TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

Beginning Teacher Pathway

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

Teacher candidates seeking to add a TESOL endorsement to an initial level 1 teaching license shall meet the following requirements:

• Passage of the following PRAXIS exam in English to Speakers of Other Languages ESOL 5362, or a department-approved licensure test in TESOL from another state; and 

• Complete a minimum of 24 hours in TESOL coursework in alignment with the key competencies defined in TESOL NMAC

• 12 hours shall be upper division or post-baccalaureate credits in alignment with the key competencies defined in TESOL NMAC

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 teaching license shall meet either the requirement of Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 6.64.11.8 NMAC or the requirements of Paragraph (2) of Subsection B of 6.64.11.8 NMAC.

Option 1

• Passage of the following PRAXIS exam in English to Speakers of Other Languages ESOL 5362, or  a department-approved licensure test in TESOL from another state, or a predecessor New Mexico teacher licensure examination in TESOL; and

• Earn 12 semester hours of credit in TESOL
  (i) Six hours shall be in one language other than English or any combination of coursework in applied linguistics, second language acquisition, or second/foreign language teaching methodology.
  (ii) Six hours shall be upper division or post-baccalaureate credits in alignment with the key competencies defined in TESOL NMAC

Option 2

• Earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in TESOL in alignment with the key competencies defined in TESOL NMAC
  (i) Six hours shall be in one language other than English or any combination of coursework in applied linguistics, second language acquisition, or second/foreign language teaching methodology.
  (ii) Six hours shall be upper division or post-baccalaureate credits in alignment with the key competencies defined in TESOL NMAC

C.  Licensed teachers with TESOL certification from the national board for professional learning standards shall pass the following PRAXIS exam in English to Speakers of Other Languages ESOL 5362, or a department-approved licensure test in TESOL from another state.

D.  Teachers with a reciprocal license from a country outside the United States shall meet the following testing and coursework requirements:

• Passage of the following PRAXIS in English to Speakers of Other Languages ESOL 5362
• Earn a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in TESOL; and
• Pass an English language proficiency examination.

E.  Teacher candidates seeking to waive credit hours in one language other than English shall provide documentation that the candidate:

• has passed the language proficiency examination(s) for bilingual education in Spanish; or
• has passed the language proficiency examination for any language other than English; or
• holds a Native American language and culture certification pursuant to 6.63.14 NMAC; or
• holds a New Mexico diploma of excellence with the state seal of bilingualism-biliteracy in a language other than English or its equivalent from another state; or
• holds either a bachelor of arts or science degree, master of arts or science degree, or doctorate degree in a language other than English from an accredited college or university outside the United States.

BMEP Endorsement Waiver

To apply or get information about BMEP Endorsement Waivers, please contact the district/charter school BMEP Director.

Accepted TESOL Coursework

The licensure bureau will review TESOL coursework that includes up to 6 hours of any foreign language other than English (i.e. 6 hours of Spanish, Navajo, French, German), methods for teaching English as a second language, culture (i.e. History of Southwest, Literature of the Southwest, education across cultures, cultural anthropology), English linguistics or phonetics, English grammar, assessment and parent/community involvement. Basic English composition courses are not acceptable for the grammar competency.