TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL
AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
CHAPTER 20 PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
PART 2 EXAMINATIONS
16.20.2.1 ISSUING AGENCY: New Mexico Physical Therapy Board.
[05-15-96; 10-15-97; 16.20.2.1 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.2.1, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.2 SCOPE: All individuals who wish to practice physical therapy in the State of New Mexico.
[05-15-96; 10-15-97; 16.20.2.2 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.2.2, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Section 61-12-10 NMSA 1978.
[03-29-83 . . . 10-15-97; 16.20.2.3 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.2.3, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[05-15-96; 10-15-97; 16.20.2.4 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.2.4, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: October 15, 1997, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section
[03-29-83 . . . 10-15-97; 16.20.2.5 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.2.5, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.6 OBJECTIVE: The objective of Part 2 of Chapter 20 is to establish examination requirements for applicants applying for a license to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
[05-15-96; 10-15-97; 16.20.2.6 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.2.6, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
[10-15-97; 16.20.2.7 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.2.7, 08-31-00]
16.20.2.8 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY EXAMINATION:
A. All applicants for licensure must take the national physical therapy examination (NPTE), or show proof of having taken the NPTE in another state. The examination must be taken in English, without the use of an interpreter, and without the aid of an English/foreign language dictionary.
B. A complete licensure application, all required fees, and verification of successful completion of a physical therapy or physical therapist assistant program MUST be received by the board for verification of eligibility for licensure in New Mexico prior to registering to sit for the exam.
C. The federation of state boards of physical therapy (FSBPT) will notify applicants, in writing, of the procedure to follow in order to register for the exam with an approved computer based testing (CBT) company.
(1) Applicants MUST take the exam within sixty (60) days from the date of notification to register by [FSBPT].
(2) Applicants will register in New Mexico, but may take the exam in any state.
(3) Applicants will be scheduled to sit for the exam within thirty (30) days from the time they call the computer based testing (CBT) company.
(4) Applicants may change their appointment up to two (2) days prior to the test date.
D. Effective August 28, 1995, an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist shall obtain a score on the NPTE for physical therapists that equals or exceeds the criterion-referenced passing point of six hundred 600, based on a scale ranging from two hundred (200) to eight hundred (800). Per changes in the eligibility requirements through the FSBPT, effective January 2016, applicants scoring four hundred (400) or less on two (2) exams will be unable to test again for licensure. In addition, applicants will be able to take the exam a maximum of six (6) times (three (3) attempts annually) with no additional attempts allowed.
(1) For applicants who took the NPTE during the period from June 10, 1971 to August 28, 1995, the passing score for the national examination shall be 1.5 standard deviation below the national mean on the date the exam was taken by the applicant.
(2) Exams taken prior to June 10, 1971 may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis or the applicant may qualify under 16.20.3.10 NMAC (Licensure by Endorsement).
E. Effective August 28, 1995, an applicant for licensure as a physical therapist assistant shall obtain a score on the NPTE for physical therapist assistants that equals or exceeds the criterion-referenced passing point of six hundred (600), based on a scale ranging from two hundred (200) to eight hundred (800). Per changes in the eligibility requirements through the FSBPT, effective January 2016, applicants scoring four hundred (400) or less on two (2) exams will be unable to test again for licensure. In addition, applicants will be able to take the exam a maximum of six (6) times (three (3) attempts annually) with no additional attempts allowed.
(1) For applicants who took the NPTE during the period from June 10, 1971 to August 28, 1995, the passing score for the national examination shall be 1.5 standard deviation below the national mean on the date the exam was taken by the applicant.
(2) Exams taken prior to June 10, 1971 may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis or the applicant may qualify under 16.20.3.10 NMAC (Licensure by Endorsement).
F. Any applicant who fails the NPTE may retake the exam at the next available opportunity.
G. Any applicant who has failed the NPTE will not be issued a temporary license, or if a temporary license has been issued, it will automatically be revoked. The revocation is effective upon recording of the test results by the registrar. The registrar will promptly notify the applicant of results by certified mail.
