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