Instructors, Training Requirements, and Continuing Education

16.7.11.10             CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES TAUGHT BY CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDERS:

A.    The board will accept all courses offered by a continuing education provider, as defined in 16.7.1 NMAC and Section 61-12C-3 NMSA 1978, towards a licensee’s continuing education requirements regardless of the location at which the course is taught.

B.    Any continuing education provider who was an active New Mexico registered independent massage therapy instructor on February 4, 2019, must provide both the course syllabus and the required fee for each new course not previously approved by the board prior to such course being counted towards a licensee’s continuing education requirements. This is a one-time requirement per continuing education course.

C.    A course taught by a continuing education provider, as defined in Subsection 7 of 16.7.1 NMAC who was not an active New Mexico registered independent massage therapy instructor on February 4, 2019, does not require prior approval by the board before being counted towards a licensee’s continuing education requirements.

16.7.11.11             OTHER CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES:

A.    Applicants seeking the board’s approval of other continuing education courses must submit the following documentation to the board:

                                (1)           completed application form;

                                (2)           course syllabus for the proposed course;

                                (3)           copy of any license, registration, or certification applicable to the course, if offered by the applicant’s home jurisdiction;

                                (4)           proof of a minimum of 2 years of experience in the area of instruction;

                                (5)           applicant’s up-to-date résumé;

                                (6)           fee as outlined by 16.7.3.8 NMAC.

B.    Technique courses will only be accepted towards a licensee’s continuing education requirements if taught hands-on and live, in-person.

C.    Provided that the applicant has submitted a complete application, the board will approve or deny the course’s use towards a licensee’s continuing application requirements based on the following non-exhaustive factors:

                                (1)           whether the applicant has violated any of the board’s rules or the Massage Therapy Practice Act;

                                (2)           whether the applicant has any recent administrative disciplinary history in New Mexico or any other jurisdiction;

                                (3)           whether the applicant was dishonest in his or her application, or has a history of criminal offenses that substantially relate to the practice of massage therapy or a failure to pay child support; and

                                (4)           any other factor deemed relevant by the board.

D.    Upon receipt of a complete application, the board’s staff shall, with the consultation of the board’s application committee, make a preliminary and tentative recommendation as to whether the application should be approved or denied. This recommendation will be conveyed to the applicant in writing within 30 days of the board’s receipt of the completed application. The final decision will be made by the board at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

E.    In the event that the board’s staff tentatively recommends the denial of an application, the applicant may request in writing the opportunity to be heard at the next regularly-scheduled board meeting. Where the applicant has made a request to be heard and the board votes to deny the application, the board will issue a final written decision no later than 15 business days following the board’s meeting.

Additional Information Regarding Continuing Education or Course Approval can be found in this rule: https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title16/16.007.0011.html.