New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 4 / February 24, 2026

This amendment to 16.20.1 NMAC, Sections 10,11, and 14, effective 2/24/2026

16.20.1.10 USE OF TITLES:

A. Only a person holding a license as a physical therapist may use the title “physical therapist,” ”licensed physical therapist”, or the letters “P.T.” “MPT, MSPT, DPT”

B. Only a person holding a license as a physical therapist assistant may use the title “physical therapist assistant”, “licensed physical therapist assistant”, or the letters “P.T.A.” or “L.P.T.A”

C. Only a student in a college program accredited or actively pursuing accreditation by the American physical therapy association may use the title “student physical therapist”, or the letters “S.P.T.”

D. Only a student in a college program accredited or actively pursuing accreditation by the American physical therapy association may use the title “student physical therapist assistant”, or the letters “S.P.T.A.”

[12/15/1997; 16.20.1.10 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.1.10, 08/31/2000; A, 02/24/2026]

16.20.1.11 BOARD MEMBER REQUIREMENTS:

A. Board members are required to attend board meetings as scheduled by the board. Any board member failing to attend three consecutive board meetings shall automatically be recommended for removal from the board.

B. Board members may be excused from attending board meetings for any of the reasons set forth below:

(1) illness;

(2) death in the immediate family;

(3) military service;

(4) inclement weather;

(5) any other reason deemed appropriate by the [president] chair of the board.

[12-15-97; 16.20.1.11 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.1.11, 08/31/2000; A, 02/24/2026]

16.20.1.14 CODE OF ETHICS: The New Mexico [physical therapy board] Physical Therapy Board adopts the current New Mexico [physical Therapy] Physical Therapy and [physical therapy assistant code] Physical Therapist Assistant Code of [ethics] Ethics as per Section 61-12D-13L NMSA 1978, and adopts the American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics

A. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will honor the significance of patients and their families’ needs, rights, and dignity. When addressing patients’ needs, rights, and dignity, all will be adhered to with confidentiality and compassion.

B. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will make appropriate and [well informed] well-informed decisions, regarding patient care, that are within their scope of practice.

C. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants should avoid conflicts of interest that would impact negatively on a patient’s care.

D. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will have integrity in all dealings with patients and others associated with their care.

E. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will fulfill all professional duties, as required.

F. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will seek new ways of improving patient care and encourage best practice skills through continuing education and interaction with other providers.

G. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will participate in sound and reasonable business practice.

H. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will use proper utilization practice patterns to meet the needs of those they serve.

[16.20.1.14 NMAC - N, 02/15/2004; A, 1/12/2008; A, 9/30/2014; A, 02/24/2026]