TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
CHAPTER 25 VETERINARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS
PART 2 EXAMINATION AND LICENSURE - VETERINARIANS
16.25.2.1 ISSUING AGENCY: New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine
[16.25.2.1 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.1 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.2 SCOPE: Applies to all veterinarians licensed to
practice in the state of New Mexico and individuals applying for a license to
practice veterinary medicine in the state of New Mexico.
[16.25.2.2 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.2 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Section 61-14-4; Section 61-14-5; Section
61-14-8; Section 61-14-9; Section 61-14-10; Section 61-14-12; Section 61-14-13;
Section 61-14-14 and Section 61-14-15 NMSA 1978.
[16.25.2.3 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.3 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[16.25.2.4 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.4 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: 01-17-2014 unless a later date is cited at
the end of a section.
[16.25.2.5 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.5 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.6 OBJECTIVE: To set out the requirements for obtaining a
license to practice veterinary medicine in the state of New Mexico as defined
in Subsection B of Section 61-14-2 NMSA 1978.
[16.25.2.6 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.6 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
[16.25.2.7 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.7 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.8 GENERAL ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSURE: A license to
practice veterinary medicine in the state of New Mexico is granted only to an
applicant who fulfills all of the requirements specified in this part. The mere filing of an application shall not
entitle the applicant to a license to practice veterinary medicine. Each applicant shall have the burden of
demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the board of veterinary medicine, that
he:
A. has reached the age of majority as recognized by the
state of New Mexico;
B. is a person of good moral character, physically and
mentally fit to practice veterinary medicine;
C. is in good standing in any other state(s) in which he is,
or has been, licensed to practice veterinary medicine. If the applicant has had disciplinary
proceedings instituted against him which have resulted in suspension or
revocation of a license on any grounds other than nonpayment of a licensee fee,
or he has voluntarily surrendered a license to practice veterinary medicine,
the board will review the prior action(s) on a case by case basis prior to
licensure;
D. is professionally qualified for a license to practice
veterinary medicine in the state of New Mexico by taking and passing the
written examinations as defined in these rules, except as provided in Section
61-14-10 NMSA 1978;
E. is a graduate veterinarian as defined by Subsection B of
Section 61-14-2 NMSA 1978;
F. has not had a United States drug enforcement
administration (DEA) license, a state level controlled substances registration,
or federal accreditation privileges through the United States department of
agriculture (USDA) animal and plant health inspection service (APHIS)
restricted or revoked, or surrendered such license or privilege while under
investigation or in connection with any disciplinary action or pending
disciplinary action. If applicant has
had any of these actions taken against him, the board will review such actions
on a case by case basis prior to licensure; and
G. understands with regard to any of the above provisions,
the final authority to grant a license rests with the board. Determinations will be made on a case by case
basis.
[16.25.2.8 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.8 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.9 REQUIREMENT
THAT A PRACTICING VETERINARIAN BE LICENSED:
A. With only those exemptions specified in Section 61-14-14
NMSA 1978, a graduate veterinarian must be licensed by the board to lawfully
practice veterinary medicine in New Mexico as defined in Subsection B of
Section 61-14-2 NMSA 1978.
B. Only veterinarians licensed by the state of New Mexico
may practice veterinary medicine in New Mexico; working under the supervision
of a licensed veterinarian does not waive the requirement to hold a license.
C. The requirement for direct supervision of
non-veterinarians who treat animals is described in 16.25.9.20 NMAC.
[16.25.2.9 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.9 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.10 BASIC LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS: Except as
noted, an applicant for a regular license to practice veterinary medicine in
New Mexico must:
A. Submit a completed, signed, and notarized application for licensure-DVM.
The application must:
(1) be submitted
30 days before the applicant's selected date to take the state examination;
(2) include the
application/examination fee; and
(3) have
attached a color passport-type head and shoulders photograph of the applicant.
B. Take and pass with a minimum score of seventy-five
percent, the New Mexico veterinary licensing examination. Exceptions for endorsement applicants are set
out in 16.25.2.10 NMAC.
C. Submit all of the following documents within 12 months
after passing the state examination. An
applicant who fails to provide required documents within 12 months must reapply
for licensure.
(1) notarized
copy of the applicant's diploma from a veterinary school accredited by the
American veterinary medical association (AVMA).
