Become a Nurse in New Mexico – Licensure & Requirements

New Mexico Nursing Salaries

Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates New Mexico in February 2020.

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in New Mexico. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in New Mexico, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of New Mexico nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in New Mexico, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

New Mexico is a Nursing Licensure Compact State.

Prescriptive Authority in New Mexico

According to the Nursing Practice Act in New Mexico, certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists may prescribe controlled substances in schedules II through V.

These APRN level careers must have completed at least 400 hours of work experience in which prescribing dangerous drugs has occurred within the last two years before application for prescriptive authority. A prescriptive preceptorship of 400 hours of prescepted prescribed is also required within six months.

According to the Senate Bill 422, certified nurse midwives also hold similar prescriptive authority.

Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) in New Mexico

Education: Masters Degree in Nursing

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: National Certification as a Nurse Practitioner

Fees: $100 Application Fee, Certification Examination Fee Varies for Different Certifications

Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.

Renewal: Renewal periods are every two years and require proof of 50 hours of continuing education and a $110 fee. Certified nurse practitioners with DEA registration must also provide 30 hours for licensure as an RN, give hours related to the specialty practice the practitioner is engaged in, 10 contact hours in pharmacology, and five hours in management of non-cancer pain.

Learn more on how to become a nurse practitioner.

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in New Mexico

Education: Master’s degree in Clinical Nursing Specialty

Examination: National Certifying Exam in Specialty

Certification Required: National Certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist

Fees: $100 Application Fee, Certification Examination Fee Varies for Different Certifications

Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.

Renewal: Renewal periods are every two years and require proof of 50 hours of continuing education and a $110 fee. Clinical nurse specialists with DEA registration must also provide 30 hours for licensure as an RN, give hours related to the specialty practice the practitioner is engaged in, 10 contact hours in pharmacology, and five hours in management of non-cancer pain.

Learn more on how to become a clinical nurse specialist.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in New Mexico

Education: Master’s Degree or Higher from a Nurse Anesthetist Program Accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

Examination: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Exam from the National Board on Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)

Certification Required: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) from the NBCRNA

Fees:

• $100 Application Fee
• $725 Certification Examination Fee

Additional Information: An active registered nurse license is required for application.

Renewal: Renewal periods are every two years and require proof of 50 hours of continuing education and a $110 fee. CRNA recertification by the NBCRNA is accepted for meeting the CE requirement of licensure. For CRNAs with DEA registration, five contact hours are required in the management of non-cancer pain.

Learn more on how to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Registered Nurse (RN) in New Mexico

Education: Completion of an Approved Registered Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• $150 Licensure by Exam
• $60 Reexamination
• $150 Licensure by Endorsement

Endorsement: Individuals with equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to a $150 application fee. Registered nurses who hold an active license in another compact state need not apply for licensure in New Mexico, unless they plan to change their permanent residency to New Mexico.

Renewal: RNs must provide proof of 30 hours of continued education within the last two years prior to renewal. Renewal fee is $110.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in New Mexico

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• $150 Licensure by Exam
• $60 Reexamination
• $150 Licensure by Endorsement

Endorsement: Individuals with equivalent licensure in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to a $150 application fee. Licensed practical nurses who hold an active license in another compact state need not apply for licensure in New Mexico, unless they plan to change their permanent residency to New Mexico.

Renewal: LPNs must provide proof of 30 hours of continued education within the last two years prior to renewal. Renewal fee is $110.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information for the nursing careers above was retrieved from the New Mexico Board of Nursing and the Nursing Practice Act of New Mexico, as of February 2020.