1. A. The process for approval of continuing education is as follows:
2. (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, licensee’s 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;
3. (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;
4. (3) the course sponsor or licensee whose request has been denied may appeal the denial at the next board meeting; and
5. (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.
6. B. Programs must follow the criteria and guidelines established by the board as follows to receive continuing education credit:
7. (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;
8. (2) each program addresses needs (problems and issues) faced by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants;
9. (3) each program has specific written learning outcomes (objectives) based on identified needs;
10. (4) each program is planned and conducted by qualified individuals;
11. (5) program content and instructional methods for each program are based on learning objectives; and
12. (6) participants demonstrate their attainment of the learning outcomes, (i.e., various methods can be used such as: questions, discussions, written oral exercises, problems, case studies, etc.); and
13. (7) programs approved by the APTA will be automatically accepted by the board.
14. C. Final determination of values of continuing education will remain at the discretion of the board.
15. D. Programs considered appropriate for continuing education, include, but are not limited to those listed below.
16. (1) Live programs, (i.e., various programs such as workshops, in-service two-way video conferencing, etc.) awarded by providing the board with the following:
17. (a) certificate of completion;
18. (b) course schedule;
19. (c) learning outcomes (objectives); and
20. (d) name of instructor and credentials; 30 contact hours will be accepted).
21. (2) In the case of university or college courses taken for credit, provide the board with:
22. (a) name of course;
23. (b) number of course credit hours;
24. (c) inclusive dates of attendance;
25. (d) name of instructor and instructor’s credentials;
26. (e) published course description from college or university;
27. (f) completed transcript or grade report with a passing grade of “C” or better;
28. (g) name of institution; and
29. (h) brief course summary demonstrating the course’s relationship to physical therapy; (maximum 30) contact hours are awarded for each three credit course).
30. (3) Physician in-service programs or regular physical therapy staff in-service programs, provide the board with:
31. (a) name of program;
32. (b) number of hours spent in program;
33. (c) inclusive dates of attendance;
34. (d) name of instructor or supervisor of program; documentation of instructor background and expertise;
35. (e) name of institution; and
36. (f) brief course summary demonstrating the course’s relationship to physical therapy; (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).
37. (4) Management courses: (maximum allowed biennially is 15 contact hours.)
38. (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:
39. (a) proof of preparation may be an outline, copy of handouts, copy and
40. (b) a copy of the agenda showing name of licensee as presenter; (maximum allowed biennially is 15 contact hours);
41. (c) contact hours for the presenter will be calculated at three times the number of hours of audience participation (e.g., a two hour workshop equals six hours for the presenter).
42. (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.)
43. (7) Reading journal articles, provide the board the following:
44. (a) title of article and journal;
45. (b) author and author’s credentials’; and
46. (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).
47. (8) Conducting physical therapy research, provide the board the following:
48. (a) title and description of research project, including brief timeline;
49. (b) names of other persons involved in project (i.e., co-investigators or supervisors);
50. (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;
51. (d) a brief statement indicating how participation in the project is benefiting the applicant’s therapy skills or research skills; and
52. (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).
53. (9) Home study courses, awarded by providing the board with the following:
54. (a) certificate of completion;
55. (b) course schedule;
56. (c) learning outcomes (objectives); and
57. (d) name of instructor and credentials; (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).
58. (10) Internet courses, awarded by providing the board with the following:
59. (a) certificate of completion;
60. (b) course schedule;
61. (c) learning outcomes (objectives); and
62. (d) name of instructor and credentials; (maximum allowed biennially is 30 contact hours).
63. (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.
64. (12) Courses where certificates of attendance are not issued, provide the board the following:
65. (a) a canceled check for the course registration fee (submit copy of front and back of check);
66. (b) proof of transportation (i.e., copy of plane ticket and hotel receipt); and
67. (c) list of courses attended and hours attended (i.e., copy descriptions of courses and hours from program agenda).
68. (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.
69. (14) Residencies, fellowships, and examinations.
70. (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.
71. (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.
72. (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.
73. (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:
74. (a) certificate of completion;
75. (b) course schedule;
76. (c) learning outcomes (objectives); and
77. (d) name of instructor and credentials; (the maximum number of contact hours awarded will be accepted).
78. (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:
79. (a) proof of attendance;
80. (b) outline of agenda; and
81. (c) name of instructor and instructor’s credentials; (maximum allowed biennially is eight contact hours or four contact hours annually).
82. E. Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to:
83. (1) orientation and in-service programs dealing with organizational structures, processes, or procedures;
84. (2) meetings for purposes of policy making;
85. (3) annual association, chapter, district, or organizational and non-educational meetings;
86. (4) entertainment or recreational meetings or activities;
87. (5) committee meetings, holding of offices, serving as an organizational delegate;
88. (6) visiting exhibits; and

89. (7) CPR education.

    HISTORY of 16.20.8 NMAC:

    Pre-NMAC History: The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with State Records and Archives:

    Rule 80-1, Continuing Education, filed 4/18/1980

    Rule 80-2, New Rules and Regulations (Continuing Education), filed 4/18/1980

    Rule 83-8, Continuing Education, filed 3/29/1983

    Rule 88-7, Continuing Education, filed 2/19/1988

    Rule 89-7, Continuing Education, filed 8/1/1989

    Rule 91-7, Continuing Education, filed 5/8/1991

    Rule 92-7, Continuing Education, filed 9/3/1992

    Rule 92-7, Continuing Education, filed 1/28/1993

    Rule 89-11, Preferred Provider of Continuing Education Units, filed 8/1/1989

    Rule 91-11, Preferred Provider of Continuing Education Units, filed 5/8/1991

    Rule 92-11, Preferred Provider of Continuing Education Units, filed 9/3/1992.

    History of the Repealed Material:

    16.20.8 NMAC, Renewal Requirements and Continuing Education (filed 8/14/2000) Repealed effective 2/24/2022

    Other History:

    Rule 92-7, Continuing Education (filed 1/28/1993) renumbered, reformatted, amended and replaced by 16 NMAC 20.8, Continuing Education, effective 10/15/1997.

    16 NMAC 20.8, Continuing Education (filed 9/30/1997) renumbered, reformatted, amended and replaced by 16.20.8 NMAC, Continuing Education, effective 8/31/2000.

    16.20.8 NMAC, Renewal Requirements and Continuing Education (filed 8/14/2000) Replaced by 16.20.8 NMAC, Renewal Requirements and Continuing Education, effective 2/24/2022

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