TITLE 16 OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
CHAPTER 25 VETERINARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS
PART 6 VETERINARY TECHNICIANS
16.25.6.1 ISSUING AGENCY: New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine.
[16.25.6.1 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.1 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.2 SCOPE: These rules apply to all registered veterinary
technicians licensed in the state of New Mexico.
[16.25.6.2 NMAC -
Rp, 16.25.6.2 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.3 STATUTORY AUTHORITY: NMSA 1978, Section 61-14-5, Section 61-14-6,
Section 61-14-7, Section 61-14-12, and Section 61-14-16.
[16.25.6.3 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.3 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.4 DURATION: Permanent.
[16.25.6.4 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.4 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.5 EFFECTIVE DATE: 01-17-2014 unless a later date is cited at
the end of a section.
[16.25.6.5 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.5 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.6 OBJECTIVE: To establish requirements for registered veterinary
technicians.
[16.25.6.6 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.6 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.7 DEFINITIONS: [RESERVED]
[16.25.6.7 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.7 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.8 RULES GOVERNING REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS:
A. To perform the duties of a registered veterinary
technician in New Mexico and receive a license issued by the board of
veterinary medicine, an applicant must meet all the requirements set forth in
these rules. The following documents are
required:
(1) a completed,
signed and notarized application for licensure-RVT
form;
(2) the
examination fee; and
(3) a color
passport-type head and shoulders photograph of the applicant.
B. Prior to the applicant taking the required examinations,
the application will be reviewed to determine if the applicant has
satisfactorily met the board’s requirements.
(1) The applicant’s file must be complete
before a license will be issued. If the
required documents and information are not provided within one year of board
examination, the applicant must reapply for licensure. In addition to (1), (2) and (3) above, the following
documents are required:
(a) notarized
copy of diploma;
(b) final
transcripts from an accredited veterinary technician program; and
(c) verifications
of licensure from another state(s) or country(ies) in
which applicant is or has been licensed;
(2) pass all examinations required by the
board;
(3) meet one of
the following requirements:
(a) the
applicant is a graduate veterinary technician or a senior student of a two year
or longer program accredited by the American veterinary medical association; or
(b) the
applicant has a current valid permit or license from another state(s) or
country(ies) with similar requirements to New Mexico,
as approved by the board.
[16.25.6.8 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.8 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.9 EXAMINATIONS:
A. Examinations shall be held as specified by the board of
veterinary medicine.
(1) Applicants must pass the American association
of state veterinary boards (AAVSB) veterinary technician national examination
(VTNE) administered by the professional examination service (PES) with the
passing grade established by PES.
(2) Prior to taking the VTNE, applicant
must apply for sponsorship by the board.
The list of all fees relating to examinations is set out at Subsection C
of 16.25.6.9 NMAC and is posted at the board’s web site at www.nmbvm.org. In
addition, the applicant must take and pass with a minimum score of 75%, the New
Mexico veterinary technician licensing examination.
B. No application shall be acted upon until the examination
fee is received by the executive director of the board of veterinary
medicine. If the board deems an
applicant ineligible for examination, fees will not be refunded.
C. The list of fees relating to examinations is as follows
and is posted at the board’s web site: www.nmbvm.org.
(1) state
jurisprudence examination:
(a) board set
dates, January and May - $75; or
(b) date
selected by applicant - $100;
(2) VTNE:
board sponsorship - $50.
D. Limitations:
(1) Once the fees have been submitted to
the board, the fees cannot be refunded.
(2) An applicant has a one year time
limit within which to take the state examination.
E. Any applicant requesting an examination or re-examination
by the board, other than board-set examinations, shall submit the application
for review by the board. If the board
determines that there is sufficient justification for administering a special
examination, the expense of such special examination shall be borne by the
applicant requesting the examination.
F. An applicant failing the examination may retake the
entire examination at a scheduled time and will be charged the full examination
fee.
G. The executive director will notify candidates of the
examination results within 30 days of the date of the examination.
[16.25.6.9 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.9 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.10 RENEWAL OF LICENSE: A list of all fees relating to renewal of a
registered veterinary technician license is listed at Subsection D of
16.25.6.10 NMAC and at the board’s web site: www.nmbvm.org.
A. A veterinary technician’s license expires and is due for
renewal each year on the last day of December.
If a registered veterinary technician’s license lapses and is not
renewed within five years, they must reapply, retake and pass the examination
before they can obtain licensure, NMSA 1978, Section 61-14-12.
B. A registered veterinary technician license is lapsed if
the license renewal is not postal postmarked on or before the December 31
expiration date.
C. Registered veterinary technicians shall display at the
business location, in full view of the public, the current year license renewal
certificate.
