Instructors, Training Requirements, and Continuing Education

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Instructors, Training Requirements, and Continuing Education

Physical Therapy: Instructors, Training Requirements, and Continuing Education

Licensure qualifications, licensure from foreign schools, temporary licenses, and reinstatement

A. An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist shall submit a completed application and have the following minimum qualifications:

(1) be a graduate of an accredited physical therapy program approved by the board;

(2) have successfully passed the national physical therapy examination approved by the board; and

(3) have successfully passed the state jurisprudence examination.

B. An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist who has been educated outside the United States shall submit a completed application and meet the following minimum qualifications in addition to those required in Subsection A of this section:

(1) provide satisfactory evidence that the applicant’s education is substantially equivalent to the requirements of physical therapists educated in accredited educational programs in the United States, as determined by the board. If the board determines that a foreign-educated applicant’s education is not substantially equivalent, it may require completion of additional coursework before proceeding with the application process;

(2) provide evidence that the applicant is a graduate of a school of training that is recognized by the foreign country’s own ministry of education or similar institution;

(3) provide written proof of authorization to practice as a physical therapist without limitations in the legal jurisdiction where the postsecondary institution from which the applicant has graduated is located;

(4) have the applicant’s educational credentials evaluated by a board-approved credential evaluation agency; and

(5) participate in an interim supervised clinical practice period as may be prescribed by the board.

C. The board may issue an interim permit to a foreign-trained applicant who satisfies the board’s requirements. An interim permit shall be issued for the purpose of participating in a supervised clinical practice period.

D. If the foreign-educated physical therapist applicant is a graduate of a college accredited by the commission on accreditation in physical therapy education, the board shall waive requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), (4), and (5) of Subsection B of this section.

E. An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist assistant shall submit a completed application and meet the following minimum requirements:

(1) be a graduate of an accredited physical therapist assistant program approved by the board; and

(2) have successfully passed the national physical therapy examination approved by the board.

F. An applicant for licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall file a written application on forms provided by the board. A nonrefundable application fee and the cost of the examination shall accompany the completed written application.

G. Applicants who fail to pass the examinations shall be subject to requirements determined by board regulations prior to being approved by the board for subsequent testing.

H. The board or its designee shall issue an expedited license to a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has a valid unrestricted license from another United States licensing jurisdiction.

I. Prior to licensure, if prescribed by the board, the board or its designee may issue a temporary nonrenewable license to a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who has completed the education and experience requirements of the Physical Therapy Act. The temporary license shall allow the applicant to practice physical therapy under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist until a permanent license is approved that shall include passing the national physical therapy examination.

J. The board or its designee may issue a temporary license to a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant performing physical therapy while teaching an educational seminar who has met the requirements established by regulation of the board.

K. A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under the provisions of the Physical Therapy Act shall renew the physical therapist’s or physical therapist assistant’s license as specified in board rules. A person who fails to renew their license by the date of expiration shall not practice physical therapy as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant in New Mexico.

L. Reinstatement of a lapsed license following a renewal deadline requires payment of a renewal fee and late fee.

M. Reinstatement of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license that has lapsed for more than 3 years, without evidence of continued practice in another state pursuant to a valid unrestricted license in that state, requires reapplication and payment of fees, as specified in board rules. The board shall promulgate rules establishing the qualifications for reinstatement of a lapsed license.

N. The board may establish, by rule, activities to periodically assess continuing competence to practice physical therapy.

O. A physical therapist shall refer a patient to the patient’s licensed health care provider if:

(1) after 30 days of initiating physical therapy intervention, the patient has not made measurable or functional improvement with respect to the primary complaints of the patient; provided that the 30-day limit shall not apply to:

(a) treatment provided for a condition related to a chronic, neuromuscular or developmental condition for a patient previously diagnosed by a licensed health care provider as having a chronic, neuromuscular or developmental condition;

(b) services provided for health promotion, wellness, fitness or maintenance purposes; or

(c) services provided to a patient who is participating in a program pursuant to an individual education plan or individual family service plan under federal law; or

(2) at any time, the physical therapist has reason to believe the patient has symptoms or conditions requiring treatment that is beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist.

