N.M. Admin. Code § 16.20.8.9

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 20, October 22, 2024

Section 16.20.8.9 - CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Continuing education is required for license renewal of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in order to ensure that New Mexico licensees are providing the highest quality professional services.

A. Thirty hours of continuing education will be required biennially, except those who will renew their license for the first time. No continuing education is required of those who are renewing for the first time. All continuing education hours must be earned during the current two year renewal period of February 1 through January 31.

B. The board shall audit a percentage of renewal applications each year to verify the continuing education requirement. If the licensee is audited, proof of participation in or presentation of continuing education activity must be submitted along with a renewal form.

(1) If a notice of audit is received with the license renewal notice, the licensee must submit evidence of continuing education hours earned during the current biennial renewal cycle to the board as requested and as required in the Physical Therapy Act and by this rule.

(2) If the licensee is not audited, the licensee will have to sign an affidavit attesting to the completion of the required hours of continuing education and the licensee shall retain all documentation of attendance for the previous cycle immediately preceding the current renewal.

(3) The board reserves the right to audit continuing education attendance certificates whenever there is reasonable doubt the courses submitted, dates, or hours may be incorrect.

C. Licensees serving in the armed forces reserve or national guard.

(1) The license of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who does not earn the required continuing education contact hours as provided in this section due to his or her call to active duty in the armed forces reserves or the New Mexico national guard, will not lapse for failure to earn continuing education hours.

(2) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who was or is called to active duty in the armed forces reserves or New Mexico national guard is required to provide official documentation that the licensee is a member of the armed forces reserves or the national guard and was or is being called to active duty.

(3) Upon the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant's return to civilian status, the licensee shall pay the license renewal fee and resume earning continuing education contact hours prorated according to the licensee's months of service as required to maintain his or her licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.20.8.9

10-15-97; 16.20.8.9 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.8.9, 08-31-00; A, 02-15-04; A, 03-02-06; A, 1-12-08; 16.20.8.9 NMAC - Rn, 16.20.8.8 NMAC & A, 08/01/09; A, 8/16/10, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 02, January 26, 2022, eff. 2/24/2022