New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING › Chapter 20 - PHYSICAL THERAPISTS › Part 3 - ISSUANCE OF LICENSES › Section 16.20.3.8 - APPLICATION FOR LICENSURE

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. The
				board may issue a license to an applicant, other than one applying for
				expedited licensure or licensure by reciprocity, who fulfills the following
				requirements:
(1) completes the
				application;
(2) includes a
				passport-size photograph taken within the preceding 12 months and affixes it to
				the application;
(3) pays the
				non-refundable application fee in full as provided in Part 5;
(4) passes the jurisprudence exam (as
				specified in
				16.20.2.10 NMAC) and pays the
				non-refundable exam fee as provided in Part 5;
(5) submits official college or university
				transcripts from a program approved by the commission on accreditation in
				physical therapy education (CAPTE) verifying one of the following:
(a) post-baccalaureate degree in physical
				therapy;
(b) associate degree as a
				physical therapist assistant;
(6) if official transcripts are not available
				because of school closure or destruction of the records, e.g., the applicant
				must provide satisfactory evidence of meeting the required physical therapy
				educational program requirements by submitting documentation that will be
				considered on a case-by-case basis by the board and pursuant to the following:
(a) for applicants who graduated after
				January 1, 2002, documentation of graduation with a post-baccalaureate degree
				in physical therapy from an educational program accredited by CAPTE;
(b) for applicants who graduated prior to
				January 1, 2002, documentation of graduation with a baccalaureate degree in
				physical therapy or a certificate in physical therapy from an educational
				program accredited by CAPTE;
(c)
				for physical therapist assistant applicants, documentation of graduation from
				an accredited physical therapist assistant program accredited by CAPTE and
				approved by the board;
(7) passes the national physical therapy
				licensure examination (NPTE) (as specified in
				16.20.2.8 NMAC); if the applicant
				has previously taken the NPTE, the testing entity shall send the test scores
				directly to the board; test scores sent by individuals, organizations or other
				state boards will not be accepted.
(8) Effective February 1, 2020, all
				applicants for licensure must submit nationwide and statewide department of
				public safety (DPS) criminal history screening background check. All applicable
				application fees associated with the nationwide and statewide criminal history
				screening background check shall be paid by the applicant.
(a) Applicants will follow the criminal
				background check process required by the New Mexico department of public safety
				or its agents.
(b) Applications for
				exam or endorsement will not be processed without results of a criminal
				background check.
(c) If the
				criminal background check reveals a crime of moral turpitude or relevant felony
				or violation of the New Mexico physical therapy practice act, the applicant
				will be notified to submit copies of legal documents and other related
				information to the board that will make the determination if the applicant is
				eligible for licensure or if disciplinary action will be
				taken.