New
Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 2 / January 27, 2026
This is an amendment to 16.4.10
NMAC, Section 8, effective 1/27/2026.
16.4.10.8 CONTINUING EDUCATION:
A. In accordance with Section 61-4-3
NMSA 1978, New Mexico Chiropractic Physician Practice Act, chiropractic
physicians licensed in New Mexico are required to complete a minimum of 16
hours of board approved continuing education annually by the time of license
renewal. Credit hours may be earned at
any time during the annual reporting period, July 1 through June 30,
immediately preceding annual renewal. Credit hours are calculated as a “contact
hour” i.e. a 60 minute hour.
B. Each chiropractor renewing a license
shall attest that they have obtained the required hours of continuing education
on the renewal form. The board will
select by random regulation and
licensing department (RLD)
computer processes, no less than ten percent of renewal applications for audit
to verify completion of acceptable continuing education.
(1) Audit requests [will]
may be included with the renewal notice or requested after a renewal
application is submitted. Chiropractors
selected for audit will be notified by email;
(2) [and those] Those
selected chiropractors will be asked to submit proof of compliance with the
continuing education requirements;
(3) The board may audit
continuing education records at any time.
Continuing education (CE) records must be maintained for three years
following the renewal cycle in which they are earned;
(4) An individual who submits a sworn
attestation on their renewal application to demonstrate compliance with
continuing education requirements but is found to be non-compliant during an
audit will be subject to fines and other penalties determined appropriate by the
board.
C. The board will approve continuing
education programs which in its determination, advance the professional skills,
risk management understanding and knowledge of the licensee that is directly
related to the practice of chiropractic art, science or [philosphy] philosophy. Practice building and self-motivational
courses, and courses that are determined not to have significant or a direct
relationship to the safe and effective practice of chiropractics; or such
portions of those programs or courses, may not be approved. There will be no charge to a licensee for
individual request for approval.
D. The board may determine that, in its
opinion, a particular course or area of professional education is of such
importance or addresses an area of special need as it pertains to public
protection that all licensees shall be required to take the course of study as
a part of or in addition to the CE requirements:
(1) the declaration of a mandatory course
must be made by a majority vote of the board at a regular scheduled meeting;
(2) the course title, approved instructors
(if appropriate), locations of course delivery or methods of securing approved
print or electronic presentations of the course must be communicated to all
licensed New Mexico chiropractors on or before September 1st of the year that
the course is made mandatory;
(3) the mandatory nature of courses so
designated shall expire on June 30th of the current licensing year or the
determination must be renewed by a majority vote of the board at a regular
scheduled meeting and the extension of the mandatory nature communicated to all
active licensees on or before September 1st.
E. Seminars and continuing education programs that meet board criteria as
stated in Subsection C of 16.4.10.8 NMAC, will be approved after a properly
submitted application has been received and payment of the assessed fee as set
forth in Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of 16.4.1.13 NMAC. This includes the following:
(1) officiating during national board examinations shall be credited to the
professional members of the board as approved hours of continuing education;
(2) those courses that have secured accreditation through the Federation of
Chiropractic Licensing Boards “FCLB” and carry the providers of approved
continuing education “PACE” designation;
(3) webinar, teleseminar, compact disc (CD), videotaped or audiotaped
courses produced or endorsed by approved entities may be accepted for
continuing education credit:
(a) the
completion of such education shall be supported through record keeping with a
letter, memo or on a form approved by the board, that includes the dates,
times, vendors’ or presenters’ name/s, and total hours claimed for each course;
(b) the
licensee’s retained records must include the following statement, “I swear or
affirm that I viewed or listened to these continuing education courses in their
entirety on the dates and times specified in this document”;
(c) a
maximum of eight hours may be obtained through these distance learning methods
unless specific individual approval by the board is obtained.
(4) Based
on the agreement set forth between the board and PACE, PACE approved courses
shall be required to submit to the board an application with the appropriate
assessed fee, but shall not be required to submit to the board the items listed
in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection F of 16.4.10.8 NMAC.
F. All entities, sponsoring
institutions, or organizations requesting approval of seminars or continuing
education programs must be submitted to the board office in writing by the
licensee or sponsoring entity must include:
(1) course title, objective and format;
(2) sponsoring entity;
(3) total class hours;
(4) method for certification of
attendance; or documentation of completion of program;
(5) instructors credentials; and
(6) courses that in the boards opinion enhance the professional practice procedures, risk management, clinical skills or the doctor’s ability to understand and operate within managed care guidelines and regulations will be considered for approval.
G. The board may waive or extend the
time for completion of the annual continuing education requirement if the
licensee has reached the age of 70 years or if the licensee files with the
board the statement of a licensed physician certifying the physical inability
of the licensee to attend a seminar.
H. Licensees serving in the United
States military practicing or residing outside the United States shall not be
required to fulfill the continuing education requirements for the period of the
absence.
(1) The board must be notified prior to
license expiration that the licensee will be outside the United States,
including the period of the absence.
(2) Upon return to the United States, the
licensee shall complete the continuing education required for the years of
practice within the United States during the renewal cycle, or apply for an
emergency deferral.
(3) All renewal fees shall be waived while
the licensee is practicing or residing outside the country serving in the
military or under armed services contract.
(4) The board may waive any and all
deadlines by special request of licensee in active military service or under
armed services or federal contract requiring absence from the jurisdiction.
I. Any excess continuing education hours that are above the minimum
educational requirement in any applicable compliance period may not be “carried
over” in order to meet the minimum educational requirements in any succeeding
compliance period. A licensee shall only
count continuing education hours completed for the present renewal period.
J. Any licensee licensed between March 1 and June 30, of a renewal year is
not required to submit continuing education credits for license renewal for
that renewal period. If the licensee has
been licensed for longer than four months before their first renewal period,
the licensee is required to meet all continuing
education requirements as set
forth in 16.4.10.8 NMAC and if a licensee holds an advanced chiropractic
certificate, the licensee is required to meet the
continuing education requirements in 16.4.15.10 NMAC.
K. All licensees shall comply with the requirements of this regulation on
or before July 1st of each year.
L. This rule supersedes all prior continuing
education rules.
M. Seminars or continuing education programs
meeting the board’s criteria as stated in Subsection C of 16.4.15.10 NMAC for
advanced practice continuing education shall be approved upon receipt of a
properly executed application and payment of the fees required in 16.4.22.8
NMAC:
N. All seminars or educational programs that are
provided for both doctors of chiropractic and advanced
practice chiropractors continuing education shall be submitted to the board for
approval at least 90 days in advance of the start of the program whenever
possible and shall meet the requirements set forth in Paragraph (1) through (6)
of Subsection F of 16.4.10.8 NMAC.
[16.4.10.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.4.10.8 NMAC 8/10/2019; A,
01/27/2026]