New Mexico
Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 8 / April 21, 2026
This is an amendment to
16.5.28 NMAC, Sections 9, 10 and 13, effective 4/21/2026.
16.5.28.9 CERTIFICATION
BY CURRICULUM OR NON-CURRICULUM: Applicants for certification in local
anesthesia by curriculum or exam must possess the following qualifications and
submit the required fees and documentation, along with a completed application.
A. Qualifications:
(1) a current active license in good
standing to practice dental hygiene in New Mexico;
(2) proof of successful completion of
educational coursework in local anesthesia, by either;
(a) curriculum:
successful completion of an educational program in local anesthesia of at least
24 didactic hours and 10 hours of clinical training given in an accredited
dental hygiene program as part of the regular curriculum for the dental hygiene
degree, or
(b) non-curriculum:
successful completion of a board approved continuing educational program in
local anesthesia of at least 24 didactic hours and 10 hours of clinical
training; continuing education program must comply with [requirementsin]
requirements in 16.5.1.15 NMAC.
(3) Successfully pass a board approved
examination, the results of the exam are valid in New Mexico for a period not
to exceed five years. If the educational coursework in local anesthesia was
obtained by;
(a) curriculum: a
board approved written local anesthesia exam is required.
(b) non-curriculum: a
board approved written and clinical local anesthesia exam is required.
B. Documentation:
(1) copy of current basic life support
(BLS) or cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification accepted by the
American heart association, the American red cross or the American safety and
health institute (ASHI); cannot be a self-study course;
(2) proof of successful completion of
educational coursework in local anesthesia;
(a) transcript from
an accredited dental hygiene program documenting successful completion of an
approved educational program in local anesthesia as part of the regular
curriculum for the dental hygiene degree; or
(b) copy of
certificate showing successful completion of a board approved continuing
education program in local anesthesia of at least 24 didactic hours and 10
hours of clinical training; continuing education program must comply with
requirements in 16.5.1.15 NMAC.
(3) certificate or score card from a
board approved exam indicating successful completion and date of local
anesthesia exam, as required per Paragraph (9) of Subsection A of 16.5.28 NMAC.
[16.5.28.9 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.28.9
NMAC, 5/31/2023; A, 4/21/2026]
16.5.28.10 CERTIFICATION
BY CREDENTIALS: Applicants for certification in local
anesthesia by credentials must possess the following qualifications and submit
the required fees and documentation, along with a completed application.
A. Qualifications:
(1) a current active license in good
standing to practice dental hygiene in New Mexico;
(2) successful completion of educational
coursework in local anesthesia by;
(a) curriculum:
successful completion of an educational program in local anesthesia of at least
24 didactic hours and 10 hours of clinical training given in an accredited
dental hygiene program as part of the regular curriculum for the dental hygiene
degree, or
(b) non-curriculum:
successful completion of a board approved continuing educational program in
local anesthesia of at least 24 didactic hours and 10 hours of clinical
training; continuing education program must comply with requirements in
16.5.1.15 NMAC; and
(3) successfully pass a board approved
examination, the results of the exam do not have to be within a specific time
frame. If educational coursework in local anesthesia was obtained by;
(a) curriculum: a
board approved written local anesthesia exam is required.
(b) non-curriculum: a
board approved written and clinical local anesthesia exam is required.
(4) administration of local anesthesia in the practice of
dental hygiene for at least three of the past five years.
B. Documentation:
(1) copy of current basic life support
(BLS) or cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification accepted by the
American heart association, the American red cross or the American safety and
health institute (ASHI); cannot be a self-study course;
(2) proof of successful completion of
educational coursework in local anesthesia;
(a) transcript from
an accredited dental hygiene program documenting successful completion of an
approved educational program in local anesthesia as part of the regular
curriculum for the dental hygiene degree, or
(b) copy of
certificate showing successful completion of a board approved continuing
education program in local anesthesia of at least 24 didactic hours and 10
hours of clinical training; continuing education program must comply with
requirements in 16.5.1.15 NMAC; and
(3) proof of active certification to
administer local anesthesia;
(a) letter
of verification from each jurisdiction where the applicant holds a certificate
for administering local anesthesia, or if the jurisdiction doesn’t supply
licensees with a separate certification, then a letter is needed stating that
local anesthesia is not a separate designation from the license but is part of
the dental hygiene license; sent directly form the board in each jurisdiction,
and describing any disciplinary action taken against the applicant; and
(b) if the applicants
previous license includes the local anesthesia designation or certification is
expired or inactive the applicant must show proof of completion of a board
approved continuing education course in administration of local anesthesia that
includes a hand on-portion. Continuing education course must comply with [requirementsin] requirements in 16.5.1.15
NMAC.
(4) proof of administration of local
anesthesia while engaged in the practice of dental hygiene in at least three of
the past five consecutive years; proof may be by notarized letters from
employers, supervisors of dental clinics of the uniformed services of the
United States, or faculty administrators of schools of dental hygiene or
dentistry.
[16.5.28.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.5.28.10 NMAC, 5/31/2023; A, 4/21/2026]
16.5.28.13 LIMITATIONS OF LOCAL ANESTHESIA
ADMINISTRATION: Administration of local anesthetic under
general supervision may occur when:
A. certification has been received as
defined in Section 16.5.28.11 NMAC and meets the following requirements:
(1) the supervising or consulting dentist
has written or verbally ordered local anesthetic for the specific patient; and
(2) verbal orders shall be converted to
written record or electronic record in the patient’s dental record; and
B. emergency medical services are
available by:
(1) local 911 service with a response time
of less than 10 minutes; or
(2) by arrangement with a local
physician(s), oral surgeon, or other medical or dental professional holding an
advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) certification; this arrangement to
provide emergency services shall be in writing and on file in the board office
with the dental hygienists license; and
C. [indirect supervision is required
for continuing education and clinical examinations.] General supervision
is required for continuing education when provided by a New Mexico school of
dental hygiene, accredited by the commission on dental accreditation (CODA) and
when the instructor has a general supervision certification for the administration
of local anesthesia.
D. Indirect
supervision is required for:
(1) continuing education outside of a New Mexico school of
dental hygiene and when the instructor does not possess a general supervision
certification for the administration of local anesthesia;
(2) patient-based clinical examinations.
[16.5.28.12 NMAC - Rp,
16.5.28.13 NMAC, 5/31/2023; A, 4/21/2026]