As used in the Health Professional Loan Repayment Act:
A. "award" means the grant of money to repay eligible education debt;
B. "department" means the higher education department;
C. "health professional" means a professional licensed pursuant to the:
(1) Medical Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 6 NMSA 1978];
(2) Physical Therapy Act [ 61-12D-1 to 61-12D-19 NMSA 1978];
(3) Occupational Therapy Act [Chapter 61, Article 12A NMSA 1978];
(4) Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act [Chapter 61, Article 14B NMSA 1978];
(5) Pharmacy Act [Chapter 61, Article 11 NMSA 1978];
(6) Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act [ 61-7A-1 to 61-7A-15 NMSA 1978];
(7) Respiratory Care Act [Chapter 61, Article 12B NMSA 1978];
(8) Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Health and Safety Act [Chapter 61, Article 14E NMSA 1978];
(9) Dental Health Care Act [Chapter 61, Article 5A NMSA 1978];
(10) Professional Psychologist Act [Chapter 61, Article 9 NMSA 1978];
(11) Counseling and Therapy Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 9A NMSA 1978];
(12) Nursing Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 3 NMSA 1978];
(13) Optometry Act [Chapter 61, Article 2 NMSA 1978];
(14) Chiropractic Physician Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 4 NMSA 1978];
(15) Dental Amalgam Waste Reduction Act [ 61-5C-1 to 61-5C-6 NMSA 1978];
(16) Genetic Counseling Act [ 61-6A-1 to 61-6A-10 NMSA 1978];
(17) Polysomnography Practice Act [ 61-6B-1 to 61-6B-10 NMSA 1978];
(18) Physician Assistant Act [Chapter 61, Article 6C NMSA 1978];
(19) Anesthesiologist Assistants Act [Chapter 61, Article 6D NMSA 1978];
(20) Podiatry Act [Chapter 61, Article 8 NMSA 1978];
(21) Professional Psychologist Act [Chapter 61, Article 9 NMSA 1978];
(22) Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority Act [ 61-11B-1 to 61-11B-3 NMSA 1978];
(23) Massage Therapy Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 12C NMSA 1978];
(24) Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 14A NMSA 1978];
(25) Social Work Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 31 NMSA 1978];
(26) Emergency Medical Services Act [Chapter 24, Article 10B NMSA 1978]; and
(27) other health professional licensing acts as determined by the department;
D. "licensed physician" means a health professional who is licensed to practice medicine in New Mexico pursuant to the Medical Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 6 NMSA 1978];
E. "loan" means a grant of money to defray the costs incidental to a health education, under a contract between the federal government or a commercial lender and a health professional, requiring either repayment of principal and interest or repayment in services; and
F. "nurse in advanced practice" means a registered nurse, including a:
(1) certified nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist, authorized pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act to function beyond the scope of practice of professional registered nursing; or
(2) certified nurse-midwife licensed by the department of health.