Licensing, Registration, and Renewal

A candidate for expedited licensure under Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978 must submit to the board a complete application containing all the following:

• A completed and signed application form;
• Proof of current licensure in an eligible jurisdiction as defined in rule;
• Certificate of good standing for the license held by the applicant in an eligible jurisdiction;
• Payment of the required application fee.

LIST OF DISAPPROVED LICENSING JURISDICTIONS; REASONS. Applicants licensed in the following states and territories of the United States shall not be eligible for expedited licensure under Section 61-2-9 of the Optometry Act:

• American Samoa, on the grounds that education and licensure examination requirements cannotbe determined to be consistent with those requirements in New 
• Unless the applicant holds both an optometrist license and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certification, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, and Guam, on the grounds that New Mexico includes the scope of practice for therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certification as part of its optometrist licensing requirements

An expedited license shall be valid for the same length of time as a regular license issued by the board and must be renewed on or before July of each year, as provided by 16.16.10.8 and 9 NMAC.

A licensee holding an expedited license may apply for license renewal in the manner provided by the board’s rules, provided that upon renewal, the licensee must also satisfy the following examination requirements:

• Each licensee shall be required to pass the board’s licensing examination, including both the jurisprudence examination and the clinical practicum examination.
• At least 10 calendar days prior to examination, the licensee must provide the board a list of the names of any New Mexico licensed optometrists with whom the applicant is acquainted, has a professional or personal affiliation, or would feel uncomfortable being examined. Failure to provide this information prior to the examination may disqualify the candidate from the exam.
• The licensee must bring a copy of the board’s examination policy and procedures document to the clinical examination and sign it in the presence of the board’s representative in attestation that the candidate has read the document. A copy of the document will become a part of the candidate’s examination records.
• Each candidate will be assigned an identification number that will be the sole means of candidate identification throughout the administration and scoring of the examination.
• The licensee must pass each section of the board’s licensing examination with a 75% score or better in order to qualify for renewal.
• If the licensee holding an expedited license was not required by the licensee’s prior jurisdiction outside of New Mexico to pass the Part 1, Part II, Part III, or the TMOD of the NBEO, the licensee shall be required to do so as a prerequisite to license renewal.
• Upon renewal, the board shall issue a regular license to a licensee holding an expedited license issued pursuant to these rules.

A candidate for expedited licensure under Section 61-1-34-NMSA 1978 must submit to the board a complete application containing all the following:

• A completed and signed application form;
• Proof of current licensure in another jurisdiction;
• Certificate of good standing for the license held by the applicant in another jurisdiction, including a branch of the United States armed forces;
• Submission of the following documentation:
  • for military service member, a copy of military orders;
  • for spouse of military service members, copy of military service member’s military orders, and copy of marriage license;
  • for spouses of deceased military service members, a copy of decedent’s DD214 and copy of marriage license;
  • for dependent children of military service members, a copy of military service member’s orders listing dependent child, or a copy of military orders and one of the following: a copy of birth certificate, military service member’s federal tax return, or other governmental or judicial documentation establishing dependency;
  • for veterans (retired or separated), a copy of DD214 showing proof of honorable discharge.

If the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-2-13-NMSA 1978:

• The matter of the applicant’s application shall be submitted to the board for consideration and action at its next available regular meeting;
• The license may not be issued within 30 days of submission of the complete application; and,
• The board may vote to grant the application or refer the matter to its administrative prosecutor for denial of the application as provided by the board’s rules.

A military service member or veteran who is issued an expedited license shall not be charged any initial licensing fees or renewal fees for the first 3 years of licensure with the board.

Licenses must be renewed on or before July 1 of each year to be considered current. A license renewal notification will be sent at least 45 days prior to the expiration date of the license. It is the responsibility of the licensee to keep the board informed of any changes in home or employment addresses and phone numbers. It is a licensee’s responsibility to renew a license. Failure to receive the renewal notification shall not relieve the licensee of the responsibility of renewing the license by the expiration date.

All current New Mexico optometry licenses not renewed by July 1 of every year shall be considered expired. To renew the license the following shall be submitted to the board office:

• A completed license renewal application, including proof of any disqualifying criminal convictions as defined in 16.16.21.12 NMAC;
• Verification of continuing education;
• A current CPR certification; and
• Nonrefundable applicable renewal fee of $300.

PLEASE NOTE:

• The CPR course should be completed with either the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI).  The CPR course cannot be a self-study.
• CPR is not considered continuing education.
• The board may audit any licensee’s continuing education documentation for the current licensing year and the 2 previous years.

Optometry Application Packet

State-by-State Scope of Practice

Optometry Reactivation Application