N.M. Stat. § 61-9A-4 (2026)

1, 2028.)
   A. Unless licensed or registered to practice under the Counseling and Therapy
Practice Act, no person shall engage in:

      (1)    the practice of professional mental health counseling;

      (2)    the practice of professional clinical mental health counseling;

      (3)    marriage and family therapy;

      (4)    professional art therapy;

      (5)    counseling as a licensed mental health counselor;

      (6)    counseling as a licensed associate marriage and family therapist; or

      (7)    counseling as a registered independent mental health counselor.

   B. Unless licensed to practice under the Counseling and Therapy Practice Act, no
person shall engage in:

      (1)    the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling;

      (2)    the practice of alcohol abuse counseling;

      (3)    the practice of drug abuse counseling; or
      (4)    substance abuse counseling as a substance abuse associate.

History: Laws 1993, ch. 49, § 4; 1996, ch. 61, § 2; 1999, ch. 161, § 3; 2003, ch. 422, §
2; 2005, ch. 210, § 2.

                                    ANNOTATIONS

Delayed repeals. — For delayed repeal of this section, see 61-9A-30 NMSA 1978.

Cross references. — For the Parental Responsibility Act, see 40-5A-1 NMSA 1978 et
seq.

The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, deleted "registered independent
mental health counselor" in Subsection A(6); changed "registered mental health
counselor" to "registered independent mental health counselor" in Subsection A(7); and
changed "trainee" to "associate" in Subsection B(4).

The 2003 amendment, effective June 20, 2003, deleted "the practice of" at the end of
Subsections A and B; added "the practice of" at the beginning of Paragraphs A(1), (2),
B(1) to (3); added Paragraph A(7); and substituted "trainee" for "intern" at the end of
Paragraph B(4).

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, deleted "After July 1, 1994" at the
beginning of Subsection A, substituted "licensed" for "registered" in Subsection A(5),
added Subsection A(6), deleted "After January 1, 1998" at the beginning of Subsection
B and deleted "or registered" preceding "to practice".

The 1996 amendment, effective July 1, 1996, substituted "registration" for "certificate"
in the section heading, designated the former introductory paragraph as Subsection A,
substituted "registered" for "certified" near the beginning of Subsection A, redesignated
former Subsections A through E as Paragraphs A(1) through A(5), and added
Subsection B.