New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 42 - INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Part 6 - CONTINUING EDUCATION GUIDELINES
Section 16.42.6.8 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

Universal Citation: 16 NM Admin Code 16.42.6.8

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

Interior designers in New Mexico shall be required to develop their professional knowledge and competency in conformity with this rule by completion of continuing education approved by the department.

A. Prior to renewal, every interior designer is required to complete 20 hours of continuing education in interior design subjects or courses of study approved by the department or interior design continuing education council (IDCEC).

B. Organization and administration: The department shall:

(1) evaluate and approve either prospectively, or retrospectively, specific courses, programs of education, and training as formal programs of learning which contribute directly to the professional competency of an interior designer, and shall determine the appropriate number of CEU hours to be granted for each course offering submitted;

(2) audit the continuing education professional education records of licensees as deemed necessary; and

(3) approve courses that have received IDCEC approval.

C. Minimum requirements of approved courses: Formal programs of learning which build upon the basic knowledge of interior design shall meet the following criteria:

(1) enhance the quality of technical knowledge;

(2) enhance overall comprehensive professional education;

(3) provide knowledge in new technical areas; or

(4) provide practical applications on issues which impact the public health, safety and welfare.

D. Approved subject areas:

(1) Unless otherwise approved by the department, subjects or courses of study accepted for the purposes of this rule shall be limited to the following:
(a) Design:
(i) computer aided drafting and design (CAD);

(ii) space planning and programming;

(iii) product performance;

(iv) document and specs;

(v) advancement in specialized field;

(vi) interior detailing; and

(vii) historic preservation.

(b) Health and safety planning:
(i) life safety requirements;

(ii) barrier free requirements;

(iii) codes and ordinances; and

(iv) interior products and finishes.

(c) Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems:
(i) principles and design;

(ii) new equipment and control systems; and

(iii) energy conservation.

(d) Building systems:
(i) acoustics;

(ii) basic building systems; and

(iii) lighting.

(e) Business:
(i) contracts and agreements;

(ii) accounting;

(iii) business law; and

(iv) project management.

(f) Ethics.

(2) Additional methods for meeting CEU requirements:
(a) Unless otherwise approved by the department and subject to the formalities and further requirements of this rule, alternative methods for earning CEUs shall be limited to the following:
(i) service as an instructor at a college or university level course of an interior design related course;

(ii) authoring or co-authoring a published professional interior design related paper, article, book or presentation.

(b) It is the responsibility of the licensee to provide sufficient documentation and proof of the specific service or activity to the department to prove that the alternative method of obtaining CE credit meets the criteria in 6.42.6.8(E) NMAC; it is also the responsibility of the attendee to provide proof of attendance.

(c) Pre-approval of alternative methods of obtaining CE credit is not mandatory but, is highly recommended.

E. In order for a licensee to receive credit for programs of learning, as defined above, the following formalities and further requirements must be met:

(1) Higher education credit courses shall be credited for continuing education purposes at the rate of fifteen (15) hours for each semester or credit hour. A copy of a transcript documenting course completion must be submitted as proof of compliance.

(2) Higher education non-credit courses shall be credited for continuing education purposes equivalent to the actual number of classroom hours. A copy of transcript documenting course completion must be submitted as proof of compliance.

(3) Continuing professional education credit for teaching a higher education course shall be credited with twice the number of credits awarded for attending the course for the first presentation of the course or program, the same number of credits granted a participant for the second presentation of the course, and none thereafter. A letter from education institution must be submitted as proof of completion.

F. Criteria for approval of providers of continuing education:

(1) The department sets forth the following criteria to be used in approving course providers:
(a) Proof of competence and expertise of the instructors is required.

(b) A provider shall not advertise course as department approved unless department approval has been obtained.

(2) General requirements for course approval shall include:
(a) Course meets topic area guidelines as set forth in Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of 16.42.6.8 NMAC.

(b) Length of course must be a minimum of one (1.0 CEU) instructional hours. Each instructional hour shall include at least fifty minutes of continuous actual instruction.

(c) For course approval, providers must complete the department-approved continuing education program review form which may be obtained from the department or department website.

(d) Provider must submit course materials to the department on the review form, form can be obtained from department or department website.

(e) Previously approved courses shall be re-reviewed by the committee and the department if any of the following circumstances occur:
(i) course instructor changed;

(ii) course content changed;

(iii) course received evaluation results from attendees, indicating that the course did not meet the approval criteria outlined in Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of 16.42.6.8 NMAC, Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of 16.42.6.8 NMAC and Subparagraph (b) of Paragraph (2) of Subsection D of 16.42.6.8 NMAC;

(iv) course documentation not submitted by the provider as required by Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (4) of Subsection D of 16.42.6.8 NMAC;

(v) changes in the number of CEUs;

(vi) course documentation incoplete or irregularities exist;

(vii) course is advertised as department approved when no such approval has been granted; and

(viii) if any of these conditions exist, a previously approved course shall not be considered approved by the department. The provider is responsible for resubmitting previously approved courses for re-approval if required by the above criteria.

(f) Pay application fees.

(g) Proof of attendance certificate: At the completion of the course, the provider must furnish proof of attendance certificates to all who satisfactorily complete the course. A copy of the attendance certification shall be maintained by the instructor for a two-year period. Said certificate shall contain the following items of information:
(i) name of the provider;

(ii) name of the attendee and license number;

(iii) name of the instructor;

(iv) title of course and number of CEU credits;

(v) New Mexico interior design approval number;

(vi) date and location of presentation;

(vii) length of course, excluding breaks (e.g. time); and

(viii) provider's signature as verification of attendee satisfactory completion of the course.

(h) the attendee shall submit a copy of the proof of attendance with other documentation.

(3) Proof of attendance list:
(a) Within 30 calendar days after the completion of the course, the provider must furnish a proof of attendance list to the department. The proof of attendance list shall include the following information:
(i) name of provider;

(ii) names of attendees;

(iii) signatures of attendees

(iv) title of course and the New Mexico interior design approval number;

(v) date and location of course,

(vi) number of CEU credits; and

(vii) course evaluation forms.

(b) The provider must also furnish each attendee with a current copy of the department-provided course evaluation form which every attendee shall complete and sign in ink at the conclusion of the course. The provider shall collect the course evaluation forms and submit the original forms to the department within 30 calendar days of course completion.

(c) The names and number of attendees on the proof of attendance list must match the names and number of the evaluation forms.

(d) A current copy of the department-provided course evaluation form shall be obtained from the board office for duplication by the provider.

(e) The department reserves the right to audit the presentation of any course it has approved. The audit may be done without prior notification to the provider; however, the provider is not required to furnish materials and services associated with the course to the auditor without prior notice and compensation.

G. Reporting of continuing education hours: Licensed interior designers shall submit to the department with their renewal application and fee, the required proof of attendance of department approved or IDCEC approved CEUs completed during the applicable renewal period. The department shall verify credit hours earned prior to renewing the license.

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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