Renewal Lapse, CE Shortfall, and Expired CPR
A hygienist’s New Mexico license expired on June 30. She believed the Board had granted a 60-day grace period because a colleague told her so. She continued working four days a week for five weeks. During the prior biennium she completed 18 hours of continuing education, including a 2-hour infection control course, but her CPR certification expired in March. She also moved and did not receive the renewal notice. The office manager asks whether she can keep seeing patients while the renewal is sorted out and whether the 18 hours will be enough. The hygienist says she has another 20-hour online package she can finish quickly if needed.
1. What is the hygienist’s legal status while her license is expired, and what should she do immediately?
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Once the license expired, the hygienist was no longer authorized to practice dental hygiene in New Mexico unless the Board had granted a specific extension. A colleague’s statement is not a Board order, and moving without receiving a notice does not create a grace period. Continuing to treat patients is unlicensed practice and exposes her to Board discipline, possible civil liability, and employer consequences. She should stop seeing patients immediately, notify the employer in writing, and remove herself from clinical duties until the Board confirms an active license. She should not chart or sign as a licensed hygienist during the lapse. The office should also review whether any services she performed during the lapse need to be disclosed or addressed under its compliance policy.
2. What steps are required to restore the license, and what documents should she submit?
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She should contact the New Mexico Dental Board or use the Board’s online licensing system to determine whether she can late-renew or must apply for reinstatement. She should submit the required renewal or reinstatement application, pay the current fee and any late fee, provide proof of current CPR, and document completion of the required continuing education for the renewal cycle. Because she practiced after expiration, she should be prepared to explain the lapse candidly; the Board may investigate and may impose discipline rather than simply renewing. She should keep copies of everything submitted and should not resume practice until she receives written confirmation that the license is active.
3. Is 18 hours of CE enough, and how should the CPR and infection-control issues be handled?
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Eighteen hours is below the full continuing education requirement for a renewal cycle under Board rules, so the file is deficient even before considering categories. The hygienist should complete additional Board-acceptable CE to reach the required total, including any mandated infection-control and ethics hours, and should retain certificates. Her CPR certification expired in March, so she must complete a current CPR course acceptable to the Board before renewal or reinstatement. A last-minute online package may count only if it is from an approved provider and covers acceptable subject matter; she should verify provider approval rather than assume any online course qualifies. The safest approach is to correct the CE and CPR deficiencies, document them, and submit a complete package with the reinstatement request.