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New Mexico Occupational Therapy Continuing Education

How many continuing education hours are required during a reporting period?

Occupational Therapists: OTs licensed in New Mexico must complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education every year.

New Licensees:  The first year during which fifteen (15) contact hours must be earned is the year beginning on October 1st following license issuance and ending on the following September 30th.

Occupational Therapy Assistants: OTAs licensed in New Mexico must complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education every year.

When is the deadline to complete the continuing education requirements?

Continuing education contact hours must be earned prior to license renewal the following year.

How is contact hour defined?

One “continuing education contact hour” is equivalent to sixty (60) minutes.  One continuing education contact hour is equivalent to one continuing education unit.

Can credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

The board will allow a maximum of fifteen (15) continuing education contact hours to be carried over into the next licensing year.  The fifteen (15) continuing education hours must be earned during the renewal period of October 1st through September 30th.

Are there any specific courses that must be taken?

N/A

What types of activities can be used for the continuing education requirements?

Activity

Documentation

Maximum Hours

Attendance at a seminar, workshop, webinar, on-line course, or program

Applicants must provide all of the following:   

  • Program agenda with number of contact hours;   
  • 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;   
  • Statement of the program’s subject matter and stated objectives;   
  • Statement indicating the instructor’s background/expertise; and   
  • Proof of actual program attendance; such proof shall be a certificate of completion signed by the presenter or program sponsor.

No limit

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.

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 (2) hour workshop equals six (6) hours for the presenter).

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 twenty (20) contact hours is allowed for a three (3) credit course.

A maximum of fifteen (15) contact hours is allowed for a two (2) credit course; and a maximum of ten (10) contact hours is allowed for a one (1) credit course.

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.

N/A

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 (2) contact hours for each book read.

Writing a book

The applicant must provide a copy of the book written.  The book will be returned to the licensee upon request.   

The book must have been copyrighted in the year for which the continuing education contact hours are requested.

Up to forty (40) contact hours may be awarded at the board’s discretion.

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.

N/A

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.

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.

Conducting research

The applicant must provide the following:

  • Title and description of research project, including brief timeline;   
  • Names of other persons involved in project  (i.e., co-investigators or supervisors);   
  • A brief statement indicating philosophical tenants of occupational therapy; and
  • Provide a copy of the competed annual research report.

The board will determine the number of continuing education contact hours approved.

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.

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 twelve (12) contact hours will be approved for each OT fieldwork II rotation of twelve (12) weeks.  A maximum of eight (8) contact hours will be approved for each OTA fieldwork II rotation of eight weeks.

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 (6) 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.

Competency assessment or knowledge and skills assessment related to the practice of occupational therapy

If audited, an applicant must provide the following documentation:

  • A certificate of completion or similar document;
  • The name of the course or training;
  • The date and location where the training was offered; and
  • The sponsoring organization and the time attended.

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 (2) hours of continuing education during each renewal period.

Are there limitations on the types of courses that can be taken?

N/A

Which type of courses or activities are not allowed?

N/A

Is board approval necessary for continuing education?

No licensee may obtain credit for any continuing education contact hours without approval of those continuing education contact hours by the board. 

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.

What are the reporting requirements?

Report compliance on the renewal application.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

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.  

Can the continuing education requirements be waived?

N/A

Does the board audit therapist’s continuing education?

The board shall audit a percentage of renewal applications each year to verify the continuing education requirement.  

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.  

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.  

Proof of attendance for all continuing education programs is required on all renewal applications submitted after the expiration date.

Reference

NMAC 16.15.4

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