Psychology

Beginning Teacher Pathway

Definition: Beginning Teacher – a teacher who has not completed a teacher program (they hold an alternative license).

Beginning teachers adding the endorsement to an initial license must satisfy the requirements for the license, which include:

• 24-36 semester hours in Psychology Coursework and passage of the following PRAXIS exam in Psychology 5391 (effective 9/1/23)

  • Middle-Level – An initial license will need a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in a teaching field, of which 6 must be earned at the upper division (generally numbered 300 or above)
  • Secondary, Pre K-12 Specialty, Special Education – An initial license will need a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in a teaching field, of which 12 must be earned at the upper division (generally numbered 300 or above).

Teacher with Existing License Pathway

Definition: Existing Teacher – a teacher who has completed a teacher program (standard or alternative).

Teachers seeking to add the endorsement to an existing New Mexico teaching license of any level can either:

• 24-36 semester hours in Psychology Coursework 0r passage of the following PRAXIS exam in Psychology 5391.

  • • Middle Level – An initial license will need a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in a teaching field, of which 6 must be earned at the upper division (generally numbered 300 or above); or
    • Secondary, Pre K-12 Specialty, Special Education – An initial license will need a minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework in a teaching field, of which 12 must be earned at the upper division (generally numbered 300 or above).

Accepted Psychology Coursework

Includes all psychology coursework and child or human development.