N.M. Admin. Code § 16.10.2.9

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 16.10.2.9 - MEDICAL LICENSE BY EXAMINATION

A.Prerequisites for licensure: Each applicant for a license to practice as a physician in New Mexico must be of good moral character and must possess the following qualifications:

(1) graduated and received a diploma from a board approved school, completed a program determined by the board to be substantially equivalent to a U.S. medical school, based on board review of a full ECFMG certification, or the board shall, in its sole discretion, determine if the applicant's total educational and professional clinical experience is substantially equivalent to that which is required for licensure in New Mexico; and

(2) successfully passed one of the examinations or combinations of examinations defined in 16.10.3 NMAC; and

(3) completed two years of postgraduate training or been approved by the board in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B of Section 61-6-11 NMSA 1978;

(4) when the board has reason to believe that an applicant for licensure is not competent to practice medicine it may require the applicant to complete a special competency examination or to be evaluated for competence by other means that have been approved by the board; and

(5) a qualified applicant who has not been actively and continuously in practice for more than two years prior to application may be required to successfully complete a special examination or evaluation such as, but not limited to, the SPEX (special purpose examination), the PLAS (post-licensure assessment system of the federation of state medical boards), or specialty re-certification.

B.Required documentation for all applicants: Each applicant for a license must submit the required fees as specified in 16.10.9.8 NMAC and the following documentation:

(1) a completed signed application with a passport-quality photo taken within the previous six months; applications are valid for one year from the date of receipt by the board;

(2) verification of licensure in all states or territories where the applicant holds or has held a license to practice medicine, or other health care profession; verification must attest to the status, issue date, license number, and other information requested and contained on the form; this information will be provided by HSC or another board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using that service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS or applying directly to the board;

(3) two recommendation forms from physicians, chiefs of staff or department chairs or equivalent with whom the applicant has worked and who have personal knowledge of the applicant's character and competence to practice medicine; the recommending physicians must have personally known the applicant and have had the opportunity to personally observe the applicant's ability and performance; forms must be sent directly to the board from the recommending physicians, chiefs of staff, department chairs, or equivalent. This information will be provided by HSC or another board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using that service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS or applying directly to the board;

(4) verification of all work experience and hospital affiliations in the last two years, if applicable, not to include postgraduate training; this information will be provided by HSC or another board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using that service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS or applying directly to the board;

(5) a copy of all American board of medical specialties (ABMS) specialty board certifications, or American osteopathic association bureau of osteopathic specialists (AOA-BOS) if applicable; this information will be provided by HSC or another board-approved credentials verification service for applicants using that service, or directly to the New Mexico medical board for applicants using FCVS or applying directly to the board; and

(6) the board may request that applicants be investigated by the biographical section of the American medical association (AMA), the drug enforcement administration (DEA), the federation of state medical boards (FSMB), the national practitioner data bank, and other sources as may be deemed appropriate by the board;

C.Additional documentation for applicants using the FCVS: Applicants are encouraged to use the FCVS as once a credential file is created future applications for medical licensure will be streamlined. However, application through FCVS is not required. Applicants using the FCVS must submit a completed application to the FCVS, who will provide primary source documentation to the board. Only the documents required in Subsection B of 16.10.2.9 NMAC are required in addition to the FCVS report.

D.Additional documentation for applicants using HSC or another board-approved credentials verification service:

(1) status report of educational commission for foreign medical graduates (ECFMG) certification sent directly to the board from ECFMG, if applicable;

(2) copy of ECFMG interim letter documenting additional postgraduate training for international medical graduates applying through the fifth pathway process, if applicable;

(3) certified transcripts of exam scores as required in 16.10.3 NMAC sent directly to the board from the testing agency;

(4) proof of identity may be required; acceptable documents include birth certificate, passport, naturalization documents, and visas.

E.Additional documentation for applicants applying directly to New Mexico and not using FCVS or HSC or another board-approved credentials verification service:

(1) verification of medical education form with school seal or notarized, sent directly to the board from the school;

(2) transcripts sent directly to the board from the medical school;

(3) status report of ECFMG certification sent directly to the board from ECFMG, if applicable;

(4) copy of ECFMG interim letter documenting additional postgraduate training for international medical graduates applying through the fifth pathway process, if applicable;

(5) postgraduate training form sent to the board directly from the training program;

(6) certified transcripts of exam scores as required in 16.10.3 NMAC sent directly to the board from the testing agency;

(7) proof of identity may be required; acceptable documents include birth certificate, passport, naturalization documents, and visas; and

(8) certified copies of source documents obtained directly from another state licensing jurisdiction who has the original document on file will be accepted in lieu of original documents when the originals cannot be obtained for a valid cause.

F.Licensure process: Upon receipt of a completed application, including all required documentation and fees, the applicant may be scheduled for a personal interview before the board, a board member designated by the board, or an agent of the board and must present original documents as requested by the board. The initial license will be issued following completion of any required interview, or approval by a member or agent of the board.

G.Initial license expiration: Medical licenses shall be renewed on July 1 following the date of issue. Initial licenses are valid for a period of not more than thirteen months or less than one month. If New Mexico is the first state of licensure, initial licenses are valid for a period of not less than 24 months or more than 35 months and shall be renewed on July 1.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.10.2.9

16.10.2.9 NMAC - N, 5/1/02; A, 1/20/03; A, 7/1/03; A, 4/3/05; A, 10/7/05; A, 7/1/06; A, 1/10/07; A, 1/3/08; A, 10/11/13; A, 01/15/14, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 03, February 8, 2022, eff. 2/8/2022, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11, June 7, 2022, eff. 5/11/2022, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 13, July 12, 2022, eff. 7/12/2022, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 13, July 18, 2023, eff. 7/7/2023, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 05, March 12, 2024, eff. 3/12/2024