New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 7 - HEALTH
Chapter 27 - EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Part 2 - LICENSING OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL
Section 7.27.2.8 - GENERAL LICENSURE

Universal Citation: 7 NM Admin Code 7.27.2.8

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

A. Authorizations to practice: No person shall function as, or represent themselves as an emergency medical services provider or offer, whether or not for compensation, any services included in these rules, unless currently licensed as an emergency medical dispatcher (EMD), emergency medical dispatcher instructor (EMD-I), EMS first responder, or EMT under these rules. This provision is enforceable by civil action as provided by state law.

B. Licensing agency: As provided by law, the agency responsible for the licensure of an EMD EMD-I, EMS first responder, and EMTs in New Mexico is the emergency medical systems bureau of the epidemiology and response division of the department of health.

C. Eligibility: Initial licensure as an EMD, EMD-I, EMS first responder, or EMT is open to all persons who have met the requirements prescribed in these rules, whether or not they are affiliated with an ambulance service, fire department, rescue service, or other emergency medical service in New Mexico, and irrespective of their monetary remuneration for such service. Applicants for licensure must complete the criminal history background screening process as described at Section 24-10B-5.2 NMSA 1978.

D. The New Mexico registry of emergency medical services personnel: The New Mexico registry of emergency medical services personnel is established and maintained at the bureau. The registry is a database containing contact and other relevant licensure information for all licensed New Mexico EMS licensees.

E. Authorized classifications: There are six classifications of fully licensed EMS provider that are recognized in the New Mexico registry of emergency medical services personnel. The most recently attained level of provider licensure will be shown on the person's certificate and licensure card. This section does not apply to a graduate license.

(1) Emergency medical dispatcher (EMD).

(2) Emergency medical dispatcher instructor (EMD-I).

(3) Emergency medical services first responder (EMSFR).

(4) Emergency medical technician - basic (EMT-B).

(5) Emergency medical technician - intermediate (EMT-I).

(6) Emergency medical technician - paramedic (EMT-P).

F. General education standards: New Mexico EMS education programs shall meet the education standards for approval by the joint organization on education and EMS bureau. The joint organization on education and EMS bureau shall periodically evaluate the education standards in each approved EMS education program, which may include an on-site inspection and review for compliance with the standards outlined in this section. Failure to maintain compliance with these standards may result in the loss of the approved program status, as determined by the joint organization on education. The joint organization on education and EMS bureau approved New Mexico EMS education program shall:

(1) when requested by the bureau or joint organization on education, submit a report to the joint organization on education and the EMS bureau that contains the following elements:
(a) number of courses that were instructed by the education program by level of education, i.e., EMS first responder, EMT-basic, EMT-intermediate, EMT-paramedic, EMS instructor-coordinator;

(b) pass/fail rate of each course of instruction where students are enrolled to receive course completion certificates, including the name of the course and the name of the instructor-coordinator;

(c) aggregate pass/fail rate of each level of EMS instruction where students are enrolled to receive course completion certificates;

(d) list of current instructor-coordinators employed with the bureau approved education program;

(e) list of new instructor-coordinators employed with the education program over the time period of the report;

(f) any changes in the status of any instructor-coordinator;

(g) any changes to the EMS curriculum at any level of instruction;

(h) summary of any quality improvement activities accomplished during the time period of the report;

(i) list of clinical skills required for course completion by level, if applicable;

(j) list of satellite campuses; and

(k) contact information of key staff with the education program;

(2) be accredited by a national education accrediting organization for emergency medical services;

(3) utilize approved minimum curricula content based on the national standard curriculum for EMS as published by the national highway and traffic safety administration (NHTSA) and approved by the joint organization for education committee (JOE);

(4) have, at a minimum, an administrative director, an EMS medical director, and a lead instructor-coordinator for each EMS licensing or refresher course;

(5) ensure that an instructor-coordinator is in attendance at all didactic and practical education sessions, with substitution permissible as approved by the joint organization;

(6) inform the bureau if an instructor/coordinator is terminated due to inappropriate conduct or negligence; the bureau shall be notified by the education program of the termination within 10 working days;

(7) develop and utilize an instructional quality assurance program to review course and instructor effectiveness; a copy of the quality assurance program shall be provided to the joint organization on education and the EMS bureau; complaints, reports, or course trends may indicate the need for a quality assurance review by the joint organization on education and the EMS bureau;

