Licensure
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School Counselor (Pre K-12)
A school counseling license authorizes a qualified individual to provide a school-level guidance program based on the American School Counseling Association’s national standards and focused on each student’s physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and vocational growth.
Initial License
- $150 (non-refundable) fee; and
- Initial Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
- Pathway 1
- Master’s degree in school counseling from a regionally accredited college or university and meeting the applicable program requirements as follows:
- A master’s degree awarded by a New Mexico college or university must incorporate the New Mexico PED-approved competencies in school counseling. OR
- A master’s degree awarded by a college or university outside of New Mexico must be for a school counseling program approved by the PED. OR
- Master’s degree in a discipline other than school counseling and 36-42 graduate hours in school counseling (which may be completed as a part of the master’s degree program or in addition to the master’s) meeting the applicable program requirements as follows:
- The 36-42 graduate hours awarded by a New Mexico college or university must incorporate the PED-approved competencies in school counseling and include a 300-hour practicum or internship in a school setting. OR
- The 36-42 graduate hours awarded by a college or university outside of New Mexico must be for a school counseling program approved by the PED and include a practicum in a school setting. AND
- Passage of the following PRAXIS exams School Counselor 5422; OR
- Pathway 2
- Licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) or licensed professional clinical mental health counselor (LPCC) issued by the New Mexico Counseling & Therapy Practice Board and a minimum of 6 semester hours of graduate credit in school counseling coursework; AND
- Passage of the following PRAXIS exam School Counselor 5422; OR
- Pathway 3
- National certified school counselor credential issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors; AND
- Passage of the following PRAXIS exams School Counselor 5422.
- Pathway 1
- Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.
Renewal License
- $120 (non-refundable) fee will be valid for a one-year grace period for level 2 or 3 (from the time of expiration). If the expiration date exceeds the grace period a $150.00 would apply; and;
- Renewal Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
- Superintendent‘s Recommendation for Continuing Licensure (Must be on School District Letterhead).
- Note: If the educator does not have additional valid licenses on file, then must register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure
Renewal of Licensure Level
Level 1 → 3 year license
Level 2 → 9 year license, advancement to a level 2 can be obtained after 3 full school years of licensure on a level 1 license
Level 3 → 9 year license, advancement to a level 3 can be obtained after 3 full school years of licensure on a level 2 license
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 for Teacher Licensure. School Employment backgrounds will not be accepted.
NMPED Correspondence with Educators
- Consultants correspond by email. Please check your spam/junk folder.