NMSA 61-3-14. Licensure of registered nurses; by examination; expedited

61-3-14. Licensure of registered nurses; by examination; expedited licensure. A. Applicants for licensure by examination shall be required to pass the national licensing examination for registered nurses. An applicant who successfully passes the examination and submits a completed application may be issued by the board a license to practice as a registered nurse. B. The board shall issue an expedited license to practice professional registered nursing without an examination to an applicant who has been duly licensed in another licensing jurisdiction and holds a valid, unrestricted license and is in good standing with the licensing board in that licensing jurisdiction. The board shall expedite the issuance of a license in accordance with Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978 within thirty days. If the board issues an expedited license to a person whose prior licensing jurisdiction did not require examination, the board may require that person to pass an examination before applying for license renewal. C. An applicant licensed under the laws of a territory or foreign country shall demonstrate proficiency in English. History: 1953 Comp., § 67-2-11, enacted by Laws 1968, ch. 44, § 11; 1977, ch. 220, § 6; 1979, ch. 379, § 6; 1982, ch. 108, § 1; 1991, ch. 190, § 8; 2014, ch. 3, § 1; 2022, ch. 39, § 15; 2025, ch. 101, § 5.