1. A. Listed below are pre-approved methods for acquiring CPE hours. Hours must be relevant to the design professions that are recognized as landscape architects, engineers, and architects. The conversion of hours or credit is as follows:

   1. (1) three college semester hours: 30 hours per biennium;
   2. (2) three college quarter hours: 20 hours per biennium;
   3. (3) each continuing education unit: 10 hours per biennium;
   4. (4) professional development in course work, seminars, professional conventions, workshops related to design professions: hour per hour of lecture time per biennium;
   5. (5) teaching credit (valid for teaching a course or seminar for the first time only): 15 hours per biennium;
   6. (6) each published professionally related paper, article, or book: 10 hours per biennium;
   7. (7) each professional presentation when presented at a national, state, regional or municipal program for the first time only: three hours per biennium;
   8. (8) serving on federal, state or municipal boards and commissions as a design professional where one is elected or appointed: one hour per month of service not to exceed 24 hours per biennium;
   9. (9) active participation in professional and technical societies and their committees: four hours per biennium;
   10. (10) committee chair or elected official of a professional technical society: eight hours per biennium;
   11. (11) active participation in a public board specifically related to the practice of landscape architecture; licensee must not receive a salary and is only paid pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act: eight hours per biennium;
   12. (12) business related courses: 10 hours per biennium;
   13. (13) self-improvement courses: 6 hours per biennium
   14. (14) short subjects for design professionals, i.e. CLARB, NCARB etc.: as established by sponsor.

2. B. Determination of credit: The board has final authority with respect to approval of courses, credit, CPE value for courses, and other methods of earning credit.

   1. (1) Credit for college or community college approved courses will be based upon course credit established by the college.
   2. (2) Credit for seminars, workshops, professional conventions and course/activities may be as recommended by the professional societies.
   3. (3) Educational travel/independent study credit allowed shall not exceed eight hours of occurrence with a maximum of 16 hours per biennium.

3. C. Exemptions: A registered landscape architect may be exempt, upon board review and approval, from CPE requirements in any of the following situations:

   1. (1) the new landscape architect’s first renewal period is less than one year from the original date of licensure;
   2. (2) a landscape architect is called to active duty in the armed forces for a period of time exceeding 120 consecutive days in a calendar year; this individual may be exempt from obtaining one-half of the required CPE during the current biennium;
   3. (3) a landscape architect experiences physical disability or illness that prevents the landscape architect from practicing landscape architecture; the landscape architect shall provide supporting documentation for the board’s review and approval; if the landscape architect elects to return to practice, the landscape architect shall complete all CPE hours required during the current biennium.
4. D. Audit: Upon request, each registered landscape architect shall provide proof of satisfying the CPE requirements. If the landscape architect fails to furnish the information to the board or if the information is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements, the licensee shall not be renewed.
5. E. Disallowance: If the board disallows one or more CPE activities claimed, the board may, at its discretion, allow the registered landscape architect up to 120 days after notification to substantiate the original claim or to complete other CPE activities sufficient to meet the minimum requirements.

6. F. Noncompliance: A registrant who does not satisfy the CPE requirement for registration renewal will be placed on probationary status and so notified by the board following the renewal date. The registrant must comply within six months following the renewal date or the registration may be classified as suspended. The contact hours needed to fulfill the prior biennial period requirement shall not be included in the subsequent renewal period. Failure of a registrant to satisfy the CPE requirements for registration renewal may be cause for the board to deny license renewal for the licensee.

   HISTORY OF 16.44.5 NMAC:

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

   LAB 85-1, Rules and Regulations filed 11-27-85;

   LAB 85-1, Rules and Regulations filed 12-02-85;

   LAB 89-1, Rules and Regulations filed 05-05-89;

   Rule 8 NMBLA, Failure to Renew filed 07-08-92;

   Rule 9 NMBLA, Continuing Education filed 07-08-92.

   History of Repealed Material:

   16 NMAC 44.5, Renewal and Continuing Education - Repealed, 10-05-02.

   16.44.5 NMAC, Renewal and Continuing Education, filed 9-5-2002 - Repealed effective 9-30-16.

[16.44.5.9 NMAC - Rp, 16.44.5.9 NMAC, 9-30-16]