P. As used in this section, “licensed health care provider” means:

(1) a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician licensed pursuant to the Medical Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 6 NMSA 1978];

(2) a chiropractic physician licensed pursuant to the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 4 NMSA 1978];

(3) a podiatrist licensed pursuant to the Podiatry Act [Chapter 61, Article 8 NMSA 1978];

(4) a dentist licensed pursuant to the Dental Health Care Act [Chapter 61, Article 5A NMSA 1978];

(5) a doctor of oriental medicine licensed pursuant to the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 14A NMSA 1978];

(6) a certified nurse practitioner licensed pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 3 NMSA 1978];

(7) a certified nurse-midwife licensed pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act and registered with the public health division of the Department of Health as a certified nurse-midwife;

(8) a certified nurse specialist licensed pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act; or

(9) a physician assistant licensed pursuant to the Medical Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 6 NMSA 1978].

Foreign-trained applicants must submit an FCCPT report or CGFNS report with a visa verification to be considered for application. Applicants would still need to provide a notarized form for a background check through the Department of Public Safety, as well as official transcripts and an official verification or existing state licenses.

Continuing Education Requirement

Continuing education is required for license renewal of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in order to ensure that New Mexico licensees are providing the highest quality professional services.

Licenses that have been expired for longer than a year must provide evidence of 15 continuing education hours per year expired to be considered. Please keep in mind before submitting applications that application fees are nonrefundable, and applications without continuing education hours to correspond with every year expired will be held until those hours are provided.

A. 30 hours of continuing education will be required biennially, except those who will renew their license for the first time. No continuing education is required of those who are renewing for the first time. All continuing education hours must be earned during the current 2-year renewal period of February 1 through January 31.

B. 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.

C. Licensees serving in the armed forces reserve or National Guard.

The license of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who does not earn the required continuing education contact hours as provided in this section due to their 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 physical therapist or physical therapist assistant 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 physical therapist’s or physical therapist assistant’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 their licensure as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.

[16.20.8.9 NMAC – Rp, 16.20.8.9 NMAC, 2/24/2022]

Continuing Education Credit Carryover

No carryover hours will be permitted. Thirty continuing education hours must be earned during the current two year renewal period of February 1 through January 31.

[16.20.8.10 NMAC – Rp, 16.20.8.10 NMAC, 2/24/2022]

Failure to Meet Continuing Education Requirements

Failure to meet continuing education requirements will cause the board to refuse to renew the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant license in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act.

[16.20.8.11 NMAC – Rp, 16.20.8.11 NMAC, 2/24/2022]

Approval of Continuing Education Contact Hours

A. The process for approval of continuing education is as follows:

(1) the board or its designee will approve each request for continuing education credit; course approval must be requested by the course sponsor prior to the course or retroactively; however, licensees are not required to obtain approval but can request approval prior to a course or retroactively to ascertain that a course is acceptable as continuing education;

(2) the party requesting approval will be informed of the board’s or designee’s determination within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request;

(3) the course sponsor or licensee whose request has been denied may appeal the denial at the next board meeting; and

(4) the same program may be provided more than one time and at different locations within the calendar year in which the fee was paid without the payment of additional fees.

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

(1) 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;

(2) each program addresses needs (problems and issues) faced by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants;

(3) each program has specific written learning outcomes (objectives) based on identified needs;

(4) each program is planned and conducted by qualified individuals;

(5) program content and instructional methods for each program are based on learning objectives; and

(6) participants demonstrate their attainment of the learning outcomes, (e.g., various methods can be used such as questions, discussions, written oral exercises, problems, case studies, etc.); and

(7) programs approved by the APTA will be automatically accepted by the board.

C. Final determination of values of continuing education will remain at the discretion of the board.

D. Programs considered appropriate for continuing education, include, but are not limited to those listed below.

(1) Live programs, (e.g., various programs such as workshops, in-service 2-way video conferencing, etc.) awarded by providing the board with the following:

(a) certificate of completion;

(b) course schedule;

(c) learning outcomes (objectives); and

(d) name of instructor and credentials (30 contact hours will be accepted).