Exception for new graduates is set out in 16.25.2.12 NMAC;
(2) official
veterinary school transcript bearing the seal of the institution;
(3) verifications
of licensure from any and all state(s) in which the applicant is or has been
licensed to practice veterinary medicine;
(4) one personal
and one professional recommendation; and
(5) the
applicant's scores on the national licensing examination for veterinarians.
(a) New Mexico's national examination
score requirements are set out in 16.25. 2.16 NMAC.
(b) Exceptions for endorsement applicants
are set out in Subsection B of 16.25.2.11 NMAC
(c) Applicants for a temporary permit
shall comply with requirements of Subsection A of 16.25.2.10 NMAC only.
[16.25.2.10 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.10 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.11 LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT: A veterinarian who has been
licensed in another state and has performed at least five years of clinical
veterinary practice with at least 6,000 hours immediately preceding application
for a New Mexico license, may qualify for licensure by endorsement. A qualified endorsement applicant:
A. Does not need to provide his score from the national
licensing examination.
B. May take the jurisprudence examination for the standard
endorsement fee at a special time, arranged through the executive director,
rather than at one of the board set regularly scheduled examination times.
C. Applicant must report criminal convictions and
disciplinary actions taken in all jurisdictions.
[16.25.2.11 NMAC
– Rp, 16.25.2.11 NMAC, 01-17-2014; A, 07/01/18]
16.25.2.12 SENIOR STUDENTS AND NEW GRADUATES: If a senior student
or new graduate's veterinary school has not yet provided the diploma by the
applicant's examination date, a properly authenticated document such as a
letter from the veterinary school dean evidencing graduation or impending
graduation may temporarily substitute for the diploma. This provision is only for the purpose of
taking the examination; the notarized diploma must be provided the soonest time
it becomes available. The applicant
cannot become licensed until all required documents, including the notarized
copy of the diploma and the official transcript are received by the board.
[16.25.2.12 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.12 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.13 GRADUATES OF NON-AVMA ACCREDITED VETERINARY SCHOOLS: A
graduate of a veterinary school not accredited by the American veterinary
medical association (AVMA) must furnish certification of completion of the
educational commission for foreign veterinary graduates (ECFVG) program. This certification is in addition to all other
licensing requirements as specified in 16.25.2.10 NMAC. Requirements for graduates of non-AVMA
accredited schools are also set out in 16.25.5 NMAC.
[16.25.2.13 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.13 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.14 60-DAY TEMPORARY PERMIT:
A. Purpose. The
temporary permit, good for a period of no more than 60-calendar days, is
intended for experienced, licensed veterinarians who wish to practice in New
Mexico for a brief period. The temporary
permit is not granted to a new graduate or experienced veterinarian who has not
yet taken the state licensing examination or met all other licensing
requirements.
B. To qualify for a temporary permit, an applicant must:
(1) be currently
licensed in and currently practice in another state, territory, or district of
the United States;
(2) be in good standing
in all jurisdictions in which he is or has been licensed;
(3) submit the completed, signed, and
notarized application for licensure-DVM
form along with a color passport-type, head and shoulders photograph and the
temporary permit fee; and
(4) provide a
verification of licensure from the state where the applicant currently
practices veterinary medicine and holds licensure.
C. An applicant for a temporary permit does not need to take
the state examination or provide national examination scores.
D. A temporary permit may not be renewed within a 12 month
period from issuance without approval from the board.
[16.25.2.14 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.14 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.15 STATE EXAMINATION:
A. The board sets the state licensing examination for veterinarians
on a regularly scheduled basis twice annually at a reduced fee. Applicants who wish to obtain their licenses
sooner than the board set examination dates can take the examination at the
higher fee of $500. The examination is
administered at the board office; arrangements for this type of examination are
made with the executive director.
B. The state examination may be taken by senior year
veterinary school students as well as graduate veterinarians.
C. The state examination is graded by individuals selected
by the board of veterinary medicine. The
minimum passing grade for the state examination is seventy-five percent.
D. Applicants will be notified by mail within two weeks
after the examination of the results.
Grades will be provided to applicants upon request.
E. An applicant who fails the examination can review the
examination and his answer sheet at the board office 20 days from receipt of
notification of examination results.
Prior arrangement will be made with the executive director to designate
a time for the review. Only the
applicant and a member of the board or executive director may be present. Copying or removing examination questions or
answers will result in license denial.
F. An applicant who has failed the state examination must
retake it within 30 days. Applicant must
pay an additional examination fee of $500 to retake the examination.
