LACTATION

Lactation Care Provider Initial Application

• Please be sure to follow the steps below, step-by-step to avoid submission of an application that is not eligible for processing. All applications fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.
• As of May 17, 2022 – All Initial Exam applications that are received will be considered valid for 1 year.
• Requirements for licensure as a Lactation Care Provider can be found at Regulation 16.12.11 NMAC and include:
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Hold an approved national certification as a lactation provider.
• Complete the required application and pay fee of $60 through NM BON website.
• Completion of a federal criminal background check (IdentoGo).

 

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application requirements are met, and documents are received by the NM BON prior to the expiration of the application.

Certification

You will be required to upload your certification at the time of application. Additionally, you will be required to obtain first party verification of your valid certification. The verification must come directly to the NM BON from the accrediting agency.

Criminal Background Check

The NMAC 16.12.2.10(A) requires that applicants for initial licensure or endorsement, at their cost, provide the board with fingerprints and other information necessary for a state and national criminal background check. Your fingerprints will be submitted to Idemia for a criminal history search on their IdentoGo platform resulting in the generation of a nationwide criminal history record for you.

The nationwide criminal history record includes information concerning a person’s arrests, indictments or other formal criminal charges and any dispositions arising there from, including convictions, dismissals, acquittals, sentencing and correctional supervision, collected by criminal justice agencies and stored in the computerized data bases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the national law enforcement telecommunications systems, the Department of Public Safety or the repositories of criminal history information of other states.

Your Reason for fingerprinting is Lactation Care Provider

Registered Nurses	Licensed Practical Nurses	Lactation Care Providers
ORI#: NM920190Z	ORI#: NM 920269Z	ORI#: NM920275Z

 

In-state Applicants ONLY

1. Register online at IdentoGO (For questions call 1-877-783-4187 or https://nm.state.identogo.com)
2. Schedule an appointment
3. Pay for your criminal background check ($59).
4. Choose a fingerprint.
5. Travel to chosen fingerprint location and pay any additional fees required by the fingerprint.

Out-of-State and International Applicants ONLY

1. Register online at IdentoGO (For questions call 1-877-783-4187 or https://nm.state.identogo.com)
2. Choose to register for the fingerprint card processing service.
3. Payment ($59) may be made online.
4. Obtain two FD258 fingerprint cards from our website https://nmbon.jotform.com/231787051564965
5. Be fingerprinted.
6. Write Registration ID on the back of fingerprint cards and mail it to:

IdentoGo

Cardscan Department- New Mexico Program

340 Seven Springs Way, Suite 250 Brentwood

 

• You would want to do your fingerprints no earlier than one week before you plan on submitting your application.

Expedited licensure

• The board will issue an expedited license to a qualified applicant based on prior licensure in an eligible jurisdiction other than New Mexico upon an applicant’s submission of a complete application containing all the following:
• a completed and signed application form;
• proof of current licensure in an eligible jurisdiction;
• proof of good standing for the license held by the applicant in an eligible jurisdiction;
• submission of fingerprints and other information necessary for a state and national background check; and
• payment of the required application fee.
• An expedited license application shall not be deemed complete until the applicant has submitted, and the board’s staff is in receipt of, all of the materials required by Subsection B Section 61-3B-4 NMSA 1978, including documentation from third parties.
• Upon submission of a complete application, the board’s staff shall process the application and issue the expedited license to the applicant within 30 days unless the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction, or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3B-6 NMSA 1978.
• If the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3B-6 NMSA 1978:
• the license may not be issued within 30 days of submission of the complete application;
• the matter of the applicant’s application shall be submitted to the board for consideration and action at its next available regular meeting; and
• the board may vote to grant the application or refer the matter to its administrative prosecutor contemplating the ultimate denial of the application as provided by the board’s rules.

Renewal of expedited licenses

• A licensee holding an expedited license may apply for license renewal beginning 60 days prior to expiration of the expedited license, as provided by the board’s rules.
• Upon renewal, an expedited license shall become a regular license.

 Eligible and ineligible jurisdictions:

• The board will accept expedited license applications on the basis of prior licensure in any jurisdiction within the United States without exception.
• The board will accept expedited license applications on the basis of prior licensure in the following jurisdictions outside the United States: Canada.

