New Mexico Administrative Code

The renewal license shall be displayed by the licensee in a conspicuous place in the optometrist's principal office or place of business.

Part 10 of Chapter 16 applies to all New Mexico optometry licensees.

These rules are promulgated pursuant to the Optometry Act, Sections 61-2-1 to-18 NMSA1978.

Permanent.

October 14, 1995, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

The objective of Part 10 of Chapter 16 is to set forth the requirements and procedures for license renewal. Through the renewal process, the board ensures that licensees are continuing the educational process and keeping up with advancements in the profession.

"Expired license" means the license has not been renewed by the license expiration date in accordance with 16.16.11.8 NMAC, but is still under the statutory authority of the board for the period specified in 16.16.11.16 NMAC.

All current New Mexico optometry licenses not renewed by July 1 of every year shall be considered expired. Initial licenses may be issued for a period greater than 12 months, but less than 24 months, in order to align the license expiration date with the renewal cycle.

Licenses must be renewed on or before July 1 of each year to be considered current.

New Mexico Board of Optometry.

Licenses that expire or that are inactive, retired, revoked or suspended for any other reason, shall be reported by the board to the New Mexico board of pharmacy, as required by the Optometry Act; to other state or federal agencies as required; and to any other inquirer as reques…

A. An optometrist shall not practice optometry in the state of New Mexico while his or her license is expired; or while it is inactive, retired, revoked, suspended, or is otherwise invalid as provided in Section 61-2-14(A), NMSA 1978. B. Any person who practices optometry in New …

The licensee whose license is expired due to non-renewal, and who wishes to reactivate the license to active and current status, must apply for, and receive, approval by the board for reactivation of the license. The application for reactivation must be made on a reactivation for…

Upon receiving approval for license reactivation by the board, the applicant will receive a reactivated license to practice optometry in the state of New Mexico.

An applicant whose application for reactivation has been denied shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing under Section 61-1-4 of the Uniform Licensing Act.

The time limitation for reactivating a license that has been expired due to non-renewal is five (5) years. A. Licenses not reactivated within the time limitation specified shall become null and void (lapsed). B. Null and void (lapsed) licenses may not be reactivated.

In order to practice optometry in New Mexico, the optometrist whose New Mexico license has become null and void (lapsed) must complete the entire application process and meet all the licensure requirements in effect at the time of application, including re-examination by the boar…

Part 11 of Chapter 16 applies to licensees whose licenses have expired due to non-renewal and who wish to reactivate their license.

The authority for Part 11 of Chapter 16 is NMSA 1978, Section 61-2-6.D. (9); Section 61-2-11.A. (5); and Section 61-2-12.

Permanent.

October 14, 1995, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

The objective of Part 11 of Chapter 16 is to set forth regulations on expiration of an optometry license due to non-renewal and the requirements for reactivation of the license. When a licensee fails to renew or reactivate an expired license after a certain time period and the li…

A. "Valid license" means a license that is subject to regulation by, and statutory authority of, the board. B. "Active status" means the license is valid and current and that the licensee is authorized by the board to practice optometry in New Mexico. C. "Expired status" means th…

Licenses not renewed on or before July 1, as set forth in 16.16.10.8 NMAC, shall be expired.

Licenses not renewed on or before July 1, as set forth in 16.16.10.8 NMAC, shall be subject to the required late penalty fee, as provided in 16.16.2.14 NMAC, in addition to the renewal fee, as provided in 16.16.2.13 NMAC.

New Mexico Board of Optometry.

Any optometrist who has retired as provided in 16.16.12.8 NMAC may, within five years from the date his/her license was retired, notify the board in writing of his/her desire to resume active practice. The applicant shall provide the following information. A. The license number o…

Upon receipt of the written request required in 16.16.12.10 NMAC, the board shall mail the applicant a reinstatement form stipulating the fees and the number of board-approved continuing education hours required for reactivation of his or her license. A. The reactivation fee shal…

The optometrist shall return the completed, signed, and notarized reinstatement form, the required fee, and copies of the continuing education proofs of attendance certificates to the board office.

A. If the board finds the application in order and is satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled the requirements as specified, the board shall reinstate the applicant's license. B. The retiree may not resume the practice of optometry until the reactivated license has been receiv…

A. The retired optometrist will be ineligible for reinstatement if he or she is under investigation, is facing disciplinary proceedings, or has had a disciplinary action taken against his or her license in any jurisdiction while on retired status in New Mexico. B. A retired optom…

If application for reinstatement of the license is not made before the end of the five-year retirement or reinstatement period, the optometrist's New Mexico license shall Lapse. The optometrist must reapply to the board for licensure by examination. All application requirements a…

Part 12 of Chapter 16 applies to all optometrists who wish to place their New Mexico licenses in retirement status.

The authority for Part 12 of Chapter 16 is NMSA 1978 Section 61-2-12 and 61-2-6.D. (2) (1995 Repl. Pamp.).

Permanent.

October 14, 1995, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

The objective of Part 11 of Chapter 16 is to set forth the requirements and procedures for placing a New Mexico optometry license in retirement status and having it reinstated from retirement status.

"Retired status" means a license that has been withdrawn from active status at the request of the licensee due to retirement provided the licensee is not practicing optometry in another jurisdiction. Such license is still subject to the board authority for five (5) years from the…

Any optometrist who wishes to retire from practice shall notify the board, in writing, prior to the expiration date of his or her license. A. If the licensee meets the time frame and continuing education requirements set forth in 16.16.12.8 NMAC, the license will be retired. The …

During the period of retirement, the optometrist is prohibited from practicing optometry in the state of New Mexico.

New Mexico Board of Optometry.

All requests for approval of courses not covered by 16.16.13.9 NMAC shall be submitted to the board in writing by the individual optometrist before the program is attended. A. The request shall be addressed to the board office and directed to the continuing education committee. B…

A. A licensee may request a deferral or waiver of continuing education or CPR certification requirements in writing, at least thirty (30) days prior to the license's expiration, should any of the following occur: (1) licensee experiences prolonged debilitating illness; or (2) one…

Part 13 of Chapter 16 applies to all optometrists intending to renew, reinstate, or reactivate their New Mexico license to practice optometry.

The authority for Part 13 of Chapter 16 is NMSA 1978, Section 61-2-12.C and Section 61-2-6.D. (2) (1995 Repl. Pamp.).

Permanent.

October 14, 1995, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

The objective of Part13 of Chapter 16 is to set forth the requirements and procedures for the New Mexico licensed optometrist to meet the continuing education requirements for license renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement.

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