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New Mexico Physical Therapy Continuing Education Requirements

Updated 8/19/2024

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

Physical therapists licensed in New Mexico must complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.

Physical therapy assistants licensed in New Mexico must complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education every two (2) years.

New Licensees

No continuing education is required of those who are renewing for the first time.

Due Date

Licenses will expire on February 1st following no more than two (2) years of licensure.

How is contact hour defined?

One (1) “contact hour” requires sixty (60) minutes.

Can CE credits be carried over into the next reporting period?

No carryover hours will be permitted.  Thirty (30) continuing education hours must be earned during the current two (2) year renewal period of February 1st thru January 31st.

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

Live Programs, (i.e., various programs such as workshops, in-service two-way video conferencing, etc.)

Provide the board with the following:   

    • Certificate of completion;   
    • Course schedule;   
    • Learning outcomes (objectives).

Thirty (30) contact hours will be accepted.

University or College Courses Taken for Credit

Provide the board with:   

    • Name of course;  
    • Number of course credit hours;   
    • Inclusive dates of attendance;   
    • Name of instructor and instructor’s credentials;   
    • Published course description from college or university;   
    • Completed transcript or grade report with a passing grade of “C” or better;   
    • Name of institution; and   
    • Brief course summary demonstrating the course’s relationship to physical therapy.

Maximum thirty (30) contact hours are awarded for each three (3) hour credit course.

Physician In-Service Programs or Regular Physical Therapy Staff In-Service Programs

Provide the board with:   

    • Name of program;   
    • Number of hours spent in program;   
    • Inclusive dates of attendance;   
    • Name of instructor or supervisor of program; documentation of instructor background and expertise;   
    • Name of institution; and   
    • Brief course summary demonstrating the course’s relationship to physical therapy.

Maximum allowed biennially is thirty (30) contact hours.

Management Courses

Provide the board a certificate of completion signed by the program sponsor.

Maximum allowed biennially is fifteen (15) contact hours.

Preparation or Presentation of a Workshop/In-service

Awarded on a case by case basis for any one given presentation, by providing the board the following:   

    • Proof of preparation may be an outline, copy of handouts, copy and   
    • A copy of the agenda showing name of licensee as presenter;
    • Contact hours for the presenter will be calculated at three (3) times the number of hours of audience participation.

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

Maximum allowed biennially is fifteen (15) contact hours.

Certificate Courses for an Advanced Specialty

Provide the board a certificate of completion signed by the program sponsor.

Maximum allowed biennially is thirty (30) contact hours.

Reading Journal Articles

Provide the board the following:   

    • Title of article and journal;   
    • Author and author’s credentials’; and
    • Summary (subject of article, what was learned, and how it relates to the physical therapy scope of practice or the licensee’s position.

Maximum allowed per article is one-half contact hour.

Maximum allowed biennially is fifteen (15) contact hours.

Conducting Physical Therapy Research

Provide the board 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 how participation in the project is related to the licensee’s present or future position in the field of physical therapy;   
    • A brief statement indicating how participation in the project is benefiting the applicant’s therapy skills or research skills; and   
    • Provide a copy of the research report (if project has been completed); (if report is incomplete), credit will be allowed by providing the listed information or by receipt of the college transcript.

Maximum allowed biennially is thirty (30) contact hours.

The board will determine the number of contact hours allowed.

Home Study Courses

Provide the board with the following:   

    • Certificate of completion;   
    • Course schedule;  
    • Learning outcomes (objectives); and   
    • Name of instructor and credentials.

Maximum allowed biennially is thirty (30) contact hours.

Internet Courses

Provide the board with the following:   

    • Certificate of completion;   
    • Course schedule;   
    • Learning outcomes (objectives); and   
    • Name of instructor and credentials.

Maximum allowed biennially is thirty (30) contact hours.

Alternative Medicine Seminars

Provide the board a letter from the licensee explaining how the course relates to the physical therapy scope of practice.

The board will approve these courses on a case by case basis.

Courses where Certificates of Attendance are not Issued

Provide the board the following:   

    • A canceled check for the course registration fee (submit copy of front and back of check);   
    • Proof of transportation (i.e., copy of plane ticket and hotel receipt); and   
    • List of courses attended and hours attended (i.e., copy descriptions of courses and hours from program agenda).

N/A

Credit for Supervising a Student in Clinical Education

Provide the board with a copy of the cover and signature page (with student’s name blacked out to maintain confidentiality) of the student evaluation completed by the licensee-supervisor.

One (1) continuing education contact hour may be approved for each forty (40) contact hours of supervision in clinical education.

The maximum number of continuing education contact hours approved for supervision in clinical education is fifteen (15) contact hours biennially.

Residencies, Fellowships, and Examinations

Successful completion of a specialty examination may be submitted for continuing education consideration.

A list of the specialty examinations that qualify for continuing education will be maintained by the board.

The maximum number of continuing education contact hours is thirty (30) biennially.

APTA credentialed residency or fellowship program

The maximum number of continuing education contact hours is thirty (30) biennially.

Examination of the federation of state boards of physical therapy pertaining to continued competence

FSBPT certificate.

Maximum number of continuing education contact hours is thirty (30) biennially.

APTA code of ethics for PTs and standards of ethical conduct for PTAs

Provide the board with the following:   

    • Certificate of completion;   
    • Course schedule;   
    • Learning outcomes (objectives); and
    • Name of instructor and credentials.

The maximum number of contact hours awarded will be accepted.

Education presentations on state and federal legislative updates, and APTA house of delegates at NMAPTA business meetings

Provide the board with the following:   

    • Proof of attendance;   
    • Outline of agenda; and   
    • Name of instructor and instructor’s credentials.

Maximum allowed biennially is eight (8) contact hours or four (4) contact hours annually.

What type of courses or activities are not allowed?

Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to:

    • Orientation and in-service programs dealing with organizational structures, processes, or procedures;
    • Meetings for purposes of policy making;
    • Annual association, chapter, district, or organizational and non-educational meetings;
    • Entertainment or recreational meetings or activities;
    • Committee meetings, holding of offices, serving as an organizational delegate;
    • Visiting exhibits; and
    • CPR education.

What type of approval is needed for the courses?

Programs must follow the criteria and guidelines established by the board as follows to receive continuing education credit:

    • Each program or any course(s), with board approval that are sponsored by the APTA/NMAPTA will automatically be accepted for CEU approval without the need to apply for such approval;
    • Each program addresses needs (problems and issues) faced by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants;
    • Each program has specific written learning outcomes (objectives) based on identified needs;
    • Each program is planned and conducted by qualified individuals;
    • Program content and instructional methods for each program are based on learning objectives; and
    • Participants demonstrate their attainment of the learning outcomes, (i.e., various methods can be used such as: questions, discussions, written oral exercises, problems, case studies, etc.); and
    • Programs approved by the APTA will be automatically accepted by the board.

What are the reporting requirements?

Certify completion on the renewal application.

How long must continuing education records be retained?

PTs and PTAs shall retain all documentation of attendance for the previous cycle immediately preceding the current renewal.

Waiver

Licensees serving in the armed forces reserve or national guard.

    • The license of a PT or PTA 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.
    • A PT or PTA 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.
    • Upon the PT or PTA’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 PT or PTA.

Audit

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.

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.

References

N.M.A.C. 16.20.8.9

N.M.A.C. 16.20.8.12

About Us

Zachary Edgar JD, LLM is the managing partner for Therapy Comply.  Zachary is a healthcare attorney that specializes in federal and state healthcare regulatory issues particularly for physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices.  

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