New Mexico's Advanced Practice Chiropractic Registration

New Mexico registers chiropractic physicians for "advanced practice" separately from the basic license. To join the registry, a New Mexico licensee submits proof of a competency examination from a nationally recognized credentialing agency (or, after December 31, 2012, a graduate degree in a chiropractic clinical practice specialty), proof of 90 clinical and didactic hours from an institution approved by both the New Mexico Medical Board and the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the board's application with a $100 fee. The requirements are in 16.4.15 NMAC, the Chiropractic Advanced Practice Certification Registry rule, as published by the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives with amendments effective April 9, 2022.

What a registered DC may do under that certification is set by statute, the board's formulary and the rule, and agreed among three boards. That is a scope question for the board and your counsel. Below is the registration process only.

Where does the registration come from?

Section 16.4.15.8 NMAC says advanced practice registration is authorized by Subsection C of Section 61-4-9.1 NMSA 1978 and defined in Section 61-4-9.2. The rule's statutory authority line cites the Chiropractic Physician Practice Act. The board keeps the registry and must notify the Board of Pharmacy of all currently registered licensees by September 1 of each licensing period. The formulary itself is set by consensus of the chiropractic board, the medical board and the pharmacy board, and the rule lets the board review it each year.

Because the certification sits on top of the license, you need an active New Mexico chiropractic license first. If you are licensed elsewhere and moving to New Mexico, start with the license; our New Mexico chiropractic license page covers that route.

What goes in the application?

Under 16.4.15.8(B) NMAC, an applicant for the registry submits:

1. Documentation of a passed competency examination administered by a nationally recognized credentialing agency, or documentation of a graduate degree in a chiropractic clinical practice specialty completed after December 31, 2012. The rule defines a nationally recognized credentialing agency as one recognized by the board, a list it may update each year.
2. Documentation of 90 clinical and didactic hours of education provided by an institution approved by both the New Mexico Medical Board and the New Mexico Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The rule's definitions repeat that any institution offering programs credited toward advanced practice certification must have concurrent approval from both boards.
3. The board's application for registry of the advanced practice certification.

Section 16.4.15.10 sets the fees: $100 with the initial application and, once approved, a further $100 for registry of the certification.

The most common problem we would expect with this file is the institution. A pharmacology or injection course can be well taught and still not count if the provider lacks concurrent approval from both boards. Confirm the provider's approval status with the board before enrolling, and keep the confirmation.

How long does the board take to decide?

The rule sets two 30-day markers in 16.4.15.9 NMAC. The board must tell the applicant in writing, postmarked within 30 days of receiving the application, whether it is complete or what is missing. Once it has sent notice that the application is complete, it must tell the applicant within a further 30 days whether the application is approved or denied, with reasons for a denial. Between regular board meetings, the chair or an authorized representative may certify an applicant who has filed a complete application and met every requirement.

Those are the rule's deadlines for the board's notices, not a promise of when you will be registered. A file that comes back incomplete restarts the clock.

What does it take to keep the registration?

New Mexico chiropractic licenses renew annually, and the rule ties advanced practice registration to that cycle:

• Annual renewal fee. $100 on top of the standard chiropractic license renewal fee (16.4.15.10(B) NMAC).
• Extra CE. 10 hours of continuing education each renewal, in addition to the general requirement, from an approved institution or as the board approves. The rule says it should include pharmacology, toxicology, medication administration or pharmacognosy appropriate to the current formulary and procedures (16.4.15.10(C) NMAC). The general requirement under 16.4.10.8 NMAC is 16 board-approved hours a year, earned July 1 through June 30.
• New formulary substances. When the formulary changes, the board may require education in the new substances for applicants or as renewal CE.
• DEA registration. Under 16.4.15.8(I) NMAC, a DC certified for advanced practice that includes controlled substances must register with the DEA before obtaining, prescribing, administering or compounding them.

When does the registration end?

Section 16.4.15.8(E) NMAC terminates every advanced practice registration automatically when the chiropractic license is placed on inactive status, is suspended, revoked or terminated, or is not renewed before the annual renewal date of July 1. A missed license renewal therefore takes the advanced practice registration with it.

Reinstatement depends on why it ended. A registration that terminated automatically is reinstated with the license if all fees are paid, the advanced practice CE is complete and any other reinstatement requirement is met. A registration the board itself suspended or revoked for cause cannot be reinstated; the DC must reapply as a new applicant (16.4.15.8(F) and (G) NMAC).

Is there anything like this in other states?

New Mexico's registry is distinctive, and we have not verified an equivalent elsewhere. Other states run narrower board certifications for particular modalities, such as acupuncture in Florida, Texas and Arizona, or dry needling in Florida, Maryland, Nevada and Oklahoma (see acupuncture certification and dry needling rules by state). A New Mexico advanced practice registration has no effect in any other state.

Our Scope Add-On Registration service ($249 per registration) assembles the registry application, confirms your education provider's dual approval before you file, and tracks the annual fee and the extra 10 CE hours alongside your license renewal. Board fees are extra, and the board decides.