New Mexico AED requirements at a glance
Here is what New Mexico law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | Anyone who acquires an AED must keep it maintained and tested to the manufacturer's guidelines (NMSA 24-10C-4(C)). |
| Train expected users | Yes | The program's trained targeted responders must complete a department-approved CPR and AED course (NMSA 24-10C-4(B)) and, under department rules, recertify at least every two years (7.27.8.9(B) NMAC). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Yes | Through program registration and AED placement reporting: see those rows. |
| Register the program | Yes | Each AED program must be registered with the Department of Health (NMSA 24-10C-4(E)). Registration lasts four years; the fee is $75 to start and $50 to renew, and the department must be told of changes (7.27.8.9(C)-(D) NMAC). |
| Report AED locations | Yes | Local EMS and local 911 agencies must be told about the AED program (NMSA 24-10C-4(F)). The notice must give the supervising responder, contact details, protocols, where each AED is placed and the area it serves, and must be updated if the program stops (7.27.8.9(E) NMAC). |
| Physician medical direction | No | No physician oversight since 2015. A designated trained targeted responder, who need not be a licensed practitioner, must oversee the program, approve protocols and review every use (NMSA 24-10C-4(A); 7.27.8.9(A) NMAC). |
| Report each AED use | Yes | Anyone who uses the program's AED must report the use to the designated trained targeted responder (NMSA 24-10C-4(D)). Department rules also require a defibrillation report to the department within 20 calendar days (7.27.8.9(A)(8), (B)(5) NMAC). |
| Written plan or records | Yes | Department rules require each AED program to keep records: responder list and training dates, protocols, registration and EMS notice forms, use reports, quality reviews, and purchase and maintenance records. Training records are kept three years after a responder leaves (7.27.8.9(A), (G) NMAC). |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | Anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest must activate EMS as soon as possible (NMSA 24-10C-4(D)). Department rules add that responders must tell EMS an AED is being used (7.27.8.9(B)(3) NMAC). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every public, charter and private school must adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan covering school grounds and school athletic activities. Deadlines: public non-charter high schools by the 2026-2027 school year; all other schools by 2027-2028 (NMSA 22-33-6(A), (E)). |
| Other requirements | Yes | Department rules require programs to buy semi-automated AEDs, where the user presses the shock button; a fully automatic model needs a waiver (7.27.8.9(F)(1) NMAC). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Schools and school sports. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
No physician oversight since 2015. A designated trained targeted responder, who need not be a licensed practitioner, must oversee the program, approve protocols and review every use (NMSA 24-10C-4(A); 7.27.8.9(A) NMAC).
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
Yes. New Mexico law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
The program's trained targeted responders must complete a department-approved CPR and AED course (NMSA 24-10C-4(B)) and, under department rules, recertify at least every two years (7.27.8.9(B) NMAC).
School coaches must hold CPR certification that includes AED training (NMSA 22-13-31.2).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. New Mexico law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
Anyone who acquires an AED must keep it maintained and tested to the manufacturer's guidelines (NMSA 24-10C-4(C)).
Department rules add an inspection of the AED equipment at least monthly (7.27.8.9(B)(6) NMAC).
Schools must maintain and test their AEDs the same way (NMSA 22-33-6(B)).
Written plan and records: Department rules require each AED program to keep records: responder list and training dates, protocols, registration and EMS notice forms, use reports, quality reviews, and purchase and maintenance records. Training records are kept three years after a responder leaves (7.27.8.9(A), (G) NMAC).
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
Other New Mexico AED rules
Department rules require programs to buy semi-automated AEDs, where the user presses the shock button; a fully automatic model needs a waiver (7.27.8.9(F)(1) NMAC).
Schools must keep an AED clearly marked and easy to reach during each school athletic activity (NMSA 22-33-6(C)).
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Yes. New Mexico requires AED programs to register and to report where their AEDs are.
Registration: Each AED program must be registered with the Department of Health (NMSA 24-10C-4(E)). Registration lasts four years; the fee is $75 to start and $50 to renew, and the department must be told of changes (7.27.8.9(C)-(D) NMAC).
Placement reporting: Local EMS and local 911 agencies must be told about the AED program (NMSA 24-10C-4(F)). The notice must give the supervising responder, contact details, protocols, where each AED is placed and the area it serves, and must be updated if the program stops (7.27.8.9(E) NMAC).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. In New Mexico, the rescuer must call 911, and each use has to be reported.
Calling 911: Anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest must activate EMS as soon as possible (NMSA 24-10C-4(D)). Department rules add that responders must tell EMS an AED is being used (7.27.8.9(B)(3) NMAC).
Reporting the use: Anyone who uses the program's AED must report the use to the designated trained targeted responder (NMSA 24-10C-4(D)). Department rules also require a defibrillation report to the department within 20 calendar days (7.27.8.9(A)(8), (B)(5) NMAC).