(2) In the case of university or college courses taken for credit, provide the board with:

(a) name of course;

(b) number of course credit hours;

(c) inclusive dates of attendance;

(d) name of instructor and instructor’s credentials;

(e) published course description from college or university;

(f) completed transcript or grade report with a passing grade of “C” or better;

(g) name of institution; and

(h) brief course summary demonstrating the course’s relationship to physical therapy; (maximum 30) contact hours are awarded for each three credit course).

(3) Physician in-service programs or regular physical therapy staff in-service programs, provide the board with:

(a) name of program;

(b) number of hours spent in program;

(c) inclusive dates of attendance;

(d) name of instructor or supervisor of program; documentation of instructor background and expertise;

(e) name of institution; and

(f) brief course summary demonstrating the course’s relationship to physical therapy; (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).

(4) Management courses: (maximum allowed biennially is 15 contact hours.)

(5) 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:

(a) proof of preparation may be an outline, copy of handouts

(b) a copy of the agenda showing name of licensee as presenter (maximum allowed biennially is 15 contact hours);

(c) contact hours for the presenter will be calculated at three times the number of hours of audience participation (e.g., a 2-hour workshop equals 6 hours for the presenter).

(6) Certificate courses for an advanced specialty, provide the board a certificate of completion signed by the program sponsor. (Maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours.)

(7) Reading journal articles, provide the board the following:

(a) title of article and journal;

(b) author and author’s credentials; and

(c) 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 15 contact hours)

(8) Conducting physical therapy research, provide the board the following:

(a) title and description of research project, including brief timeline;

(b) names of other persons involved in project (e.g., co-investigators or supervisors);

(c) 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;

(d) a brief statement indicating how participation in the project is benefiting the applicant’s therapy skills or research skills; and

(e) 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; (the board will determine the number of contact hours allowed); (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).

(9) Home study courses, awarded by providing the board with the following:

(a) certificate of completion;

(b) course schedule;

(c) learning outcomes (objectives); and

(d) name of instructor and credentials; (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).

(10) Internet courses, awarded by providing the board with the following:

(a) certificate of completion;

(b) course schedule;

(c) learning outcomes (objectives); and

(d) name of instructor and credentials; (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).

(11) 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.

(12) Courses where certificates of attendance are not issued, provide the board the following:

(a) a canceled check for the course registration fee (submit copy of front and back of check);

(b) proof of transportation (e.g., copy of plane ticket and hotel receipt); and

(c) list of courses attended and hours attended (e.g., copy descriptions of courses and hours from program agenda).

(13) 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 continuing education contact hour may be approved for each 40 contact hours of supervision in clinical education. The maximum number of continuing education contact hours approved for supervision in clinical education is 15 contact hours biennially.

(14) Residencies, fellowships, and examinations.

(a) 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 30 biennially.

(b) Successful completion of an American physical therapy association (APTA) credentialed residency or fellowship program may be submitted for continuing education consideration. The maximum number of continuing education contact hours is 30 biennially.

(c) Successful completion of an examination of the federation of state boards of physical therapy pertaining to continued competence may be submitted for continuing education consideration. The maximum number of continuing education contact hours is 30 biennially.

(15) The American physical therapy association code of ethics for physical therapists and standards of ethical conduct for physical therapist assistants, online course or live program, awarded by providing the board with the following:

(a) certificate of completion;

(b) course schedule;

(c) learning outcomes (objectives); and

(d) name of instructor and credentials; (the maximum number of contact hours awarded will be accepted).

(16) Education presentations on state and federal legislative updates, and APTA house of delegates at NMAPTA business meetings, awarded by providing the board with the following:

(a) proof of attendance;

(b) outline of agenda; and

(c) name of instructor and instructor’s credentials; (maximum allowed biennially is eight contact hours or four contact hours annually).

E. Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to:

(1) orientation and in-service programs dealing with organizational structures, processes, or procedures;

(2) meetings for purposes of policy making;

(3) annual association, chapter, district, or organizational and non-educational meetings;

(4) entertainment or recreational meetings or activities;

(5) committee meetings, holding of offices, serving as an organizational delegate;

(6) visiting exhibits; and

(7) CPR education.