1. A. The board will issue an expedited license to an applicant who is a military service member or veteran based on prior licensure in a jurisdiction other than New Mexico upon the applicant’s submission of a complete application containing all of the following:

   1. (1) a completed and signed application form;
   2. (2) proof of current licensure in another jurisdiction;
   3. (3) proof of good standing for the applicant’s out of state license;
   4. (4) submission of fingerprints and other information necessary for a state and national background check; and

   5. (5) Submission of the following documentation:

      1. (a) for military service member: a copy of military orders;
      2. (b) for spouse of military service members: copy of military service member’s military orders, and copy of marriage license;
      3. (c) for spouses of deceased military service members: copy of decedent’s DD 214 and copy of marriage license;
      4. (d) 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;
      5. (e) for veterans (retired or separated): a copy of DD 214 showing proof of honorable discharge.
2. B. An expedited license application shall not be deemed complete until the applicant has submitted, and the board’s staff is in receipt of, all of the materials required by subsection A, including documentation from third parties.
3. C. Upon submission of a complete application, the board’s staff shall process the application according to licensing protocol and issue the expedited license to the applicant within 30 days unless the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978.

4. D. If the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978:

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

5. E. Duration of expedited licenses:

   1. (1) The first licensure period will be for up to one year from the issuance of the license, with the expiration being correlated to the last day of the applicant’s birth month, according to licensing processes. Continuing education will be prorated.
   2. (2) The first renewal period will be for two years from the date of the first expiration date of the first licensure period.
   3. (3) A licensee holding an expedited license may apply for license renewal in the manner provided by the board’s rules. If the licensee holding an expedited license was not required by the licensee’s original jurisdiction outside of New Mexico to pass the NCLEX, the licensee shall be required to take and pass the NCLEX as a prerequisite to the renewal of the expedited license.
   4. (4) Upon renewal, an expedited license shall become a regular single state license.
   5. (5) If the military expedited licensure holder requests a multistate RN or LPN license, all requirements of the nurse licensure compact must be met, including completion of another background check. The fee for a multistate license will not be waived.

6. F. Military service members and veterans shall not pay and the board shall not charge a licensing fee for the first three years for a license issued pursuant to this rule.

   HISTORY of 16.12.2 NMAC:

   Pre-NMAC History:

   The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with the state records center and archives under: BON 73-1, rules and regulations of the Nursing Practice Act, filed 3/13/1973; BON 78-1, administrative rules and regulations of the New Mexico board of nursing, filed 11/2/1978; Bon Manual #83-1, administrative rules and regulations of the New Mexico board of nursing, filed 6/13/1983; BON Manual #85-1, administrative rules and regulations of the New Mexico board of nursing, filed 8/13/1985; BON Manual #91-2, administrative rules and regulations of the New Mexico board of nursing, filed 10/9/1991.

   History of the Repealed Material:

   16.12.2 NMAC, Nurse Licensure, filed 6/12/2001 - Repealed effective 10/1/2016.

   16.12.2 NMAC, Nurse Licensure, filed 9/1/2016 - Repealed effective 12/13/2022.

   Other History: 16 NMAC 12.2, Nursing and Health Care Related Providers & Nurse Licensure filed 12/10/1997, renumber, reformatted and amended to 16.12.2 NMAC effective 7/30/2001.

   16.12.2 NMAC, Nurse Licensure, filed 9/1/2016 was replaced by 16.12.2 NMAC, Nurse Licensure, effective 12/13/2022.

[16.12.2.15 NMAC - N, 12/13/2022 A; 5/21/2024]