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in New Mexico
Yes. New Mexico law requires AEDs at two kinds of sites.
- Every public, charter and private school (public high schools by 2026-27; all other schools by 2027-28) NMSA 1978 § 22-33-6 (Laws 2025, ch. 129, § 3; Laws 2026, ch. 66, § 1)
- School athletic games, competitions and practices (since May 20, 2026) NMSA 1978 § 22-33-6 (Laws 2025, ch. 129, § 3; Laws 2026, ch. 66, § 1)
School cardiac emergency plans: Every public, charter and private school must adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan covering school grounds and school athletic activities. Deadlines: public non-charter high schools by the 2026-2027 school year; all other schools by 2027-2028 (NMSA 22-33-6(A), (E)).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Does New Mexico's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Partly. New Mexico protects people who use an AED in good faith, but its protection for the AED’s owner is narrower.
What the New Mexico (NM) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who helps in good faith at or near the scene of an emergency can’t be held liable for civil damages unless grossly negligent. It does not cover care given for pay or expected pay. "Emergency" is defined as an unexpected injury or illness from vehicle accidents, acts of God and similar accidents.
AED-specific protection: An untrained person who uses an AED without pay is protected unless willful, wanton or reckless, if the act's rules were followed. The owner, the site and trained responders are protected only if they used reasonable care and met every program duty, so ordinary negligence is not covered for them.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on New Mexico’s official legislature or code website.
- NMSA 1978 §§ 24-10C-1 to 24-10C-7 (Cardiac Arrest Response Act; last amended Laws 2015, ch. 33 and ch. 116): Cardiac Arrest Response Act
- 7.27.8 NMAC (eff. Dec. 12, 2017): Emergency Medical Services: Cardiac Arrest Targeted Response Program
- NMSA 1978 § 22-33-6 (Laws 2025, ch. 129, § 3; Laws 2026, ch. 66, § 1): Cardiac emergency response plan; automated external defibrillator
- NMSA 1978 § 22-13-31.2 (Laws 2023, ch. 178): Certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for coaches
- NMSA 1978 §§ 24-10-3 and 24-10-4: Persons coming to aid or rescue of another rendering emergency care; emergency defined
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in New Mexico
AED Log keeps the records New Mexico law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
New Mexico AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico law requires AEDs only at schools and school sports, not at businesses in general, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does New Mexico law require an AED?
New Mexico law requires AEDs in schools and school sports. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in New Mexico?
No. New Mexico law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in New Mexico?
Yes. The program's trained targeted responders must complete a department-approved CPR and AED course (NMSA 24-10C-4(B)) and, under department rules, recertify at least every two years (7.27.8.9(B) NMAC). School coaches must hold CPR certification that includes AED training (NMSA 22-13-31.2).
Does New Mexico law require AED inspections?
Yes. Anyone who acquires an AED must keep it maintained and tested to the manufacturer's guidelines (NMSA 24-10C-4(C)). Department rules add an inspection of the AED equipment at least monthly (7.27.8.9(B)(6) NMAC). Schools must maintain and test their AEDs the same way (NMSA 22-33-6(B)).
Do you have to register an AED in New Mexico?
Yes. Each AED program must be registered with the Department of Health (NMSA 24-10C-4(E)). Registration lasts four years; the fee is $75 to start and $50 to renew, and the department must be told of changes (7.27.8.9(C)-(D) NMAC).
What does New Mexico law require after an AED is used?
Anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest must activate EMS as soon as possible. Department rules add that responders must tell EMS an AED is being used. Anyone who uses the program's AED must report the use to the designated trained targeted responder.
Are AEDs required in New Mexico schools?
New Mexico law requires AEDs at every public, charter and private school (public high schools by 2026-27; all other schools by 2027-28), plus school athletic games, competitions and practices (since May 20, 2026).
Do New Mexico schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Every public, charter and private school must adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan covering school grounds and school athletic activities. Deadlines: public non-charter high schools by the 2026-2027 school year; all other schools by 2027-2028 (NMSA 22-33-6(A), (E)).
Do gyms in New Mexico need an AED?
No. New Mexico law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the New Mexico Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who helps in good faith at or near the scene of an emergency can’t be held liable for civil damages unless grossly negligent. It does not cover care given for pay or expected pay.
Does the New Mexico Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes for the rescuer, less so for the owner. An untrained user is protected unless willful, wanton or reckless, but owners and trained responders are covered only if they used reasonable care and met every program duty, so their own negligence stays actionable (NMSA 24-10C-7).
Which New Mexico laws cover AEDs?
New Mexico’s AED rules come from NMSA 1978 §§ 24-10C-1 to 24-10C-7 (Cardiac Arrest Response Act; last amended Laws 2015, ch. 33 and ch. 116); 7.27.8 NMAC (eff. Dec. 12, 2017); and three more, each linked to its official text on this page.