New
Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 19 / October 7, 2025
This is an amendment to 16.63.18 NMAC, Section 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 10, effective 10/07/2025.
Explanatory sentence: In Section 8, at the direction of the Board, all abbreviations that refer to a licensed social worker in other jurisdictions have been capitalized.
16.63.18.2 SCOPE:
[The provisions of Part 18 apply to a]
All applicants [for] seeking expedited licensure pursuant
to the Act.
[16.63.18.2 NMAC - Rp, 16.63.18.2 NMAC, 8/15/2023; A, 10/07/2025]
16.63.18.3 STATUTORY
AUTHORITY: [These rules are
promulgated pursuant to and in accordance with the Social Work Practice Act, Subsection
A of Section 61-31-8, 14-2-1, 61-31-19 NMSA 1978 and the
Uniform Licensing Act, Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978.] These parts are promulgated pursuant to the
Social Work Practice Act, 61-31-1 to 25 NMSA 1978.
[16.63.18.3 NMAC
- Rp, 16.63.18.3 NMAC, 8/15/2023;
A, 10/07/2025]
16.63.18.6 OBJECTIVE: To promote, preserve and
protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating and setting
professional standards for applicants for expedited and provisional
licensures.
[16.63.18.6 NMAC - Rp, 16.63.18.6 NMAC, 8/15/2023; A, 10/07/2025]
16.63.18.7 DEFINITIONS:
A. “Eligible jurisdiction” means:
[(1)] any state or territory of the United
States except those included in the list of disapproved licensing jurisdictions
in 16.63.18.8 NMAC[; and]
[(2) any
foreign country included in 16.63.18.8 NMAC.]
B. “Expedited license”
means a provisional license that confers the same rights, privileges and
responsibilities as a regular license issued by the board pursuant to Section
61-31-13 NMSA 1978, issued on the basis of
licensure in an eligible jurisdiction.
C. “Good standing” means a license or registration is active and not expired, suspended, revoked, surrendered, conditioned, or otherwise in a status that in any manner restricts the activity of a licensee or registrant under the authority of the license.
D. “Licensing fee” has the same meaning as defined in Paragraph (1) of Subsection E of Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978.
E. “Licensing
Jurisdiction” has the same meaning as
defined in Subsection F of Section 61-1-2 NMSA 1978.
F. “Military service member” has the same meaning as defined in Paragraph (2) of Subsection E of Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978.
G. “Veteran” has the same meaning as defined in Paragraph (3) of Subsection E of Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978.
[16.63.18.7 NMAC - Rp, 16.63.18.7 NMAC, 8/15/2023; A, 10/07/2025]
16.63.18.8 LIST
OF APPROVED AND DISAPPROVED LICENSING JURISDICTIONS; [REASONS FOR
DISAPPROVAL] FOR EXPEDITED LICENSURE:
A. Applicants for
licensure [as a licensed bachelor social worker (lbsw)
in the following states and territories of the United States or the District of
Columbia] as an LBSW shall not be eligible for expedited licensure [pursuant
to Section 61-31-4.4 NMSA 1978 of the Social Work Practice Act] based upon
licensure as an LBSW in the following states and territories of the United
States or the District of Columbia:
(1) California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,
Georgia, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington on the grounds that
these jurisdictions do not license, register, certify, or otherwise regulate
bachelor level social workers; and
(2) American Samoa, Louisiana, Massachusetts
(licensed social worker associate), Nebraska (certified social worker), New
Hampshire (licensed social worker associate 1 and 2), New Jersey, Ohio (registered
social work assistant), Puerto Rico (licensed social worker), South Dakota
(social work associate), the US Virgin Islands (social worker associate), on
the grounds that education, experience, and examination requirements cannot be
determined or are not consistent with New Mexico.
B. [Approved
jurisdictions for expedited licensure as a licensed bachelor social worker (lbsw),] Applicants for
licensure as an LBSW shall be eligible for expedited licensure based upon
licensure in the following states and territories of the United States or the District
of Columbia with the jurisdiction’s equivalent license in
parentheses [are]: Alabama (LBSW), Alaska (LBSW), Arizona (LBSW),
Arkansas (licensed social worker), Delaware (LBSW), District of Columbia
(licensed social work associate), Guam (LBSW), Hawaii (LBSW), Idaho (licensed
social worker), Illinois (licensed social worker 2), Indiana (LBSW), Iowa (LBSW),
Kansas (LBSW), Kentucky (licensed social worker), Maine (licensed social worker
1), Maryland (LBSW), Massachusetts (licensed social worker), Michigan (LBSW), Minnesota
(licensed social worker), Mississippi (licensed social worker), Missouri (LBSW),
Montana (LBSW), Nevada (social worker), New Hampshire (licensed social worker),
North Carolina (certified social worker), North Dakota (LBSW), Northern Mariana
Islands (LBSW), Ohio (licensed social worker), Oklahoma (licensed social work
associate), Oregon (registered bachelor of social work), Pennsylvania (LBSW),
South Carolina (LBSW), South Dakota (licensed social worker), Tennessee (LBSW),
Texas (LBSW), US Virgin Islands (social worker 1 and 2), Utah (social worker 1
and 2), Virginia (LBSW), West Virginia (licensed social worker), Wisconsin
(certified social worker), Wyoming (certified social worker).