H. An applicant who fails the NPTE two (2) or more times must complete and submit proof of completion of remedial work as recommended by the board before being permitted to take subsequent NPTE’s. Refer to the remedial criteria for specific requirements for each subsequent exam failed, up to six (6) lifetime attempts.
|
CRITERIA FOR REMEDIAL WORK, DESCRIBED BY THE PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD |
|||
|
Number of failures |
Number of points from passing |
Mentorship and tutorial |
Other |
|
2 |
Score is within 6 points of passing |
20 hours of mentorship or tutorial or any combination of both |
Proof of a national licensing exam review course |
|
2 |
Score is greater than 6 points of passing |
40 hours of either mentorship or tutorial or any combination of both |
Proof of a national licensing exam review course |
|
3 |
Score is within 6 points of passing |
20 hours of mentorship and 40 hours of tutorial |
NONE |
|
3 |
Score is greater than 6 points of passing |
60 hours of mentorship and 60 hours of tutorial |
NONE |
After the fourth failure of the NPTE for PT/PTA applicant, the applicant must complete the following remedial work, to sit for the exam
(1) Letter confirming completion of remedial clinical mentorship with a licensed PT/PTA Supervisor for:
(a) One hundred sixty (160) hours in an outpatient clinic/facility
(b) One hundred sixty (160) hours in an inpatient/rehabilitation clinic/ facility
(c) One hundred sixty (160) hours in a clinic/ facility of their choice
(2) Letter confirming (with both scores listed) completion of a National License Review course and the FSBPT PEAT exam.
(a) Applicant must retake a national licensing review course (providing proof of completion)
(b) Applicant must retake the FSBPT PEAT exam (providing both scores). Per FSBPT guidelines, beginning January 2016, all applicants will be restricted to six (6) lifetime attempts at passing the national licensing exam. In addition, two (2) scores at four hundred/eight hundred 400/800 will preclude the applicant from any additional attempts at examination.
[03-29-83; 02-19-88; 08-01-89; 05-08-91; 06-03-94; 07-28-95; 05-15-96; 16.20.2.8 NMAC - Rn & A, 16 NMAC 20.2.8, 08-31-00; A, 7-28-01; A, 8-16-10; A, 09-30-14]
16.20.2.9 PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT EXAM REQUIREMENTS: The minimum knowledge and skill required of applicants to take the physical therapist assistant examination requires graduation from a physical therapist assistant program accredited by the commission on accreditation in physical therapy education (CAPTE).
[10-15-97; 16.20.2.9 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.2.9, 08-31-00; A, 7-28-01; A, 03-02-06]
16.20.2.10 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JURISPRUDENCE EXAMINATION: All applicants for licensure must take the New Mexico jurisprudence exam and have a passing score of 80%, based on a total available score of 100%. Any applicant who fails to pass the jurisprudence examination may retake the exam upon receipt of the required fees.
[06-03-94; 10-15-97; 16.20.2.10 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 20.2.10, 08-31-00]
HISTORY of 16.20.2 NMAC:
Pre-NMAC History: The material in this part was derived from that previously filed with State Records and Archives:
Rule 71-1, Re: License, filed 6-10-71
Rule 80-3, General Rules and Regulations, filed 4-14-80
Rule 83-2, Examinations, filed 3-29-83
Rule 88-2, Examinations, filed 2-19-88
Rule 89-2, Examinations, filed 8-1-89
Rule 91-2, Examinations, filed 5-8-91
Rule 94-2, Examinations, filed 6-3-94
Rule 95-2, Examinations, filed 7-28-95
Rule 95-2, Examinations, filed 9-18-95
Rule 92-11, P.T.A. Examination Requirements, filed 1-28-93
[Rp, 16 NMAC 20.2.3A, 8-31-00]
History of the Repealed Material: [Reserved]