FAQs

• Upon receiving all required licensing information, the board has up to five business days to issue a license. (NOTE: Applications containing previous disciplinary action or a history of felonies or misdemeanors are held for board review at the next scheduled board meeting, and a license will not be issued until the board approves the application. Applicable background information will be required prior to review.)

• No. Our administrative rules require transcripts be sent directly from the college or university to the board office.

• The jurisprudence exam is an open book exam, which covers questions related to regulation and licensing for practicing in New Mexico. You must review the rules and regulations prior to taking the examination. Passing score is 80% or better.

• $350 National Exam fee which MUST be made payable to FSBPT. An applicant can register and pay for the exam online at: http://www.fsbpt.net/pt/index/cfm. Additional information on testing sites will be provided to you when you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter from FSBPT. For information on cancelation, retakes, etc. contact FSBPT.

• Up to five business days from the time your name appears on the FSBPT website and from the time the board receives your score report.

• You will need a letter from your physician confirming the disability and make arrangements with the board office so that proper arrangements are made with FSBPT.

• Yes. Only new graduates are eligible for a temporary licensure. If you have recently graduated and are waiting for your official transcripts, a letter from the program director stating that the curriculum has been completed will be acceptable until official transcripts are received. The temporary license is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. If a candidate fails the exam, the temporary license is immediately canceled. A temporary supervisory form MUST be completed, notarized, and received by the board with the initial application.

• You are required to submit (30) contact hours with your biennial renewal, which is February 1. Upon licensure, refer to the expiration date listed on license. 

• Programs must follow the criteria and guidelines established by the board as follows to receive continuing education credit:

                                  (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;

                                  (2)           each program addresses needs (problems and issues) faced by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants;

                                  (3)           each program has specific written learning outcomes (objectives) based on identified needs;

                                  (4)           each program is planned and conducted by qualified individuals;

                                  (5)           program content and instructional methods for each program are based on learning objectives; and

                                  (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

                                  (7)           programs approved by the APTA will be automatically accepted by the board.

  1. Final determination of values of continuing education will remain at the discretion of the board.

   

License verifications will be sent to the other state within 2–5 business days of receipt and can be requested without a fee on our licensee website portal: https://nmrldlpi.my.site.com/bcd/s/login/

Joining the New Mexico Physical Therapy Board as a public member is available to anyone, with appointments made by New Mexico’s governor. To apply to be considered for nomination, a formal request can be sent to the board email: Physical.Therapy@rld.nm.gov.

Yes, if you have an official report that contains the equivalency standards to practice in New Mexico from FCCPT (https://www.fccpt.org/) or from CGFNS (https://www.cgfns.org/) along with a copy of your visa, you can submit an application. Please note that you still will have to complete a required DPS background check to complete the application process.

Your educational study should be in an approved course for Physical Therapy as designated by CAPTE (https://aptaapps.apta.org//accreditedschoolsdirectory/captedirectory.aspx) and must meet the eligibility requirements to take the national exam. Once you have met the eligibility requirements you can submit an application for licensure and provide the exam eligibility or score report.

A.

Yes, the New Mexico Physical Therapy Board allows for licensed individuals in other jurisdictions to hold a temporary instructor license to teach an in-person course with hands-on demonstrations for participants.

The form will cost $50 and will be valid until the end of the calendar year and specifically be valid for the designated courses. An official verification of the applicant’s home license must be submitted to the board prior to license issuance.

16.20.4.10             TEMPORARY LICENSES FOR PT’S OR PTA’S TEACHING AN EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR:

5. Completion of an instructor license application and pay the non-refundable application fee as provided in Part 5.
6. The instructing physical therapist must provide the board with proof of a valid current license from the state in which they are currently practicing.  This verification of licensure must be received by the New Mexico board directly from the state board where the instructing therapist is licensed.
7. A temporary license may not be used to practice physical therapy for any other purposes than for the continuing education program for which it was issued.
8. This section applies only to educational seminars which include hands-on demonstrations.
9. A temporary license for an instructor shall only be valid through the end of the calendar year in which the license is issued.

[10/15/1997; 16.20.4.10 NMAC – Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.4.10, 8/31/2000; A, 3/2/2006; A, 8/16/2010; A, 7/28/2019]