C. Applicants [licensed]
for licensure [as] an [a licensed master social worker]
(LMSW) shall not be eligible for expedited licensure based upon licensure
in the following states and territories of the United States or the District of
Columbia [shall not be eligible for expedited licensure pursuant to Section
61-31-4.3 NMSA 1978 of the Social Work Practice Act]:
[(1)] Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
Washington, [and] Wyoming, [on the grounds that these
jurisdictions do not license, register, certify, or otherwise regulate master
level social workers; and]
[(2)] American Samoa, California [(associate
clinical social worker – asw)], Florida [(registered
clinical social worker intern)], Louisiana [(certified social worker)],
Michigan [(limited license master’s social worker)], and Puerto Rico [on
the grounds that education, experience, and examination requirements cannot be
determined or are not consistent with New Mexico].
D. [Approved
jurisdictions for expedited licensure as a licensed master social worker (lmsw), with the jurisdictions equivalent license in
parentheses, are] Applicant for licensure as
an LMSW shall be eligible for expedited licensure based upon licensure in the
following state and territories of the United States or the District of
Columbia, with the jurisdiction’s equivalent license in parentheses:
Alabama (LMSW), Alaska (LMSW), Arizona (LMSW), Arkansas (LMSW), Colorado
(licensed social worker), Connecticut (LMSW), Delaware (LMSW), District of
Columbia (licensed graduate social work), Georgia (LMSW), Guam (LMSW), Hawaii (licensed
social worker), Idaho (LMSW), Illinois (licensed social worker 1), Indiana (licensed
social worker 1), Iowa (LMSW), Kansas (LMSW), Kentucky (certified social
worker), Louisiana (LMSW), Maine (LMSW), Maryland (LMSW), Massachusetts
(licensed certified social worker), Minnesota (licensed graduate social
worker), Mississippi (LMSW), Missouri (LMSW), Montana (LMSW), Nevada (LMSW),
New Jersey (licensed social worker), New York (LMSW), North Carolina (certified
master social worker), North Dakota (LMSW), Northern Mariana Islands (LMSW),
Ohio (licensed social worker), Oklahoma (LMSW), Oregon (LMSW), Pennsylvania (licensed
social worker), South Carolina (LMSW), South Dakota (certified social worker),
Tennessee (LMSW), Texas (LMSW), US Virgin Islands (certified social worker), Utah
(certified social worker), Vermont (LMSW), Virginia (LMSW), West Virginia (licensed
graduate social worker), Wisconsin (advanced practice social worker).
E. [Applicants
licensed as a licensed clinical social worker (lcsw)
in the following states and territories of the United States or the District of
Columbia shall not be eligible for expedited licensure pursuant to Section
61-31-4.2 NMSA 1978 of the Social Work Practice Act] Applicants for licensure as an LCSW shall
not be eligible for expedited licensure based upon licensure in the following
states and territories of the United States or the District of Columbia:
[(1)] Ohio, [and] Puerto Rico, [on
the grounds that these jurisdictions do not license, register, certify, or
otherwise regulate clinical social workers; and]
[(2)] American Samoa, North Carolina [(licensed
clinical social worker associate)], and Rhode Island [(licensed clinical
social worker), on the grounds that education, experience, and examination
requirements cannot be determined or are not consistent with New Mexico].
