New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 19 / October 7, 2025

 

 

TITLE 16            OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

CHAPTER 63    SOCIAL WORKERS

PART 14              INACTIVE STATUS

 

16.63.14.1            ISSUING AGENCY:  Regulation and Licensing Department, Board of Social Work Examiners, P.O Box 25101, Santa Fe, NM 87504.

[16.63.14.1 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.1 NMAC,  10/07/2025]

 

16.63.14.2            SCOPE:  All baccalaureate social workers, masters social workers, clinical social worker, and independent social workers.

[16.63.14.2 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.2 NMAC10/07/2025]

 

16.63.14.3            STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  These parts are promulgated pursuant to the Social Work Practice Act, Sections 61-31-1 to 25 NMSA 1978.

[16.63.14.3 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.3 NMAC10/07/2025]

 

16.63.14.4            DURATION:  Permanent

[16.63.14.4 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.4 NMAC 10/07/2025]

 

16.63.14.5            EFFECTIVE DATE:  October 07, 2025, unless different date is cited at the end of a section.

[16.63.14.5 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.5 NMAC, 10/07/2025]

 

16.63.14.6            OBJECTIVE:  To inform the licensee of the procedure to change their license to inactive status, and the reinstatement process.

[16.63.14.6 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.6 NMAC, 10/07/2025]

 

16.63.14.7            DEFINITIONS:  [RESERVED]

 

16.63.14.8            PROCEDURE

               A.           Any person licensed under the Social Work Practice Act (Sections 61-31-1 to 61-31-24 NMSA 1978) who wishes to assume inactive status in the practice of social work shall notify the board’s administrator in writing postmarked on or before July 1st of the year the license expires.  As part of the written request for inactive status, the licensee must show proof of having completed the required continuing education hours defined in 16.63.12 NMAC for the current year.  If the licensee has not met the continuing education requirements, inactive status may be granted but the licensee will be subject to all rules related to continuing education if reinstatement of license is requested.

               B.           The practice of social work in New Mexico under an inactive license is strictly prohibited.

               C.           Any person licensed under the Social Work Practice Act who has assumed inactive status as provided in this section, may notify the board in writing, of his desire to resume active practice.

               D.           Upon receipt of the notice required in Subsection D of 16.63.14.8 NMAC, the administrator shall send to the licensee an application for reinstatement of license.

               E.           The fee for reinstatement of a license shall be in accordance with 16.63.8 NMAC.

               F.            The applicant must, in addition, provide satisfactory proof of:

                              (1)          completion of no less than 10 hours of continuing education for each year of inactive status; such continuing education to be accumulated in accordance with 16.63.12 NMAC

                              (2)          completion of all continuing education requirements determined to have been unmet at the time inactive status was granted.

               G.           If the board finds the application in order and is satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled his continuing education requirements as outlined in Subsection G of 16.63.14.8 NMAC, the board shall reinstate the applicant’s license.

               H.           No person licensed under the Social Work Practice Act who has assumed inactive status shall reactive his practice until he receives notification from the board that his license is active.

               I.            The board will not accept applications for inactive status from licensees who are under investigation for violations of the Social Work Practice Act or who have an active complaints pending with the board.

               J.            The board will accept applications under this section from any social worker who is impaired as defined in the Impaired Health Care Provider Act, 61-7-1 et seq. NMSA 1978, and who is participating in a rehabilitation plan approved by the board.

               K.           The board may, in its discretion, require that an applicant for reinstatement take and pass a written or oral examination as prescribed by the board.

[16.63.14.8 NMAC – Rp., 16.63.14.8 NMAC, 10/07/2025]

 

HISTORY OF 16.63.14 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:

 

Rule 14, Inactive Status, 5/22/92.

Rule 14, Inactive Status, 12/5/94.

 

History of Repealed Material:

16.63.14 NMAC, Inactive Status, filed 1/5/1995, was repealed and replaced with 16.63.14 NMAC, Inactive Status, effective 10/07/2025.