(8) submit to the bureau for approval, refresher course curricula that follow the New Mexico refresher course blueprints as outlined in 7.27.2.11 NMAC of these rules, whether the course is conducted by the education program or through a service education agreement, which has been approved by the education program;

(9) use distributive and distance education for initial formal education courses as deemed necessary by the approved EMS education program, based on the education guidelines provided by the joint organization on education committee;

(10) review and approve any formal EMS courses and course content that will allow graduates to apply for EMS licensure in the state of New Mexico, prior to delivery by an instructor-coordinator;

(11) ensure that all affiliated instructor-coordinators are approved by the joint organization on education;

(12) ensure that a formal preceptor program is developed and utilized for all field and clinical education; the preceptor program shall include the following standards:
(a) EMS providers functioning as preceptors within an EMS service have written approval from the EMS service director, the EMS service medical director, the education program service director, and the education program medical director; preceptors shall be licensed as a provider at or above the student's level of education; preceptors shall ensure that only approved skills, commensurate with the student's scope of education, are performed by the student under direct observation by the approved preceptor;

(b) students practicing in a field education environment shall function under a formal field preceptorship agreement between the EMS service and the education program;

(c) students performing field or clinical skills as part of a bureau approved EMT-intermediate or EMT-paramedic education program must be fully licensed at a minimum of the New Mexico EMT-basic level, or have been granted special permission by the EMS bureau; and

(d) students from approved New Mexico EMS education programs may participate in a field education environment (which includes both clinical and internship experience) within the state of New Mexico; EMS educational programs based out of state must be nationally accredited by an EMS bureau approved accrediting organization, and obtain permission from the EMS bureau and JOE for their students to participate in a field education environment within the state of New Mexico.

G. Education program instructor-coordinator standards: Approved New Mexico EMS education programs shall maintain instructor-coordinator standards to ensure quality of instruction. Instructor-coordinators shall:

(1) be affiliated with an approved EMS education program;

(2) successfully complete an instructor-coordinator education course that meets or exceeds the national standard curriculum for EMS instructor-coordinators as published by NHTSA and approved by the joint organization on education and the EMS bureau;

(3) be currently licensed as a New Mexico EMS provider; and

(4) shall meet the qualifications for instructor-coordinators as established by the joint organization on education committee.

H. Scope of practice: The scope of practice for each level of licensure is found in 7.27.11.2 NMAC and shall be updated at least annually and issued by the bureau in accordance with the EMS Act, Paragraph (4) of Subsection C of Section 24-10B-7 NMSA 1978. Licensed EMDs, EMSFRs and EMTs shall only perform those skills, techniques, medications, and procedures found within the New Mexico scope of practice and as authorized by the service medical director (also see EMS medical direction rule 7.27.3 NMAC).

I. Training and education required: As outlined in the New Mexico scopes of practice, prior to utilizing any new skill, technique, medication, or procedure designated as "service medical director approved", it shall be documented by the service director, medical director, or bureau approved EMS education program that the EMS provider has been appropriately trained to administer the medications or perform the skills, techniques, medications, or procedures. Additionally, each EMS provider must have a signed authorization from the services medical director on file at the EMS services headquarters, or administrative offices.

J. Medical direction approval/control required: Medical control is required for certain skills and medications use at all levels of EMS as outlined in the New Mexico scopes of practice. Those EMS personnel who function without medical direction shall only perform those skills, techniques, and procedures that do not require medical director approval. Any person who is issued a temporary or graduate license shall only administer the medications or perform the skills, techniques, medications, and procedures for the approved level, as established by the medical direction committee and found in the applicable scope of practice.

K. Special skills: Special skills, which are all considered advanced life support, are skills outside the usual scope of practice for a level of licensure. EMS services or systems that wish to apply for special skills authorization shall submit a written application as set forth in 7.27.11.10 NMAC. Services or systems may apply for any skill at any level. Personnel who successfully complete a special skills program shall be authorized to utilize advanced skills and drugs only with medical director approval and under the medical control of the EMS system that received the program approval.

L. Licensing application procedures: Persons seeking New Mexico licensure in any of the six classifications shall apply using the appropriate forms as provided by the bureau and present the required documentation, which shall remain in the person's licensure file. Applications and forms can be obtained from the bureau.