F. Approved jurisdictions for expedited licensure as a
licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), with the jurisdiction’s
equivalent license in parentheses, are: Alabama (licensed independent clinical
social worker), Alaska (LCSW), Arizona (LCSW), Arkansas (LCSW), California (LCSW),
Colorado (LCSW), Connecticut (LCSW), Delaware (LCSW), District of Columbia
(licensed independent clinical social work), Florida (LCSW), Georgia (LCSW),
Guam (LCSW), Hawaii (LCSW), Idaho (LCSW), Illinois (licensed clinical social
worker 1 and 2), Indiana (LCSW), Iowa (licensed independent social worker),
Kansas (licensed specialist clinical social worker), Kentucky (LCSW), Louisiana
(LCSW), Maine (licensed clinical social worker 1 and 2), Maryland (licensed
certified social worker - clinical), Massachusetts (licensed independent
clinical social worker), Michigan (licensed master social worker – clinical),
Minnesota (licensed independent clinical social worker), Mississippi (LCSW),
Missouri (LCSW), Montana (LCSW), Nebraska (licensed mental health practitioner
and licensed independent mental health practitioner), Nevada (clinical social
worker), New Hampshire (licensed independent clinical social worker), New
Jersey (LCSW), New York (LCSW), North Carolina (LCSW), North Dakota (LCSW),
Northern Mariana Islands (LCSW), Oklahoma (LCSW), Oregon (LCSW), Pennsylvania (LCSW),
Rhode Island (licensed independent clinical social worker), South Carolina
(licensed independent social worker-cp), South Dakota (certified social worker
private independent practice), Tennessee (LCSW), Texas (LCSW), Utah (LCSW), US
Virgin Islands (certified independent social worker), Utah (LCSW), Vermont
(licensed independent clinical social worker), Virginia (LCSW), Washington
(licensed independent clinical social worker), West Virginia (licensed
independent clinical social worker), Wisconsin (LCSW) and Wyoming (LCSW).
G. [Applicants
licensed as a licensed independent social worker (lisw)
in the following states and territories of the United States or the District of
Columbia shall not be eligible for expedited licensure pursuant to Section
61-31-4.1 NMSA 1978 of the Social Work Practice Act]
Applicants for licensure as an LISW shall not be eligible for expedited
licensure based upon licensure in the following states and territories of the
United States or District of Columbia:
[(1)] Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts,
Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Northern
Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota,
US Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, [and] Wyoming and [on
the grounds that these jurisdictions do not license, register, certify, or
otherwise regulate licensed independent social workers; and]
[(2)] American Samoa [on the grounds that
education, experience, and examination requirements cannot be determined or are
not consistent with New Mexico].
H. [Approved jurisdictions for expedited licensure as a
licensed independent social worker (lisw), with the
jurisdictions equivalent license in parentheses, are] Applicants for
licensure as an LISW shall be eligible for expedited licensure based upon
licensure in the following states and territories of the United States or the
District of Columbia, with the jurisdictions equivalent license in parentheses
District of Columbia (LISW), Florida (certified master social worker), Maryland
(licensed certified social worker), Michigan (licensed master social worker – macro),
Minnesota (LISW), Missouri (licensed advanced macro social worker), Nebraska (certified
master social worker), Nevada (independent social worker), North Carolina (certified
social work manager), Ohio (LISW), Oklahoma (licensed social worker), South
Carolina (licensed independent social worker-advanced practice), Tennessee (licensed
advanced practice social worker), Texas (licensed master social worker –
advanced practice), Washington (licensed advanced social worker), West Virginia
(licensed certified social worker), and Wisconsin (certified independent social
worker).
I. In any instance where an applicant cannot seek expedited
licensure based on the above provisions of this subpart, such applicant may
apply for expedited licensure at lower level of licensure than obtained in the
eligible jurisdiction. Such applications shall be considered by the Board on a
case-by-case basis.
[16.63.18.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.63.18.8 NMAC, 8/15/2023, A, 10/07/2025]
16.63.18.10 EXPEDITED LICENSURE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
A. A candidate for expedited licensure
under Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978 and Section 61-31-13
NMSA 1978 must submit to the board a
complete application containing all of the following:
(1) a
completed and signed application form;
(2) proof of a current license in good standing in an eligible
jurisdiction as defined; and
(3) payment of the required application fee.
B. An
expedited license application shall not be deemed complete until the applicant
has submitted, and the board’s staff is in receipt of all the materials
required by subsection A, including documentation from third parties.
C. Upon
receipt of a complete application, the board’s staff shall process the
application and issue the expedited license to a qualified applicant within 30
days.
D. No
application for expedited licensure will be considered if the applicant has a
pending disciplinary action in another jurisdiction, including any matter for
which an investigation by the licensing board of that jurisdiction remains pending.
[D.] E. If the applicant has a potentially
disqualifying criminal conviction [or the board may have other cause to deny
the application] pursuant to Section 61-31-17 NMSA 1978 and 16.63.13.9 NMAC:
(1) the matter of the applicant’s application shall be
submitted to the board for consideration and action at its next available
regular meeting;
(2) the license may not be issued within 30 days of submission
of the complete application; and
(3) the board may vote to grant the application or refer the
matter to its administrative prosecutor for denial of the application as
provided by the board’s rules.
[16.63.18.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.63.18.10 NMAC, 8/15/2023; A, 10/07/2025]