Continuing Education

• RNs and LPNs are required to complete 30 hours of approved CE within the 24 months immediately preceding expiration of license. Certification and/or recertification granted by a national professional organization, which uses criteria designed to recognize competence in a specialized area of nursing practice may be used as, approved CE. Certified nurse practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialist must complete a total of 50 hours of approved CE each renewal. Thirty (30) contact hours shall meet the requirements for licensure as an RN and an additional twenty (20) contact hours , fifteen (15) of which must be pharmacology and five (5) in the area of practice. Certified registered anesthetists must submit a copy of the recertification card issued by AANA Council on Recetification for renewal of the CRNA license.
• The New Mexico Board of Nursing accepts continuing education, which has been approved by a recognized approval agency such as a national or state nursing organization; another state board of nursing, or a New Mexico approved local monitoring system.
• Other continuing education which may be accepted continuing education for nurses if related to the licensees nursing practice includes continuing education approved through continuing education divisions within educational institutions of higher learning, academic credit and continuing education approved through generally recognized health care or professional organizations. Some examples include continuing education from UNM Division of Continuing Education and others, academic credits from a university or college such as TVI-Albuquerque, New Mexico State University, generally recognized health care or professional organizations include the American Psychology Association, and even business associations. The Board does accept CMEs (continuing medical education).
• The Board does not approve continuing education. The New Mexico Board of Nursing is a regulatory agency and, as such, does not review or approve continuing education programs for nurses. An approval body for continuing education in New Mexico is:
  

  New Mexico Nurses Association
  P.O. Box 29658
  Santa Fe, New Mexico 87592-9658
  505-471-3324 phone
  505-471-3326 fax

• The Board does not keep a list of continuing education that is accepted. Continuing education must enhance the licensee's scope of professional development as related to his/her activities in nursing.
• Continuing education records are subject to audit by the board. You are responsible for maintaining CE records and for keeping the certificates of verification of attendance at CE activities for at least one (1) year after the license is renewed. Photocopies of certificates must be submitted to the Board office only if audited and /or requested. A justification of how the offering enhanced your nursing practice is required for CEs not approved by a nursing board or organization.