D. License fees:
(1) initial
license fee is prorated from date of license issue to last day of December;
(2) annual
renewal fee - $75;
(3) inactive
status - $37.50. Annual continuing
education requirement must be fulfilled and reported;
(4) license reactivation - $50 along with
completed application for reactivation and verification of required annual 8.00
continuing education hours while license in inactive status; and
(5) late renewal
penalties:
(a) postal
postmarked no later than 30 days after December 31 expiration date - $25; or
(b) postal
postmarked more than 30 days after December 31 expiration date - $25 plus $5
per day not to exceed $300.
E. Continuing education.
(1) Each registered veterinary technician
licensed to practice in New Mexico must certify that he has completed at least
eight hours of approved continuing education during the preceding year. The hours will be derived from seminars,
short courses, or scientific programs approved by RACE, AVMA, NAVTA, or
sponsored by a veterinary medical association, veterinary organization,
university, or by the board. There will
be no exemptions for age or retirement.
(2) A waiver of delinquent hours may be
granted by the board if a request is made in writing. The hours must be made up in the next
calendar year and is in addition to the current year annual CE requirement.
(3) Continuing education hours will be
accumulated on an annual basis from January through December.
(4) A maximum of eight credit hours may
be accrued as excess and carried forward to the subsequent licensing year.
(5) A form to be completed by the
registered veterinary technician at the time of annual renewal will be provided
by the board of veterinary medicine.
(6) The burden of proving the validity of
the reported hours lies solely with the registered veterinary technician.
(7) A new licensee must comply with the
continuing education requirement beginning the next full licensure year after
graduation.
(8) In general, CE must be in the form of
contact hours. Credit for non-contact
forms of instruction including online training or articles in printed
periodicals is accepted, if the instruction:
(a) is designed
for veterinary technicians; and
(b) non-contact
hours do not comprise more than half of the annual requirement of eight CE
hours.
[16.25.6.10 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.10 NMAC, 01-17-2014; A, 05-08-2016]
16.25.6.11 ADDRESS
CHANGE NOTIFICATION: Throughout his period of licensure, every
board licensee must notify the board in writing within 30 days of any change of
address. A change of address form is available at the board’s web site. All correspondence will be addressed to the
executive director of the New Mexico board of veterinary medicine.
[16.25.6.11 NMAC
- N, 01-17-2014]
16.25.6.12 SUPERVISION OF REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS:
A. A registered veterinary technician’s professional
activities must be under the supervision and direction of a licensed or
license-exempt veterinarian.
(1) Direct supervision: Treatment of animals at the direction, order
or prescription of a licensed veterinarian who is available on the premises and
has established a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. NMSA 1978, Section 61-14-2(I).
(2) Indirect supervision: Treatment of animals when a licensed
veterinarian is not physically present at the location but has given written or
oral instructions for treatment of the animal; the animal has been examined by
veterinarian at such times as good veterinary medical practice requires
consistent with the particular delegated veterinary care task; and the animal
is not anesthetized.
(3) The following life-saving aid and
procedures a registered veterinary technician may perform under prior approval
of the licensed veterinarian in the absence of direct supervision includes:
(a) application
of tourniquet or pressure bandages to control hemorrhages;
(b) administration
of pharmacological agents to prevent or control shock, including parenteral
fluids, and shall only be continued after direct communication with a licensed
or license exempt veterinarian.
(c) resuscitative
oxygen procedures;
(d) establishing
open airways including intubations but excluding surgery;
(e) external
cardiac resuscitation;
(f) application
of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones or soft
tissues;
(g) application
of wound dressings and external supportive treatment in severe burn cases; and
(h) external
supportive treatment in heat prostration or hypothermal cases.
[16.25.6.12 NMAC
- Rp, 16.25.6.11 NMAC, 01-17-2014]
HISTORY OF 16.25.6 NMAC:
Pre-NMAC History: The material
in this part was derived from that previously filed with the State Records
Center:
BVE Rule No.
75-2, Rules Governing the Professional Conduct of Veterinarians, filed 12-5-75.
BVE Rule No.
76-1, Rules Governing Veterinary Technicians, filed 3-5-76.
BVE Rule No.
76-1, Amendment No. 1, (BVE Rule No. 78-1) Pertaining to Veterinary Technician
Emergency Care, filed 10-30-78.
BVE Rule 79-5,
Rules Governing Veterinary Technicians, filed 9-21-79.
BVE 88-5, Rules
Governing Veterinary Technicians, filed 10-14-88.
BVE 92-5, Rules
Governing Veterinary Technicians, filed 5-22-92.
BVE 93-5, Rules
Governing Veterinary Technicians, filed 6-3-93.
History of Repealed Material: 16.25.6 NMAC, Veterinary Technicians,
filed 3-15-04 - Repealed effective 01-17-14.