New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 15 - OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Part 4 - CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Section 16.15.4.9 - APPROVAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
Universal Citation: 16 NM Admin Code 16.15.4.9
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. No licensee may obtain credit for any continuing education contact hours without approval of those continuing education contact hours by the board.
B. Prior approval of continuing education contact hours may be obtained upon request by the licensee or continuing education provider. Final determination of values and approval of continuing education contact hours will remain at the discretion of the board.
C. Continuing education contact hours may be earned in the following ways:
(1)
Attendance at a seminar, workshop,
webinar, on-line course, or program; applicants must provide all of the
following:
(a) program agenda with number of
contact hours;
(b) evidence that
the program attended was sponsored by a component of the American occupational
therapy association or some other sponsor approved by the board for continuing
education credit;
(c) statement of
the program's subject matter and stated objectives;
(d) statement indicating the instructor's
background/expertise; and
(e) proof
of actual program attendance; such proof shall be a certificate of completion
signed by the presenter or program sponsor.
(2)
Preparation and presentation of a
workshop/in-service. Credit may be given only once for preparation or
presentation of the same workshop and the board will determine the number of
continuing education contact hours approved. Applicant must provide proof of
preparation and presentation. Proof of preparation may be an outline, copy of
handouts, presentation slides, and a copy of the agenda showing name of
licensee as presenter. Contact hours for the presenter will be calculated at
three times the number of hours of audience participation (e.g. a two hour
workshop equals six hours for the presenter).
(3)
Completion of accredited university
college or community courses. Applicant must provide the name of the
course; number of credit hours; inclusive dates of attendance; completed
transcript or grade report with a passing grade of "C" or better, name of
instructor and institution; and a brief summary indicating the course's
relationship to the licensee's present or future position in the field of
occupational therapy. Non-credit community college courses may be accepted at
the board's discretion. A maximum of 20 contact hours is allowed for a three
credit course; a maximum of 15 contact hours is allowed for a two credit
course; and a maximum of 10 contact hours is allowed for a one credit
course.
(4)
Attendance at
workplace in-service programs. The applicant must provide the name of
the program; number of hours spent in the program; inclusive dates of
attendance; name of the instructor or supervisor of the program; name of the
institution; and a brief course summary indicating the course's relationship to
the philosophical tenets of occupational therapy.
(5)
Reading a book. The
applicant must provide the name of the book; number of pages; name of the
author; and a typewritten summary explaining how the information obtained from
the book applies to physical therapy philosophical tenets of occupational
therapy. The board may approve, on an individual basis, up to two contact hours
for each book read.
(6)
Writing a book. The applicant must provide a copy of the book
written. The book will be returned to the licensee upon request.
(a) The book must have been copyrighted in
the year for which the continuing education contact hours are
requested.
(b) Up to 40 contact
hours may be awarded at the board's discretion.
(7)
Audio or Visual Media. An
applicant must provide the title of the audio and visual media; the length of
presented material, time; name of the presenter; and a summary of the
presentation and how it pertains to the philosophical tenets of occupational
therapy.
(8)
Presentation of
a paper. The applicant must provide a copy of the paper along with the
duration and location of the presentation. The presentation must have been made
in the year for which the continuing education contact hours are requested.
Credit may be given only once for any individual presentation and the board
will determine the number of continuing education contact hours
approved.
(9)
Publication of
a paper or article. The applicant must provide a copy of the published
paper, which must have been published prior to license renewal. Publication
must be in a recognized journal or publication. The board will determine the
number of continuing education contact hours approved.
(10)
Conducting research. The
board will determine the number of continuing education contact hours approved.
The applicant must provide the following:
(a)
title and description of research project, including brief timeline;
(b) names of other persons involved in
project (i.e., co-investigators or supervisors);
(c) a brief statement indicating
philosophical tenants of occupational therapy;
(d) provide a copy of the competed annual
research report.
(11)
Specialty/certification programs. Applicants or licensees wishing
to receive continuing education for certification programs must submit a
certificate of completion signed by the program sponsor. The licensee or
applicant must indicate how the specialty/certification maintains the
philosophical tenets of occupational therapy. The board will determine the
number of continuing education contact hours approved.
(12)
Supervising level II
fieldwork. Applicants should provide a copy of the student evaluation
(cover and signature pages only). The student's name should be blacked out for
confidentiality. A maximum of 12 contact hours will be approved for each OT
fieldwork II rotation of 12 weeks. A maximum of eight contact hours will be
approved for each OTA fieldwork II rotation of eight weeks.
(13)
Mentoring. Applies to an OT
or OTA who has been practicing at least one year prior to entering a new area
of practice only. Mentoring shall occur for a minimum of six months and no
longer than one year. The mentor shall have at least one year of experience in
the specialty area of practice and not be the direct supervisor of the mentored
therapist. The "mentoring log" should be used as proof of hours
mentored.
(14) Competency
assessment or knowledge and skills assessment related to the practice of
occupational therapy. A licensee who completes an online or in person training
on competency assessment or on knowledge and skills assessment activities
related to occupational therapy that is offered by an employer or an approved
provider may claim a maximum of two hours of continuing education during each
renewal period. If audited, an applicant must provide the following
documentation; a certificate of completion or similar document that includes
the name of the course or training, the date and location where the training
was offered, the sponsoring organization and the time attended.
D. Credit screening procedures are as follows:
(1) the board or its designee must
approve each request for continuing education credit;
(2) the licensee will be informed of the
board's action within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request; and
(3) the licensee whose request has been
denied may appeal to the board within 30 calendar days of the notification of
the board's decision.
E. Continuing education audit.
(1) The board
shall audit a percentage of renewal applications each year to verify the
continuing education requirement.
(2) If a notice of audit letter is received
with the annual renewal form, evidence of continuing education hours earned
during the renewal year must be submitted to the board as requested and as
required in the Occupational Therapy Act and by this rule.
(3) If the licensee is not audited, all
documentation of attendance and agendas should be retained by the licensee for
a minimum of three years immediately preceding the current renewal.
(4) 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.
(5) Proof of attendance for all continuing
education programs is required on all renewal applications submitted after the
expiration date.
F. The board will allow a maximum of 15 continuing education contact hours to be carried over into the next licensing year. The 15 continuing education hours must be earned during the renewal period of October 1st through September 30th.
G. Ineligible actives include, but are not limited to:
(1)
Orientation and in-service programs dealing with organizational structures,
processes, or procedures.
(2)
Meeting for purposes of policy making.
(3) Annual association or organization and
non-educational meetings.
(4)
Entertainment or recreational activities or meetings.
(5) Committee meetings, holding of offices or
serving as an organizational delegate.
(6) Visiting exhibitors and;
(7) CPR education.
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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