N.M. Code R. § 16.20.4.8 – Temporary Licenses for U.S. Trained Applicants

A. Upon receipt of an application form which evidences satisfactory completion of all application requirements for licensure as provided in Section 61-12-10 NMSA 1978, of the Physical Therapy Act except passage of the NPTE, the registrar of the board may issue to the applicant a non-renewable temporary license to practice physical therapy in New Mexico.
B. Under no circumstance will the non-renewable temporary license be valid for a period longer than 180 days.
C. Issuance of a temporary license may be denied if:
(1) the applicant has worked as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant without a license in New Mexico;
(2) the applicant has violated the New Mexico physical therapy and physical therapist assistant code of ethics.
(3) the applicant has failed the licensure examination in any state.
D. The holder of a temporary license must sit for the NPTE within 180 days after issuance of the temporary license. Failure to sit for the examination within 180 days automatically voids the temporary license. Where the holder of the temporary license is a foreign national, the 180 days begin to run once the foreign national has entered the United States.
E. The holder of a temporary license may work only under the direct supervision of a New Mexico unrestricted licensed physical therapist who is on-site. The supervising physical therapist may not hold a temporary license. The supervising physical therapist shall be licensed in New Mexico with a minimum of six months experience in a clinical setting. Prior to the issuance of an applicant’s temporary license, the supervising physical therapist shall file with the board a written statement assuming full responsibility for the temporary licensee’s professional activities. Filing is effective upon receipt by the board. This statement shall remain in effect until licensure of the temporary licensee, or until expiration of the temporary license.
F. The temporary licensee may not provide physical therapy services until the temporary license is received and is posted in a conspicuous place at the temporary licensee’s principle place of practice.
G. No supervising physical therapist shall be responsible for the simultaneous supervision of more than two temporary licensees.
H. The supervising physical therapist shall co-sign all evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries written by the temporary licensee.
I. The temporary license shall state the name and address of the licensee’s place of employment. Should the place of employment or the employer change during the period of temporary licensure, the temporary licensee must notify the board of any such change within five workdays of termination of employment. A new temporary supervisory form from the new employer will be required before a revised temporary license is issued. The board will issue a revised temporary license as per the fee schedule as set forth in 16.20.5 NMAC, for each issuance; however, the date of issue and expiration will remain the same as the first temporary license.
J. The temporary supervisory form may be obtained from the board office.
[03-29-83; 2/191988; 08-01-89; 09-03-92; 02-01-95; Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.4, 10/15/1997; 16.20.4.8 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.4.8, 8/31/2000; A, 03-02-06; A, 01-12-08; A, 08-01-09; A, 08-16-10; A, 09-30-14]