New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 12 - NURSING AND HEALTH CARE RELATED PROVIDERS
Part 4 - HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIANS
Section 16.12.4.9 - CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIANS

Universal Citation: 16 NM Admin Code 16.12.4.9

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

New Mexico certification of hemodialysis technicians is mandatory.

A. Prerequisites:

(1) Hold a high school diploma or have proof of successfully passing a general education development test.

(2) The applicant for certified hemodialysis technician will demonstrate completion of adequate training by:
(a) submitting proof of successful completion of a board approved hemodialysis technician training program; or

(b) submitting proof of a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization.

(3) Submit the required application to the agency with required fees.

B. Applications and fees:

(1) Board staff will verify eligibility. Applications received by the board staff are valid for one year.

(2) Applications containing fraudulent or misrepresented information could be the basis for denial of certification.

(3) Incomplete applications for certification will not be processed. The applicant will be notified within 30 days of submission of application about incomplete information.

(4) Written verification of successful completion according to the minimum standards for approval of hemodialysis technician programs indicating the date of completion must be received, directly from the hemodialysis technician program, and signed by the nurse educator within 30 days of completion.

(5) The applicant will request that the national certifying body for hemodialysis technicians send verification directly to the board.

(6) A re-examination fee will be charged for all re-examinations of the state-based examination.

(7) An initial certificate shall be valid until the last day of the applicant's birth month after the first anniversary of the initial certificate.

C. Initial certification for CHT:

(1) Hold a high school diploma or have proof of successfully passing a general education development test.

(2) The applicant must submit proof of a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization. If the applicant passes the national hemodialysis technician examination, the applicant cannot work as a CHT until the certificate has been issued by the board.

(3) Attestation from the agency nurse educator that the applicant has been oriented to the scope of function of the certified hemodialysis technician.

(4) An initial certificate shall be valid until the last day of the applicant's birth month after the first anniversary of the initial certificate.

D. Endorsement:

(1) If an applicant holds hemodialysis certification from another jurisdiction in the United States, the application must:
(a) meet all the prerequisites;

(b) submit verification from another jurisdiction directly to the board that certificate is in good standing. If the applicant is unable to provide verification, then the applicant must follow the process for initial certification;

(c) submit the required application and fee.

(2) An initial certificate shall be valid until the last day of the applicant's birth month after the first anniversary of the initial certificate.

E. Requirements for hemodialysis technicians' renewal:

(1) Certified hemodialysis technicians (CHT Is) renewing their certificate shall be required to complete the process by the end of their renewal month. CE and work hour requirements may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.
(a) Failure to receive a notification for renewal shall not relieve the CHT I of the responsibility of renewing the certificate by the expiration date.

(b) If the certificate is not renewed by the end of the renewal month, the CHT I does not hold a valid certificate and shall not function as a CHT I in New Mexico until the lapsed certificate has been reactivated.

(c) If a CHT I certificate holder has a national certification as a hemodialysis technician, for the first renewal after 12/31/2023, the certificate will be transitioned to a CHT certificate. The CHT I must fulfill continuing education and work requirements to complete the transition.

(d) If the CHT I certificate holder does not have national certification as a hemodialysis technician, the certificate will remain a CHT I. If the CHT I certificate is allowed to lapse and remain inactive for more than one year past the expiration date, the CHT I certificate holder must complete the hemodialysis technician training program and meet the requirements for the CHT certificate, including obtaining a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization.

(2) Certified hemodialysis technicians II (CHT IIs) renewing their certificate shall be required to complete the process by the end of their renewal month. CE and work hour requirements may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period. CHT II certificate holder for the first renewal period after 12/31/2023, will transition to a CHT certificate.
(a) The CHT II must fulfill continuing education and work requirements to complete the transition to CHT.

(b) If the CHT II certificate is allowed to lapse and remain inactive for more than one year past the expiration date, the CHT II certificate holder must complete the hemodialysis technician training program and meet the requirements for the CHT certificate, including obtaining a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization.

(3) Certified hemodialysis technicians (CHTs) renewing their certificate shall be required to complete the process by the end of their renewal month. CE and work hour requirements may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.
(a) The CHT must supply a current valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization. For the CHT II who transitioned to CHT without a national certification, passing the state based CHT II examination will substitute for the national certification.

(b) If the CHT certificate is allowed to lapse and remain inactive for more than one year past the expiration date, the CHT certificate holder must complete the hemodialysis training program and meet the requirements for the CHT certificate, including obtaining a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization.

(4) Continuing education requirements:
(a) 16 contact hours of continuing education must be accrued within the 24 months immediately preceding renewal. CE may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period.

(b) Recertification by a national CHT certifying body will meet the mandatory CE requirements for New Mexico certification renewal. Continuing education obtained for national certification is applicable if completed during the renewal period.

(c) Continuing education records are subject to audit by the board. Certificate holders may be subject to disciplinary action by the board if non-compliant within 60 days of the first notification of the audit.

(d) CHT and CHT II shall accrue four additional contact hours of continuing education within the 24 months that preceded the expiration of the certificate. These additional contact hours must be specific to their expanded scope of function and may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period if less than 24 months.

(5) Work requirement: Applicant must provide evidence of a minimum of 1,000 hours work as a CHT, CHT I, or CHT II during the 24 month period immediately preceding certification renewal.
(a) Work requirement records are subject to audit by the board. Work hours may be prorated to commensurate with the length of the renewal period if less than 24 months.

(b) Certificate holders may be subject to disciplinary action by the board if noncompliant within 60 days of the first notification of the audit.

(6) Remit the required fee.

(7) Failure to meet the continuing education or employment requirements for recertification shall result in denial of recertification until reactivation requirements are met.

F. Reactivation of certificate for CHT, CHT I, CHT II:

(1) If the certificate has been inactive for less than one year, the applicant may reactivate the license by submitting an application for reactivation, paying the required fee, and submitting proof of required continuing education contact hours for a 24 month certificate period and required work hours.
(a) In substitution of continuing education and work hours, the applicant for reactivation of a CHT I certificate may take a refresher course.

(b) In addition, a CHTs lapsed certificate holder must submit a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization.

(2) If the CHT, CHT 1, and CHT II certificate is allowed to lapse and remain inactive for more than one year past the expiration date, the CHT certificate holder must complete the hemodialysis training program and meet the requirements for the CHT certificate, including obtaining a valid national hemodialysis technician certificate from a recognized organization.

G. Refresher course requirements:

(1) Completion of a minimum of 80 hours of supervised clinical practice in a board approved hemodialysis technician training program under the supervision of an approved clinical preceptor.

(2) Successful completion of the hemodialysis technician training program's skills list identified in the core curriculum 16.12.4.16 NMAC.

(3) Successful completion of the hemodialysis technician training program final examination.

(4) Written verification, on agency letterhead, of successful completion of supervised clinical practice, skills list, and the final examination results shall be provided to the board by the program's board-approved nurse educator.

(5) Completion of a refresher course shall meet both the employment and continuing education requirements for the reactivation of the CHT I certificate.

(6) Remit the required application and fee.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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