The Chief Mine Inspector shall be a citizen of the United States and shall have been a resident of the State of Oklahoma for the three (3) years prior to his appointment to office. In addition, the Chief Mine Inspector shall have had eight (8) years' actual experience as a practical miner. For the purposes of this section employment as an inspector for the Department of Mines shall be considered practical mining experience. The Chief Mine Inspector shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the term of the Governor. At any time that such office becomes vacant, the Governor shall appoint with the consent of the Senate a successor to complete the unfinished term of office.

The Deputy Chief Mine Inspector shall possess the same residency requirements necessary for the Chief Mine Inspector. The Deputy Chief Mine Inspector shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall be under the direction of the Chief Mine Inspector. The Deputy Chief Mine Inspector shall assume all of the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Mine Inspector in the absence of the Chief Mine Inspector.

The assistant mine inspectors shall be appointed by and at all times be under the direction of the Chief Mine Inspector. The assistant mine inspectors appointed to inspect underground mining operations shall have a minimum of three (3) years' practical mining experience, and shall have obtained as a minimum a certificate of competency as a mine foreman.