New Mexico SLP license renewal and continuing education
New Mexico rule 16.26.5.9 NMAC states: “The board requires 20 hours of continuing education every two years.”
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
Sources read on November 12, 2026: 16.26.5 NMAC, Continuing Education and 16.26.4 NMAC, Renewal of Licenses on the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives site.
Hours
Rule 16.26.5.9(A) states: “The board requires 20 hours of continuing education every two years. These may be distributed over the two year period, or they may all be obtained in one year. These continuing education hours must be in the field of licensure, or in a related field if justified to the board office.”
A person licensed in more than one field “must fulfill the requirements of 20 clock hours of continuing education every two years in each field in which the licensee is licensed.”
Renewal timing
Rule 16.26.4.8(A) states that licensees other than clinical fellows and apprentices “shall apply for license renewal biennially on or before January 30 of the renewal year”. Note that 16.26.5.2 refers to licensees who “annually renew”; the two parts read for this page use different wording.
Proration
Rule 16.26.5.9(B)(1) states that a person whose next renewal date “occurs less than 12 months after the license is issued will be required to earn continuing education hours equivalent to one hour per month each month the license is issued or reinstated to the last day of the renewal month up to a maximum of 10 clock hours.”
Audits, records, and carryover
Rule 16.26.5.11 states: “The board shall audit a percentage of renewal applications each year to verify the continuing education requirement.” Licensees who are not audited sign an affidavit and keep documentation for at least two years (paraphrased). It also states: “Beginning January 30, 2009 the board will no longer allow carry over hours.”
Approved sponsors
Rule 16.26.5.10(A) says the board or board office will approve professional education activities sponsored or approved by a national or state professional association in the field; other programs must be submitted to the board office for approval first (paraphrased).
What this page does not do
It covers the speech-language pathologist license only, and only what the official page or pages named above say. It does not list fees, does not cover school credentials issued by a state education agency, and does not replace the board’s own instructions. Rules change; check the board before you renew.