New Mexico State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors
Candis Bourassa
4001 Office Court Drive, Suite 902-904
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 - 4962
505-827-7561
505-827-7566 FAX
candis.bourassa@state.nm.us

Of the 30 PDH, at least 4 hours must be in ethics.

Licensees that renew in December 2006 will only be required to get 2 hours of ethics. However, any licensee renewing in December 2007 or later will have to obtain 4 hours.

Dual License: The number of PDH units required shall remain the same for persons who hold a dual registration as a professional engineer and professional surveyor. Holders of dual registration(s) are free to utilize PDH units approved for either field at their sole discretion.

The New Mexico Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors does not pre-approve courses for PDH credit; it is the registrant’s responsibility to ensure that activities meet the professional development requirements.

Renewal Dates
Renewal occurs December 31 biennially based upon license number.

License numbers ending with even numbers renew December 31 of even years.

License numbers ending with odd numbers renew December 31 of odd years.

Statutes
Title 16, Chapter 39, Part 2 of the New Mexico Administrative Code

Special Designations or Stipulations
A registrant may bring an expired license to active status by obtaining all delinquent PDH units and complying with all other reinstatement requirements in the Act and the board’s rules and regulations. However, if the total number required to become current exceeds 30, then 30 shall be the maximum number required.

Audit Potential
Random

Allowable Carryover Hours
15 PDH per renewal period

Applicable Course of Study
Qualifying PDH activities:
(1) Must have been taken place in the reporting period;
(2) Must have a clear purpose and objective which will maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the practice of land surveying (courses taken only for personal use would not qualify);
(3) May include technical, ethical, or managerial content;
(4) Should advance the professional or technical competence of the registrant;
(5) May be sponsored by employers, government agencies, nationally affiliated land surveying technical or professional societies, colleges or universities, or other organizations;
(6) May be earned in any jurisdiction.

Continuing education activities for which PDH units may be earned are as follows:
(1) Successful completion of college courses.
(2) Successful completion of continuing education courses.
(3) Successful completion of correspondence, televised, videotaped, and other short courses/tutorials.
(4) Presenting or attending qualifying seminars, in-house courses, workshops, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, conventions or conferences.
(5) Teaching or instructing in (1)-(4) above
Authoring published papers, articles, or books.
(6) Active participation in professional or technical societies and their committees.
(7) Patents.

Clarification of Activities:
(1) Audited courses – earn PDHs for contact hours only (actual time spent in classroom)
(2) Videotaped/Correspondence courses or instruction computer software (self-taught tutorial)
(a) acceptable if appropriate progress/completion documentation is provided to participants
(b) would not qualify on an individual basis (no means of verifying progress/completion)
(c) may be eligible if presented in a group/formal setting
(3) 1 CEU is defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education course under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction
(4) Conferences – receive PDHs for number of hours attending professional/technical sessions
(5) Presentations by product/equipment vendors & factory/plant tours are eligible only if:
(a) presentations are of a technical nature and not just a sales demonstration
(b) part of a formal training session; not normally obtained in the course of registrant’s work
(6) Published papers, articles, books – may earn credit for authoring or co-authoring only; reviewing and editing of documents would not qualify
(7) Professional/Technical Societies:
(a) may receive 2 PDH/year for active participation (serving as an officer or on a working committee and not just a dues-paying member)
(b) may earn PDHs for attending individual meetings of an organization when an land surveying related topic is presented as a principal part of the program
(c) attending regular committee and business meetings would not qualify.
(8) The following activities are not eligible: self-study, personal self-improvement courses, regular employment, task forces/committees within a firm (considered part of employment), service club meetings or activities, tutoring students or assisting in a school’s computer lab.

Credit for college or community college approved courses will be based upon course credit established by the college.

Credit for qualifying seminars, workshops, professional conventions, and courses/activities may be recommended by the professional societies.

The conversion from other units of continuing education to PDH units is as follows:
(a) College or unit semester hour = 45 PDH
(b) College or unit quarter hour = 30 PDH
(c) 1 Continuing Education Unit = 10 PDH
(d) 1 Hour of professional development in course work, seminars, or professional or technical presentations made at meetings, conventions, or conferences = 1 PDH
(e) For teaching apply multiple of 2 (Teaching credit is valid for teaching a course or seminar for the first time only. Teaching credit does not apply to full-time faculty.)
(f) Each published paper, article, or book = 10 PDH
(g) Active participation in professional and technical societies. (each organization) = 1 hour = 1 PDH, 2 PDH/yr
(h) Each patent = 10 PDH

Proof of Compliance
Each registrant is charged with the responsibility of his own professional development activities. The responsibility of maintaining records to be used to support credits claimed is the responsibility of the registrant.

Records required include, but are not limited to:
(1) a log showing the type of activity claimed, sponsoring organization, location, duration, instructor's or speaker's name, and PDH credits earned;
(2) attendance verification records in the form of completion certificates, paid receipts or other documents supporting evidence of attendance.

These records must be maintained for a period of three years and copies may be requested by the Board for audit verification purposes.

All renewal applications will require the completion of a continuing education form specified by the board outlining PDH credit claimed. The registrant must supply sufficient detail on the form to permit audit verification, must certify and sign the continuing education form, and submit the renewal application and fee.

Non-Compliance Penalties
Submission of Professional Development Hours (PDHs) shall be made concurrently with license renewal. Failure to meet the PDH requirements will result in rejection of renewal. Correction of the deficiency must be made by submission of the appropriate PDHs and payment of the processing fee within 1 year of renewal date. Submission of late renewal fee and PDHs will be accepted only if postmarked by March 1. After March 1, correction of deficiency will require submission of the required PDHs and payment of the renewal fee plus a penalty equal to the renewal fee within 1 year of the December 31 expiration date.

Disallowed Credits
The Board has final authority with respect to approval of courses, credit, PDH value for courses, and other methods of earning credit.

Exceptions and Exemptions
A registrant may be exempt from the professional development educational requirements for one of the following reasons:
(1) New registrants by way of examination or comity/endorsement shall be exempt for the first calendar year directly following the issuance of their registration number. PDH requirements will be prorated for any remaining portion of the registration period beyond one year.
(2) A registrant serving on temporary active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days in a calendar year may be exempt from obtaining the professional development hours required during that year. Please provide documentation showing exact dates and locations of active duty.
(3) Registrants experiencing physical disability, illness, or other extenuating circumstances as reviewed and approved by the Board may be exempt. Supporting documentation must be furnished to the board (a letter providing circumstances & exact dates, and documentation from physician).
(4) Registrants who have been approved for "Retired Status" by the Board shall be exempt from the professional development hours required. In the event such a person elects to return to active practice of professional surveying, professional development hours must be earned before returning to active practice for the preceding biennial cycle.

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