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

This amendment to 16.20.7 NMAC, Sections 8 and 9, effective 2/24/2026

16.20.7.8 SUPERVISION OF LICENSED PERSONNEL:

A. A physical therapist may not be responsible for the direction and supervision of more than three full-time physical therapist assistants, or three FTE’s (full-time equivalency totaling 120 work hours per week) requiring supervision, including temporary physical therapists, temporary physical therapist assistants, and licensed physical therapist assistants.

B. A physical therapist may supervise three or more physical therapist assistants provided combined FTE’s do not exceed more than 120 hours per week.

C. When physical therapy services are being provided, a licensed physical therapist must be on call and readily available for consultation by phone or electronic mail when the referring physical therapist leaves the area or facility, for any length of time or the referring physical therapist must appoint a stand in physical therapist as a supervising therapist until such time the referring physical therapist returns to the facility.

D. A physical therapist supervising a temporary licensee must notify the New Mexico physical therapy licensing board, in writing, when they are no longer responsible for supervision of a temporary licensee.

E. The referring physical therapist must hold documented conferences with the physical therapist assistant regarding the patient. The physical therapist is responsible for determining the frequency of the conferences consistent with accepted standards of practice within the facility in which they work.

F. The New Mexico Telehealth Act does not alter the scope of practice of any health care provider or authorize the delivery of health care services in a setting, or in a manner, not otherwise authorized by law.

G. Nothing in the New Mexico Telehealth Act shall be construed to alter supervision requirements set forth by a healthcare provider’s applicable licensing board. A health care provider shall provide telehealth services under the same level of supervision required for in-person practice.

[10/15/1997; 16.20.7.8 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.7.8, 8/31/2000; A, 03/02/2006; A, 1/12/2008; A, 8/1/2009; A, 9/30/2014; A, 7/28/2019; A, 2/24/2026]

16.20.7.9 SUPERVISION OF UNLICENSED ASSISTIVE PERSONNEL (PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE/TECHNICIAN/ATTENDANT):

A. A licensed physical therapist may only supervise unlicensed aides working as care-giving assistive personnel, provided the assistive personnel’s combined [full time] full-time equivalency does not exceed 120 hours per week.

B. Physical therapy aides and other assistive personnel shall perform patient care activities under on-site supervision of a physical therapist. “On-site supervision” means the supervising physical therapist:

(1) be continuously on-site and present in the department or facility where the assistive personnel are performing services;

(2) be immediately available to assist the person being supervised in the services being performed; and

(3) maintain continued involvement in appropriate aspects of each treatment session in which a component of treatment is delegated to assistive personnel.

[10/15/1997; 16.20.7.9 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.7.9, 8/31/2000; A, 1/12/2008; A, 8/1/2009; A, 8/16/2010; A, 9/30/2014; A, 7/28/2019; A, 2/24/2026]