Frequently Asked Questions

The NMTCB currently requires a response to each of four ethics questions at the time of application and during each annual renewal. These ethics questions are:
Since...

1. Have you been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic offense) or felony or general court martial in military service, and/or are any such charges currently pending against you?
2. Have you had any professional license, registration, or certification application denied, or any issued license, registration, or certification revoked, suspended, placed on probation, or subject to any type of discipline by a regulatory authority or certification board?
3. Have you been found by any court or administrative body, including but not limited to employers, to have committed negligence (simple or willful), malpractice, recklessness, or engaged in misconduct in the practice of any profession?
4. Have you been terminated from an employment position involving the use of NMTCB credentials and where the conduct leading to such termination has involved: child or elder abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, job-related crimes, violent crimes against persons?

You should always answer the ethics questions honestly. If you answer Yes to any of the questions, please also submit documentation pertaining to your answer.

1. For "Yes" answers to Ethics Question (A) Have you ever been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic offense) or felony or general court martial in military service, and/or are any such charges currently pending against you?:
   1. Court documents - You must submit court documents describing the current status of the charges or court case. This would also include documentation of any name changes (e.g., copy of marriage certificate) if the name on the court documents does not match the name on the application.
   2. Personal explanation (optional) - You may submit for consideration a personal explanation or narrative of the events leading to the charge(s) or conviction(s), including any extenuating circumstances. You may also include letters of recommendation from employers, court officials, parole officers, clergy, etc.
2. For "Yes" answers to Ethics Question (B) Have you ever had any professional license, registration, or certification application denied, or any issued license, registration, or certification revoked, suspended, placed on probation, or subject to any type of discipline by a regulatory authority or certification board?:
   1. Personal explanation - You must submit a personal explanation or narrative of the events leading to the professional license, registration, or certification application denial, or the revocation, suspension of probationary status or any other discipline of any issued license, registration, or certification by a regulatory authority or certification board. You may also include letters of recommendation from employers, coworkers, clergy, etc.
   2. Final disposition - You must submit a letter of final disposition (denial or letter of discipline or reinstatement) from the regulatory authority or certification board. You must also include documentation of any name changes (e.g., copy of marriage certificate) if the name on the professional license, registration, or certification application does not match the name on the application.
3. For "Yes" answers to Ethics Question (C) Have you ever been found by any court or administrative body, including but not limited to employers, to have committed negligence (simple or willful), malpractice, recklessness, or engaged in misconduct in the practice of any profession?:
   1. Personal explanation - You must submit a personal explanation or narrative of the events leading to the finding of negligence, malpractice, recklessness or misconduct by the court or administrative body (including but not limited to employers). You may also include letters of recommendation from employers, coworkers, clergy, etc.
   2. Letter of judgment or court documents - You must submit a letter from the administrative body or court documents describing the findings of negligence, malpractice, recklessness or misconduct. You must also include documentation of any name changes (e.g., copy of marriage certificate) if the name on the finding does not match the name on the application.
4. 4. For "Yes" answers to Ethics Question (D) Have you ever been terminated from an employment position involving the use of NMTCB credentials and where the conduct leading to such termination has involved: child or elder abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, job-related crimes, violent crimes against persons?:
   1. Personal explanation - You must submit a personal explanation or narrative of the events leading to the termination of an employment position involving the use of NMTCB credentials and where the conduct leading to such termination involved: child or elder abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, job-related crimes, or violent crimes against persons You may also include letters of recommendation from employers, coworkers, clergy, etc.
   2. Letter of termination - You must submit a letter from the employer terminating you from their employ. You must also include documentation of any name changes (e.g., copy of marriage certificate) if the name on the letter does not match the name on the application.

The NMTCB would consider falsely answering "No" to that question as a professional misconduct ethical violation. In cases where an applicant or certificant has been found to have intentionally violated the NMTCB Ethics Policy by false representation or attempting to mislead the NMTCB with answers to the Ethics questions, the sanctions are typically much more severe than had the applicant or certificant simply answered YES to begin with. Sanctions for attempting to mislead the NMTCB or falsification of answers to Ethics questions could result in penalties up to and including revocation of certification and/or denial of application to sit for the examination.