G. Limitations. Once
the application/examination fee has been submitted to the board it cannot be
refunded. The state examination must be
taken within one year from date of application submittal.
(1) If an applicant has applied to take
the examination on a board set date and is unable to do so, the examination may
be rescheduled on one of the subsequent board set dates within one year without
reapplication or the payment of an additional fee.
(2) If an applicant has applied to take
the examination on a specific date and is unable to do so, the examination may
be rescheduled within one year without reapplication or payment of an
additional fee.
[16.25.2.15 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.16 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.16 NATIONAL EXAMINATION SCORES: The board
accepts, as sufficient to meet state requirements, the minimum passing grade
for the national examination for veterinarians.
This applies whether the applicant has taken the national board
examination (NBE) or the North American veterinary licensing examination
(NAVLE). In accordance with the national board of veterinary medical examiners
(NBVME), candidates shall not be approved to take the North American veterinary
licensing examination (NAVLE) more than five times and shall not be allowed to
sit for the examination at a date that is later than five years after the
initial attempt. Each of the final two
attempts must be at least one year from the previous attempt.
[16.25.2.16 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.17 NMAC, 01-17-2014; A, 05-08-2016]
16.25.2.17 LICENSE RENEWAL:
A. A veterinarian's license expires and is due for renewal
each year on the last day of his birth month.
B. A license is lapsed if the license renewal is not postal
postmarked on or before the expiration date. Practicing veterinary medicine
with a lapsed license is the same as practicing without a license. Anyone practicing veterinary medicine in New
Mexico on a lapsed license is subject to penalties and disciplinary action as
provided in Section 61-14-18 NMSA 1978.
C. Licensee shall display at the business location in full
view of the public, his original license certificate signed by the board and
the current year renewal license. If
licensee is providing veterinary services in a relief capacity, current year
license renewal must be easily accessible.
[16.25.2.17 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.18 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.18 LICENSE REINSTATEMENT: The board has no additional policies
beyond what is stated in Section 61-14-12 NMSA 1978.
[16.25.2.18 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.19 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.2.19 EXAMINATION AND LICENSURE FEES: The list of
all fees relating to examination, licensure and permit fees is as follows and
is posted at the board’s web site: www.nmbvm.org.
A. State jurisprudence examination.
(1) bi-annual board set dates, January
and May - $300;
(2) applicant
selected date - $500; and
(3) licensure by
endorsement - $500.
B. License and permit fees.
(1) initial
license fee is prorated from date of license issue to last day of licensee’s
birth month;
(2) annual DVM
license renewal - $200;
(3) 60-day temporary permit - $250;
(4) inactive status
- $100. Annual continuing education
requirement must be fulfilled and reported; and
(5) license
reactivation - $150 along with completed application for reactivation and
verification of required annual 15 continuing education hours while license in
inactive status.
C. Late renewal penalties.
(1) postal
postmarked no later than 30 days past expiration date - $100; or
(2) postal
postmarked more than 30 days after expiration date - $100 plus $10 per day not
to exceed $3000.
D. The board may waive payment of a
renewal fee and annual continuing education requirement of a licensee while on
active duty with the armed services of the United States. Renewal fee and continuing education requirement
will be waived for the duration of licensee’s overseas deployment or a declared
national emergency. Requests for waivers
will be addressed to the executive director of the board of veterinary
medicine.
[16.25.2.19 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.20 NMAC, 01-17-2014; A, 05-08-2016]
16.25.2.20 ADDRESS CHANGE NOTIFICATION: Throughout
his period of licensure, every licensee must notify the board in writing within
30 days of a change of address. Notice of change of address-DVM, RVT
form is available at the board’s web site: www.nmbvm.org.
[16.25.2.20 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.2.21 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
HISTORY OF 16.25.2 NMAC:
Pre-NMAC History:
BVE 75-1, Rules
Governing the Examination and Licensing of Veterinarians, 12-5-75.
BVE 79-1, Rules
Governing the Examination and Licensing of Veterinarians, 9-21-79.
BVE 88-1, Rules
Governing the Examination and Licensing of Veterinarians, 10-14-88.
BVE 92-1, Rules
Governing the Examination and Licensing of Veterinarians, 5-22-92.
BVE 93-1, Rules
Governing the Examination and Licensing of Veterinarians, 6-3-93.
History of Repealed Material:
16
NMAC 25.2, Examination and Licensure - Repealed effective 7-25-01.
16.25.2 NMAC
Examination and Licensure - Repealed effective 01-17-14.