2021 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 61 - Professional and Occupational Licenses
Article 31 - Social Work Practice
Section 61-31-13 - Licensure by credentials. (Repealed effective July 1, 2032.)

A. The board shall license an applicant for the licensure level sought, provided the applicant:

(1) possesses and has held for a minimum of two and one-half years a valid social worker license issued by the appropriate examining board under the laws of any other state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or any foreign nation;

(2) is in good standing with no disciplinary action pending or brought against the applicant within the past two and one-half years;

(3) possesses a bachelor's or master's degree in social work from a program of social work accredited by the council on social work education;

(4) verifies that the applicant has taken and passed the national examination as defined by rule; and

(5) demonstrates an awareness and knowledge of New Mexico cultures to the board.

B. The applicant will not have to further verify the applicant's experience, schooling or degrees if the criteria pursuant to Subsection A of this section are met.

History: Laws 1989, ch. 51, § 13; 2006, ch. 4, § 6; 2021, ch. 93, § 18.

Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-31-25 NMSA 1978.

The 2021 amendment, effective June 18, 2021, removed discretionary language, and added mandatory language, related to the board of social work examiner's power to issue a license to a person who furnishes evidence to the board that the person has been licensed as a social worker by another state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or another country for two and one-half years, and revised qualifications for an applicant seeking a license pursuant to this section; in the section heading, after "credentials", deleted "reciprocity"; and in Subsection A, after "The board", changed "may" to "shall", and changed "five" to "two and one-half", throughout, in Paragraph A(3), after "of social work", deleted "approved by the board" and added "accredited by the council on social work education", and in Paragraph A(5), after "cultures", deleted "as determined by" and added "to".

The 2006 amendment, effective May 17, 2006, provides for the licensure of an applicant in the licensure level sought by the applicant in Subsection A; deletes the authority of the board to issue a license without written examination in Subsection A; requires that an applicant have held for a minimum of five years a valid social worker license from another licensing jurisdiction and deletes the requirement that the other licensing jurisdiction have requirements that equal or exceed the requirements in the Social Work Practice Act for the licensure level sought in Paragraph (1) of Subsection A; adds Paragraphs (2) through (5) of Subsection A to provide criteria for licensure; and adds Subsection B to provide that the applicant will not have to verify other qualifications if the criteria in Subsection A are met.