Continuing Education and License Renewal Requirements
Domain 5: Continuing education and renewal
This domain tests the biennial renewal cycle and the CE hours that support it. Questions often turn on deadlines, ethics hours, and what happens after expiration.
Core rules
- New Mexico OT and OTA licenses renew biennially; the Board's renewal deadline is June 30 of odd-numbered years.
- Licensees complete 20 contact hours of CE per renewal cycle, including at least 2 hours in ethics. CE must be relevant to occupational therapy and accepted by the Board.
- Keep certificates and documentation for audit. The Board may require proof; undocumented hours may be disallowed.
- Late renewal may require a late fee and completion of CE. Practicing after the expiration date is unlicensed practice, even if a renewal application is pending.
- First-time licensees should check the Board's proration rule for the initial cycle.
Worked example
An OTA has 19 hours, including 2 ethics hours, and the renewal deadline is June 30. The OTA cannot renew on 19 hours. The OTA must complete at least one additional acceptable hour before submitting, or use the Board's late-renewal process if available. Working while expired creates separate exposure.
Traps
Do not count unrelated courses, repeated identical courses, or undocumented self-study unless Board rule allows it. Do not assume ethics hours are optional. Do not treat a renewal application as permission to practice after expiration.