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Education Assistant (Pre K-12)

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All persons who perform services as educational assistants (“EAs”) in public schools, in those special state-supported schools within state agencies, must hold valid, educational assistants licensure issued by the (“PED”). EAs shall be assigned, and serve as assistants, to school staff duly licensed by the PED. Level 3 EAs or Paraprofessionals who are assigned to work in a title I targeted assistance program or in a title I school-wide program under the act, must hold a level 3 license. Level 3 EAs shall be assigned and serve as assistants to school staff duly licensed by the PED. While there may be brief periods when EAs are alone with and in control of a classroom of students, their primary use shall be to work alongside or under the direct supervision of duly licensed staff.

Initial License

Superintendent Verification form
Educational Assistant NMAC

Renewal License

  • $50 (non-refundable) fee; and
  • Renewal Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
  • Superintendent’s Recommendation for Continuing Licensure (Must be on School District Letterhead).
    • Note: The earliest you can renew Educational Assistant license is January of expiring year.
    • If educator does not have additional valid licenses on file, then must register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.
Support Provider Superintendent Recommendation form
Educational Assistant NMAC

Level 3 License

  • $50 (non-refundable) fee; and
  • Initial application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
  • Superintendent’s Verification form (Must be on School District Letterhead); and
    • Passing Score on ParaPro (457); or
    • Passing Score on Para Educator (70% in each of the sections); or
    • Passing Score and completion of the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics; or
    • Minimum of 48 semester hours of college credit from a regionally accredited college or university with 15 of those credits being in language arts (3 hours), mathematics (3 hours), writing (3 hours), and reading, writing, math readiness, or professional education (6 hours); or
    •  Associates degree from a regionally accredited college or university with 15 of those credits being in language arts (3 hours), mathematics (3 hours), writing (3 hours), and reading, writing, math readiness, or professional education (6 hours); or
    • Bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university (conferred on official transcripts) qualifies for Level 3 Educational Assistant licensure.
  • Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.
Superintendent Verification Form

Delay of application

  • Your application is lacking supporting documents listed in the above check list.
  • If your license(s) has expired (and you do not have additional valid licenses on file), and your background was completed 24 months or more, you will need to complete a new background.

NMPED Correspondence with Educators

  • Consultants correspond by email; please check your spam/junk folder.

All fees submitted are non-refundable