M. Licensure periods: Licensure periods are 27 months in length except for the initial period, which varies according to the date of the initial license. The second or subsequent period of licensure will be for a full 27 month period, regardless of the date of application for renewal, or the date for processing of the renewal license. This period will begin on January 1 of the renewal year. Requirements for renewal of licensure shall be completed by the December 31st that occurs prior to expiration of licensure.

N. Expiration dates: The expiration date for a license is established as March 31 of a given year. The year of initial expiration will depend on what month during the year a person was originally licensed.

(1) The initial licensure period shall begin on January 1 for persons who are licensed during the first six months of a given year. The expiration date for this license will be 27 months later or March 31. All subsequent renewal periods will be for a full 27 month period running from January 1 for twenty-seven months, and ending in March.

(2) For persons who are initially licensed during the last six months of a given year, the expiration date shall be calculated from January 1 of the following year.

O. New Mexico EMS bureau approved licensing examinations: All EMS candidates must successfully complete the bureau approved licensing examination.

(1) The initial licensing examination shall be completed within twelve months based from the date of course completion. Successful completion of the licensing examination process that results in the issuance of a license shall be completed within 24 months based from the date of course completion. Should a candidate fail to become licensed within 24 months, not complete the initial licensing examination attempt within twelve months of course completion, or fail to successfully complete the bureau approved licensing examination within six attempts, the candidate must complete a new initial education course. The EMS bureau chief or designee may approve an initial licensing testing extension on a case by case basis.

(2) Applicants for state licensure shall pay the appropriate licensing fee upon submission of application to the bureau (see 7.27.2.13 NMAC for a complete description of licensing fees).

(3) There will be no refund of fees, except in unusual circumstances as determined by the bureau.

P. Graduate license for all EMT levels: The role of the EMS graduate license is to grant graduates of a bureau approved EMS education program authorization to practice skills commensurate with their scope of training and education in the field setting under the direct observation and supervision of a New Mexico EMS provider licensed at or above the graduate's education program level. The graduate license shall only be used under approved medical direction. The EMS service director and the EMS service medical director shall identify and maintain a list of approved preceptors. The graduate licensee shall be fully supervised by the preceptor when performing patient care. The preceptor will be responsible for all patient care including patient care activities in the patient compartment when transporting to a medical facility. This will necessitate a vehicle driver in addition to the licensed EMT preceptor and the graduate licensee. During a mass casualty incident, the graduate licensee shall only provide assessment and treatment at the level for which the graduate licensee is fully licensed; if the graduate licensee is not fully licensed at a lower level, they shall only provide non-medical assistance. The EMS graduate license shall remain in effect for a period of six months after the course completion date or until failure of any portion of the bureau approved licensing examination. All applicants for graduate licensure shall:

(1) submit a completed bureau approved license application form;

(2) provide evidence of current bureau approved CPR certification;

(3) provide evidence of current bureau approved ACLS certification (paramedic only);

(4) provide a course completion certificate from a bureau approved EMS education program; and

(5) pay all licensure fees as required by these rules.

Q. Americans with Disabilities Act: When requested by an applicant who otherwise meets the minimum qualifications, the department shall reasonably accommodate the qualified person with disabilities in the licensure process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable state and federal laws. Persons requiring accommodations must make an advance request at least 30 calendar days prior to the EMS bureau scheduled activity. The request for accommodation shall be forwarded to the bureau for consideration of such an accommodation, to include supporting documentation from the applicant's health care provider and a medical or professional diagnosis.

R. Recognition of out-of-state licensure for emergency incidents and other short term and mission specific situations: During emergency situations and other short term and mission specific situations, the bureau may waive initial licensure requirements for out-of-state EMS personnel based on the following:

(1) an individual or agency must be responding to a specific emergency incident;

(2) an individual or agency shall contact the EMS bureau prior to beginning EMS operations in New Mexico;

(3) the individual or agency shall provide evidence (copies) of individual certification or licensure from another state or the national registry;

(4) if wildland fire, an individual or agency shall provide a national wildland fire "request for recognition" form;

(5) an individual or agency shall provide evidence of written medical protocols and scope of practice; the bureau may restrict the provided scope of practice;

(6) the individual or agency shall contact the local EMS system for coordination of services; and

(7) the maximum approved time for out-of-state licensure for a specific emergency incident is 30 days and may be renewed on a case by case basis.

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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