Aide - A person who is not licensed by the board and who provides supportive services to OTs and OTAs. An aide shall function under the guidance and responsibility of the OT and may be supervised by the OT or an OTA for specifically selected routine tasks for which the aide has been trained and has demonstrated competency.

Board - The New Mexico Board of Examiners for Occupational Therapy.

Censure - A formal expression of disapproval that is publicly announced.

Competence - An individual’s capacity to perform job responsibilities.

Competency - An individual’s actual performance in a specific situation.

Continuing Education - Any organized educational program relating to the topic of health, designed to expand a licensee’s knowledge beyond the basic education requirements for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants as recognized by the board.  Topics include, but are not limited to, administration, education, communication and clinical practice skills.  

Denial of License - A person is barred from becoming licensed to practice in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Therapy Act either indefinitely or for a certain period.

Licensee - An OT or OTA, as appropriate.

Limited Permit Holder - An individual who has completed the academic and fieldwork requirements of this Act for OTs or OTAs, has not yet taken or received the results of the entry level certification examination, and has applied for and been granted limited permit status.

Military Service Member - A person who is serving in the armed forces of the United States or in an active reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the national guard.

• Recent veteran: means a person who has received an honorable discharge or separation from military service within the two (2) years immediately preceding the date the person applied for an occupational or professional license pursuant to this section.
• Spouse: means a person married to the military service member or recent veteran, in a marriage recognized by the state of New Mexico.

Occupational Therapist - A person who holds an active license to practice occupational therapy in New Mexico.

Occupational Therapy - The therapeutic use of occupations, including everyday life activities with persons across the life span, including groups, populations or organizations, to enhance or enable participation, performance or function in roles, habits and routines in home, school, workplace, community and other settings.  Occupational therapy services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation and the promotion of health and wellness to those clients who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation or participation restriction. 

Occupational Therapy Assistant - A person having no less than an associate degree in occupational therapy and holding an active license to practice occupational therapy in New Mexico who assists an OT under the supervision of the OT.

Person - An individual, association, partnership, unincorporated organization or corporate body.

Probation - That continued licensure is subject to fulfillment of specified conditions such as monitoring, education, supervision or counseling.

Reprimand - A formal expression of disapproval that is retained in the licensee's file but not publicly announced.

Revocation - Permanent loss of licensure.

Suspension - The loss of licensure for a certain period, after which the person may be required to apply for reinstatement.

Supervision - A cooperative process in which two or more people participate in a joint effort to establish, maintain, and elevate a level of competence and performance. Within the scope of occupational therapy practice, supervision is aimed at ensuring the safe and effective delivery of occupational therapy services and fostering professional competence and development.

Supportive Services - Tasks that include providing patient transport, routine maintenance of equipment or work areas, setup, preparation, and cleanup of equipment of work areas, and supporting licensed practitioners during treatment or intervention while under the direct supervision of the licensed practitioner.

Reference

N.M. Stat. § 61-12A-3

N.M. Code R. § 16.15.1.7

N.M. Code R. § 16.15.2.7 

N.M. Code R. § 16.15.3.7

N.M. Code R. § 16.15.4.7