New Mexico Register / Volume XXXII, Issue 5 / March 9, 2021

This is an amendment to 16.28.2 NMAC, Sections 8 and 9 effective 3/27/2021.

16.28.2.8 EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

A. The board shall issue a license as a signed language interpreter to an applicant, otherwise qualified, who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has fulfilled the degree requirements for certification as established [by registry of interpreters for the deaf (RID)] RID. Official or unofficial transcripts showing the degree awarded or documentation of educational equivalency approval from RID is acceptable evidence.

B. Applicants for provisional licenses must submit official or unofficial transcripts showing proof of completion of an interpreting education program or an interpreter preparation program from an accredited institution or a letter of completion on letterhead from the director of the interpreting program with a copy of the degree audit report.

[16.28.2.8 NMAC - N, 07/21/09; A, 12/16/15; A, 3/27/2021]

16.28.2.9 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

A. Community or educational signed language [interpreter license] interpreters are required to comply with the RID certification maintenance program (CMP) requirements, regardless of their certifying body. RID certified interpreters shall submit a copy of [the applicant’s] their current RID membership card or verification letter from the RID member portal showing current certified membership status documenting compliance with the requirements of the [certification maintenance program (CMP)] CMP which requires eight RID-approved continuing education units (CEUs) 80 contact hours per four-year CMP cycle. Should RID change its number of CEUs required an interpreter must comply with the new requirement in order to maintain licensure in New Mexico. [An] BEI certified interpreters and educational signed language interpreter meeting the criteria in Subsection D of 16.28.3.11 NMAC but not holding the ED:K-12 credential must submit associate continuing education tracking (ACET) transcripts showing four CEU’s (40 hours) of continuing education at each [biannual] biennial renewal.

B. Provisional license: two CEUs (20 hours) of continuing education annually documented on the applicant’s associate continuing education tracking (ACET) transcript from RID. Interpreting students should be aware that they need to become associate members of RID before the end of March in their year of graduation for CEU’s earned prior to July 1st to be tracked on their ACET transcripts.

C. Provisional licensees who are within their first year may provide certificates of completion to the board office if the approved CEUs are not on ACET transcripts.

[16.28.2.9 NMAC - N, 07/21/09; A, 08/18/11; A, 01/15/14; A, 12/16/15; A, 6/18/2017; A, 3/27/2021]