TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
CHAPTER 5 DENTISTRY (DENTISTS, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, ETC.)
PART 23 DENTAL HYGIENISTS, CONTINUING EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS
16.5.23.1 ISSUING AGENCY: New Mexico board
of dental health care.
[16.5.23.1 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.1
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.2 SCOPE: The provisions
of Part 23 of Chapter 5 apply to all licensed dental hygienists who are applying
to renew their license.
[16.5.23.2 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.2
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.3 STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: Part 23 of Chapter 5 is promulgated pursuant to
the Dental Health Care Act, Section 61-5A-10 NMSA 1978 (1996 Repl. Pamp.).
[16.5.23.3 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.3
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[16.5.23.4 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.4
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.5 EFFECTIVE
DATE:
April 21, 2026 unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.
[16.5.23.5 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.5
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.6 OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria
for continuing education for dental hygienists licensed in New Mexico.
[16.5.23.6 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.6
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
[16.5.23.7 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.7
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.8 HOURS
REQUIRED: Forty five hours of continuing education are required
during each triennial renewal cycle as defined in 16.5.1 NMAC. Continuing education received after submission
of renewal materials but prior to actual expiration date may be used for the requirements
of the next renewal cycle. Continuing education
requirements are pro-rated at 15 hours per year for individuals licensed for less
than three years. Initial licenses issued
for less than a full year require 15 hours of continuing education for the first
renewal.
[16.5.23.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.8
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.9 COURSES
REQUIRED: Continuing education coursework must contribute
directly to the practice of dental hygiene and must comply with the requirements
of 16.5.1.15 NMAC of these rules. The following
courses are required for license renewal:
A. Proof of current basic life support (BLS) or
cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
accepted by the American heart association, the American heart association
(AHA), the American red cross (ARC), or the American safety and health institute/health
and safety institute (ASHI/HSI); cannot
be a self-study course.
B. infection
control: as further defined in 16.5.1.16
NMAC, a course in infection control techniques and sterilization procedures per
renewal period.
C. Ethics and jurisprudence. Proof of completion of a course
in ethics or jurisprudence that includes topics related to the New Mexico dental
health care act and board rules.
[16.5.23.9 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.9
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.10 VERIFICATION
OF CONTINUING EDUCATION: The committee will select renewal applications
for verification of continuing education.
Audit requests will be included with the renewal notice and those selected
individuals will be asked to submit proof of compliance with the continuing education
requirements. Continuing education records may be audited by the committee at any
time. The records identified in Subsection
F of 16.5.1.15 NMAC are considered acceptable forms of documentation. Continuing education records must be maintained
for four years.
[16.5.23.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.10
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
16.5.23.11 EMERGENCY
DEFERRAL:
A. A
licensee unable to fulfill the continuing education requirements may apply to the
committee for an emergency deferral of the requirements due to extenuating circumstances
as defined in 16.5.1.7 NMAC. Deferrals of
up to four months may be granted by a designee of the committee.
B. A
licensee practicing or residing outside the United States shall not be required
to fulfill the continuing education requirements for the period of the absence.
(1) The committee must be notified prior to license expiration that
the licensee will be outside the US, including the period of the absence.
(2) Upon return to the US, the licensee shall complete the continuing
education required for the years of practice within the US during the renewal cycle,
or apply for an emergency deferral.
[16.5.23.11 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.23.11
NMAC, 4/21/2026]
HISTORY OF 16.5.23 NMAC:
Pre-NMAC History: The material in this part was derived from that
previously filed with the commission of public records - state records center and
archives as:
Article XIII, Disciplinary Proceedings,
filed 3/12/1981.
Article XIII, Disciplinary Proceedings,
filed 1/12/1982.
Article XIII, Disciplinary Proceedings,
filed 3/30/1982.
That applicable portion of Article
XIII, Disciplinary Proceedings replaced by BOD Rule 12, Continuing Education Requirements,
filed 2/9/1989.
That applicable portion of BOD
Rule 12, Continuing Education Requirements replaced by BODHC Rule DH 5-95, Dental
Hygienists, Continuing Education Requirements, filed 5/5/1995.
History of Repealed Material:
16.5.23
NMAC, Dental Hygienists, Continuing
Education Requirements (filed 3/16/2006) Repealed effective 4/21/2026.
Other History:
BODHC Rule DH 5-95, Dental Hygienists,
Continuing Education Requirements (filed 5/5/1995) was renumbered, reformatted,
amended and replaced by 16 NMAC 5.23, Dental Hygienists, Continuing Education Requirements,
effective 9/30/1996.
16 NMAC 5.23, Dental Hygienists,
Continuing Education Requirements (filed 9/17/1996) renumbered, reformatted, amended
and replaced by 16.5.23 NMAC, Dental Hygienists, Continuing Education Requirements
effective 4/17/2006.
16.5.23
NMAC, Dental Hygienists, Continuing
Education Requirements (filed 3/16/2006) Replaced by 16.5.23 NMAC, Dental Hygienists, Continuing Education Requirements
effective 4/21/2026.