Expedited licensure for military service members and veterans

• The board will issue an expedited license to an applicant who is a military service member or veteran based on prior licensure in a jurisdiction other than New Mexico upon the applicant’s submission of a complete application containing all of the following:
• a completed and signed application form;
• proof of current licensure in another jurisdiction;
• proof of good standing for the applicant’s out of state license;
• submission of fingerprints and other information necessary for a state and national background check; and
• Submission of the following documentation:
• for military service member: a copy of military orders;
• for spouse of military service members: copy of military service member’s military orders, and copy of marriage license;
• for spouses of deceased military service members: copy of decedent’s DD 214 and copy of marriage license;
• for dependent children of military service members: a copy of military service member’s orders listing dependent child, or a copy of military orders and one of the following: a copy of birth certificate, military service member’s federal tax return or other governmental or judicial documentation establishing dependency;
• for veterans (retired or separated): a copy of DD 214 showing proof of honorable discharge.
• An expedited license application shall not be deemed complete until the applicant has submitted, and the board’s staff is in receipt of, all of the materials required by Subsection B Section 61-3B-4 NMSA 1978, including documentation from third parties.
• Upon submission of a complete application, the board’s staff shall process the application and issue the expedited license to the applicant within 30 days unless the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction, or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978.
•  If the applicant has a disqualifying criminal conviction or the board may have other cause to deny the application pursuant to Section 61-3-28 NMSA 1978:
• the license may not be issued within 30 days of submission of the complete application;
• the matter of the applicant’s application shall be submitted to the board for consideration and action at its next available regular meeting; and the board may vote to grant the application or refer the matter to its administrative prosecutor contemplating the ultimate denial of the application as provided by the board’s rules.

Duration of military expedited licenses

• The first licensure period will be for one year from the issuance of the license.
• Continuing education will be prorated.

 

• The first renewal period will be for two years from the date of the first expiration date of the first licensure period. Military service members and veterans shall submit all required applications and continuing education for renewal.
• Military service members and veterans shall not pay and the board shall not charge a licensing fee for the first three years for a license issued pursuant to this rule.

Requirements for renewal of license

• The required renewal application form in the specified deadline and remit the required fee to the board. The board may require additional information in the application, including demographics, information on practice status, and education, which will be for data collection purposes only and shall not affect the application approval. Renewal applications should be submitted at least 30, but no more than 60 days prior to the expiration of the license.
• Maintain a current approved certification recognized by the board.
• Complete all required continuing education hours and indicate compliance on the renewal application.
• Licensees mobilized for active duty, other than training, are not required to renew their

license while deployed on active duty and will not be subject to a reinstatement fee. A copy of the mobilization orders must be submitted to the board office prior to expiration of the license or within 30 days upon return from active duty.

• A renewal notice shall be sent to the licensee at least six weeks prior to the end of the renewal month. Failure to receive notice renewal shall not relieve the licensee of the responsibility of renewing the license by the expiration date.

Requirements for reinstatement of license

• Complete any required reinstatement form and remit the required fee to the board.
• Maintain a current approved certification recognized by the board.
• A reinstated license shall be valid for two years.

Requirement to maintain current name and address

• A licensee shall report to the board in writing or other method accepted by the board, of any change of name, or change in mailing address. Failure to update the board of any name or address change within thirty days shall be a violation of the board rules and may result in disciplinary action.
• A licensee must use their name as it appears on the current license until a name change is processed by the board. Name change can be submitted with license renewal or at any time by submitting a copy of the legal document required for name change (only recorded marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order accepted).

 

Continuing Education

• The New Mexico Board of Nursing requires all licensees and certificate holders to engage in continuing education to help assure the health and well-being of the citizens of New Mexico.  Engaging in continuing education also helps assure that licensees and certificate holders maintain current knowledge in their area of practice.
• The New Mexico Board of Nursing partnered with CE Broker to help licensees and certificate holders manage the requirements of continuing education.  This also reduces the need for agency staff to conduct audits of continuing education. As of July 1, 2019, all licensees and certificate holders will be required to upload proof of continuing education to CE Broker before licenses/certificates will be renewed. (CE Broker | Simple Continuing Education Tracking)
• Pursuant to the provision of the Lactation Care Provider Act, the board prescribes the following minimum requirements for continuing education (CE) to be met by each licensee to protect the health and well-being of the public and to promote current lactation care and services knowledge and practice. Continuing education is one of the most important responsibilities of the licensed lactation care provider and is a lifelong process. The primary responsibility for continuing education rests with the individual licensee. A diversity of lactation care-related learning activities are recommended to enhance the scope of professional development.

 

Requirements

• 24 contact hours of approved continuing education must be successfully completed within the 24 months immediately preceding expiration of the license.
• Continuing education obtained for a national or international approved certification recognized by the board may be accepted toward the contact hour requirement if completed during the renewal period.
• A contact hour means 50 to 60 minutes of an organized learning experience relevant to lactation care and services, approved by one of the following:
• international board of lactation consultant examiners;
• academy of lactation policy and practice;
• lactation education accreditation and approval review committee (LEARRC);
• international association for continuing education and training (IACET);
• national commission for certifying agencies (NCCA).

• Failure to meet the CE requirements may result in the license not being renewed, reactivated and reinstated, or other disciplinary action.
• Licensees who hold another license with the board may apply continuing education credit hours completed for the other license to the lactation care provider license CE requirements so long as the continuing education would otherwise be approved by these rules. No more than 12 continuing education hours may count toward both licenses.

 

Records

• Licensees are responsible for maintaining their continuing education records and for keeping the certificates of verification of attendance of CE activities for at least two years after the license is renewed. Copies of certificates must be submitted to the board office upon request. Failure to maintain or provide such records to the board may be grounds for discipline.