Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A.
Prerequisites for licensure:
Each applicant for a license to practice as a physician in New Mexico must be
of good moral character and must possess the following qualifications:
(1) graduated and received a diploma from a
board approved school, completed a program determined by the board to be
substantially equivalent to a U.S. medical school, based on board review of a
full ECFMG certification, or the board shall, in its sole discretion, determine
if the applicant's total educational and professional clinical experience is
substantially equivalent to that which is required for licensure in New Mexico;
and
(2) successfully passed one of
the examinations or combinations of examinations defined in 16.10.3 NMAC;
and
(3) completed two years of
postgraduate training or been approved by the board in accordance with the
provisions of Subsection B of Section
61-6-11 NMSA 1978;
(4) when the board has reason to believe that
an applicant for licensure is not competent to practice medicine it may require
the applicant to complete a special competency examination or to be evaluated
for competence by other means that have been approved by the board;
and
(5) a qualified applicant who
has not been actively and continuously in practice for more than two years
prior to application may be required to successfully complete a special
examination or evaluation such as, but not limited to, the SPEX (special
purpose examination), the PLAS (post-licensure assessment system of the
federation of state medical boards), or specialty re-certification.
B.
Required documentation
for all applicants: Each applicant for a license must submit the
required fees as specified in
16.10.9.8 NMAC and the following
documentation:
(1) a completed signed
application with a passport-quality photo taken within the previous six months;
applications are valid for one year from the date of receipt by the
board;
(2) verification of
licensure in all states or territories where the applicant holds or has held a
license to practice medicine, or other health care profession; verification
must attest to the status, issue date, license number, and other information
requested and contained on the form; this information will be provided by HSC
or another board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using
that service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using
FCVS or applying directly to the board;
(3) two recommendation forms from physicians,
chiefs of staff or department chairs or equivalent with whom the applicant has
worked and who have personal knowledge of the applicant's character and
competence to practice medicine; the recommending physicians must have
personally known the applicant and have had the opportunity to personally
observe the applicant's ability and performance; forms must be sent directly to
the board from the recommending physicians, chiefs of staff, department chairs,
or equivalent. This information will be provided by HSC or another
board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using that
service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS
or applying directly to the board;
(4) verification of all work experience and
hospital affiliations in the last two years, if applicable, not to include
postgraduate training; this information will be provided by HSC or another
board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using that
service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS
or applying directly to the board;
(5) a copy of all American board of medical
specialties (ABMS) specialty board certifications, or American osteopathic
association bureau of osteopathic specialists (AOA-BOS) if applicable; this
information will be provided by HSC or another board-approved credentials
verification service for applicants using that service, or directly to the New
Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS or applying directly to the
board; and
(6) the board may
request that applicants be investigated by the biographical section of the
American medical association (AMA), the drug enforcement administration (DEA),
the federation of state medical boards (FSMB), the national practitioner data
bank, and other sources as may be deemed appropriate by the board;
C.
Additional documentation
for applicants using the FCVS: Applicants are encouraged to use the FCVS
as once a credential file is created future applications for medical licensure
will be streamlined. However, application through FCVS is not required.
Applicants using the FCVS must submit a completed application to the FCVS, who
will provide primary source documentation to the board. Only the documents
required in Subsection B of
16.10.2.9 NMAC are required in
addition to the FCVS report.
D.
Additional documentation for applicants using HSC or another
board-approved credentials verification service:
(1) status report of educational commission
for foreign medical graduates (ECFMG) certification sent directly to the board
from ECFMG, if applicable;
(2) copy
of ECFMG interim letter documenting additional postgraduate training for
international medical graduates applying through the fifth pathway process, if
applicable;
(3) certified
transcripts of exam scores as required in 16.10.3 NMAC sent directly to the
board from the testing agency;
(4)
proof of identity may be required; acceptable documents include birth
certificate, passport, naturalization documents, and visas.
E.
Additional documentation for
applicants applying directly to New Mexico and not using FCVS or HSC or another
board-approved credentials verification service:
(1) verification of medical education form
with school seal or notarized, sent directly to the board from the
school;
(2) transcripts sent
directly to the board from the medical school;
(3) status report of ECFMG certification sent
directly to the board from ECFMG, if applicable;
(4) copy of ECFMG interim letter documenting
additional postgraduate training for international medical graduates applying
through the fifth pathway process, if applicable;
(5) postgraduate training form sent to the
board directly from the training program;
(6) certified transcripts of exam scores as
required in 16.10.3 NMAC sent directly to the board from the testing
agency;
(7) proof of identity may
be required; acceptable documents include birth certificate, passport,
naturalization documents, and visas; and
(8) certified copies of source documents
obtained directly from another state licensing jurisdiction who has the
original document on file will be accepted in lieu of original documents when
the originals cannot be obtained for a valid cause.
F.
Licensure process: Upon
receipt of a completed application, including all required documentation and
fees, the applicant may be scheduled for a personal interview before the board,
a board member designated by the board, or an agent of the board and must
present original documents as requested by the board. The initial license will
be issued following completion of any required interview, or approval by a
member or agent of the board.
G.
Initial license expiration: Medical licenses shall be renewed on
July 1 following the date of issue. Initial licenses are valid for a period of
not more than thirteen months or less than one month. If New Mexico is the
first state of licensure, initial licenses are valid for a period of not less
than 24 months or more than 35 months and shall be renewed on July 1.
