shall be architects having ten years or more experience in the profession, five years of which shall have been in responsible charge of architectural projects, and shall have been registered as architects in New Mexico for at least five years. One of these six architects shall be in architectural education in an accredited college of architecture, and one of the six architects shall be from the public sector and not in private practice. The seventh member shall be a public member who is a voting member. The public member of the board shall not have been licensed as an architect, nor shall the public member have any significant financial interest, whether direct or indirect, in the occupation regulated.

B. Each member of the board shall be at least thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of New Mexico for at least five years prior to the date of appointment.

C. Members of the board shall be appointed for staggered terms of three years each made in such a manner that the terms of not more than two members expire on June 30 of each year. Each member shall serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor of a person having similar qualifications as the member that the person replaces. Each member of the board whose term has not expired on the effective date of this section shall serve out the member's unexpired term.

D. Each member of the board shall receive a certificate of appointment from the governor and, before beginning the member's term of office, shall file with the secretary of state the constitutional oath of office. The governor may remove any member from the board for the neglect of any duty required by law, for incompetence or, if the member is a licensed architect, for any improper or unprofessional conduct as defined by rules of the board.

E. The board shall elect a chair, a vice chair and a secretary and any other officers it deems necessary.