Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Licensure in New Mexico
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Timeline 6-9 weeks
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Initial Costs $169
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Renewal Costs $60
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CE Requirements 20 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in New Mexico, you'll be working with the New Mexico Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the NM-PLUS portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your official transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Documents Moving: Head over to your university registrar and request your official transcripts be sent directly to the Board. Simultaneously, log into your NBCOT account and request a verification of certification letter be sent to New Mexico. These third-party documents must come directly from the source, not from you.
- Background Check: New Mexico uses IdentoGO (formerly Gemalto) for fingerprinting. You will need to register on the IdentoGO website to schedule your appointment. If you are out of state, you can usually register to mail in fingerprint cards, but you must start the registration process online first to get the correct ORI number and instructions.
- Jurisprudence Exam: You are required to pass a Jurisprudence Exam, which covers the state's specific laws and rules. This is an open-book exam. You will typically find the exam or the requirement to upload your answer sheet within the online application portal or on the Board's "Forms" page.
- Submit Your Application: Create an account on the NM-PLUS portal. Complete the online application, upload any required personal documents (like your driver's license), and pay the application fee. Once you hit submit, you can track your status through the same dashboard.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A current color photograph (passport style), your Driver's License, SSN, and details of your employment history.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts from your OTA program and NBCOT Verification of Certification.
- Exams: New Mexico Jurisprudence Exam (Open Book).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in New Mexico:
- Application Fee: $100
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $44 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $25
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $169
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: New Mexico Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens annually and is due by September 30th.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $60.
Note: Be careful with your timing—renewals not postmarked by October 1st are subject to a steep $100 penalty fee.
CE Requirements
20 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: September 30th of the renewal year.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs: New Mexico allows all 20 hours to be completed via online or home-study courses, provided they are from approved providers.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of Occupational Therapy. New Mexico recognizes courses approved by the AOTA, NMOTA, or other state OT associations. General portals like MedBridge are accepted as they are AOTA-approved providers.
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Excluded Topics: Business, management, marketing, and social work courses are generally not accepted. CPR certification does not count toward the 20-hour requirement.
New Licensee Rule: If your initial license was issued for less than 12 months before the first renewal date, the CE requirement is waived for that first cycle.
Reporting: New Mexico is audit-based. You do not need to submit certificates during renewal unless you are selected for an audit. Keep your records for at least 4 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the NM Board of Examiners For Occupational Therapy:
- Address: PO Box 25101 Santa Fe, NM 87504-5101
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (505) 476-4940
- Fax: (505) 476-4645
- Email: occupationaltherapy@rld.nm.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
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How to Apply
To secure your Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant license in New Mexico, you'll be working with the New Mexico Board of Occupational Therapy. You will submit your application through the NM-PLUS portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your official transcripts to get the ball rolling.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Documents Moving: Head over to your university registrar and request your official transcripts be sent directly to the Board. Simultaneously, log into your NBCOT account and request a verification of certification letter be sent to New Mexico. These third-party documents must come directly from the source, not from you.
- Background Check: New Mexico uses IdentoGO (formerly Gemalto) for fingerprinting. You will need to register on the IdentoGO website to schedule your appointment. If you are out of state, you can usually register to mail in fingerprint cards, but you must start the registration process online first to get the correct ORI number and instructions.
- Jurisprudence Exam: You are required to pass a Jurisprudence Exam, which covers the state's specific laws and rules. This is an open-book exam. You will typically find the exam or the requirement to upload your answer sheet within the online application portal or on the Board's "Forms" page.
- Submit Your Application: Create an account on the NM-PLUS portal. Complete the online application, upload any required personal documents (like your driver's license), and pay the application fee. Once you hit submit, you can track your status through the same dashboard.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: A current color photograph (passport style), your Driver's License, SSN, and details of your employment history.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts from your OTA program and NBCOT Verification of Certification.
- Exams: New Mexico Jurisprudence Exam (Open Book).
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in New Mexico:
- Application Fee: $100
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $44 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $25
- Verifications: $0
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $169
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: New Mexico Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant renewal happens annually and is due by September 30th.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $60.
Note: Be careful with your timing—renewals not postmarked by October 1st are subject to a steep $100 penalty fee.
CE Requirements
20 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: September 30th of the renewal year.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant CEUs: New Mexico allows all 20 hours to be completed via online or home-study courses, provided they are from approved providers.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of Occupational Therapy. New Mexico recognizes courses approved by the AOTA, NMOTA, or other state OT associations. General portals like MedBridge are accepted as they are AOTA-approved providers.
Mandatory Topics
- No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
Excluded Topics: Business, management, marketing, and social work courses are generally not accepted. CPR certification does not count toward the 20-hour requirement.
New Licensee Rule: If your initial license was issued for less than 12 months before the first renewal date, the CE requirement is waived for that first cycle.
Reporting: New Mexico is audit-based. You do not need to submit certificates during renewal unless you are selected for an audit. Keep your records for at least 4 years.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the NM Board of Examiners For Occupational Therapy:
- Address: PO Box 25101 Santa Fe, NM 87504-5101
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (505) 476-4940
- Fax: (505) 476-4645
- Email: occupationaltherapy@rld.nm.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.