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Occupational Therapist Licensure in New Mexico

  • Timeline 6-9 weeks
  • Initial Costs $164
  • Renewal Costs $85
  • CE Requirements 15 Hours
  • Compact No

How to apply

To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in New Mexico, you'll be working with the New Mexico Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. 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

  1. Create Your Account: Head over to the NM-PLUS portal and click "Self Register" to create your account. This is where you will submit your application and pay your fees. Once registered, you can log in to start the "Occupational Therapist" application.
  2. Jurisprudence Exam: You are required to pass a Jurisprudence Exam, which covers the state's specific laws and rules. This is typically an open-book exam that you will complete as part of the licensure process.
  3. Background Check: New Mexico uses IdentoGO for fingerprinting. You will need to register on their website to schedule an appointment. Crucial: You must use the specific ORI number (agency ID) assigned to the OT Board, which you will find in the application instructions. Do not register without it!
  4. Request Official Documents: Contact your university to have your official transcripts sent directly to the Board. You must also request your score transfer from NBCOT to be sent directly to New Mexico.

What You'll Need & Key Details

  • Documents to Have Ready: A copy of your Driver's License, Social Security Number, and details of your employment history.
  • Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from the school), NBCOT Scores (sent directly from NBCOT), and Verification of Licensure (if you hold licenses in other states).
  • Exams: New Mexico Jurisprudence Exam (required).

Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in New Mexico:

  • Application Fee: $120
  • Background Check / Fingerprinting: $44 (approximate)
  • Jurisprudence Exam: $0
  • Verifications: $0
  • Total Estimated Initial Cost: $164

Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!

When to Renew: New Mexico Occupational Therapist renewal happens annually and is due by September 30th.

Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $85.

Note: Be careful—licenses expire on September 30th, and a late fee applies for renewals submitted between October 1st and October 31st.

15 Contact Hours required every year.

Deadline: September 30th annually.

Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist pros: you can do all of these online! New Mexico currently has no limit on home-study or distance learning hours, making it easy to manage your Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs while on assignment.

Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The Board accepts courses from AOTA-approved providers, state OT associations, or regionally accredited colleges. General portals like MedBridge are accepted and highly recommended for travelers managing multiple licenses.

Mandatory Topics

  • No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
  • Jurisprudence: While a jurisprudence exam is required for initial licensure, it is not currently a recurring requirement for annual renewal.
  • NBCOT Option: You may submit proof of current NBCOT certification in lieu of the 15 contact hours.


Excluded Topics: Business management, marketing, personal development, or basic CPR/First Aid.

New Licensee Rule: If you have been licensed for less than 12 months at the time of your first renewal, the continuing education requirement is waived.

Reporting: New Mexico is audit-based. You do not need to submit certificates during renewal, but you must maintain your records for at least 4 years in case of an audit.

Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the NM Board of Examiners For Occupational Therapy:


Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.

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How to Apply

To secure your Travel Occupational Therapist license in New Mexico, you'll be working with the New Mexico Board of Occupational Therapy Practice. 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

  1. Create Your Account: Head over to the NM-PLUS portal and click "Self Register" to create your account. This is where you will submit your application and pay your fees. Once registered, you can log in to start the "Occupational Therapist" application.
  2. Jurisprudence Exam: You are required to pass a Jurisprudence Exam, which covers the state's specific laws and rules. This is typically an open-book exam that you will complete as part of the licensure process.
  3. Background Check: New Mexico uses IdentoGO for fingerprinting. You will need to register on their website to schedule an appointment. Crucial: You must use the specific ORI number (agency ID) assigned to the OT Board, which you will find in the application instructions. Do not register without it!
  4. Request Official Documents: Contact your university to have your official transcripts sent directly to the Board. You must also request your score transfer from NBCOT to be sent directly to New Mexico.

What You'll Need & Key Details

  • Documents to Have Ready: A copy of your Driver's License, Social Security Number, and details of your employment history.
  • Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from the school), NBCOT Scores (sent directly from NBCOT), and Verification of Licensure (if you hold licenses in other states).
  • Exams: New Mexico Jurisprudence Exam (required).

Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in New Mexico:

  • Application Fee: $120
  • Background Check / Fingerprinting: $44 (approximate)
  • Jurisprudence Exam: $0
  • Verifications: $0
  • Total Estimated Initial Cost: $164

Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!

When to Renew: New Mexico Occupational Therapist renewal happens annually and is due by September 30th.

Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $85.

Note: Be careful—licenses expire on September 30th, and a late fee applies for renewals submitted between October 1st and October 31st.

15 Contact Hours required every year.

Deadline: September 30th annually.

Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Occupational Therapist pros: you can do all of these online! New Mexico currently has no limit on home-study or distance learning hours, making it easy to manage your Travel Occupational Therapist CEUs while on assignment.

Provider Restrictions: Courses must be relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The Board accepts courses from AOTA-approved providers, state OT associations, or regionally accredited colleges. General portals like MedBridge are accepted and highly recommended for travelers managing multiple licenses.

Mandatory Topics

  • No specific mandatory topics—choose what interests you!
  • Jurisprudence: While a jurisprudence exam is required for initial licensure, it is not currently a recurring requirement for annual renewal.
  • NBCOT Option: You may submit proof of current NBCOT certification in lieu of the 15 contact hours.


Excluded Topics: Business management, marketing, personal development, or basic CPR/First Aid.

New Licensee Rule: If you have been licensed for less than 12 months at the time of your first renewal, the continuing education requirement is waived.

Reporting: New Mexico is audit-based. You do not need to submit certificates during renewal, but you must maintain your records for at least 4 years in case of an audit.

Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the NM Board of Examiners For Occupational Therapy:


Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.

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