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School Psychologist (Pre K-12)

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  5. School Psychologist (Pre K-12)

A school psychology license authorizes a school psychologist to practice in a school-related setting. The licenses cannot be used to provide service outside a school-related setting.

Initial License

  1. a master’s degree or educational specialist degree, or doctorate degree in school psychology from
    a regionally accredited college or university;
  2. qualifications meeting Paragraph (1), (2), OR (3):
    1. 60 graduate hours incorporating the department-approved competencies in school psychology, which may be completed as part of a master’s or educational specialist degree program or in addition to the master’s degree, meeting the applicable program requirements as follows:
      1. the 60 graduate hours awarded by a New Mexico college or university must include a 1,200-hour internship supervised by an appropriately licensed psychologist, 600 hours of which must be in a school-related setting; psychological assessment, counseling, and other psychological interventions with students with emotional disturbances shall comprise a minimum of 300 hours of the internship; or
      2. the 60 graduate hours awarded by a college or university outside New Mexico must be for a school psychology or equivalent program accepted by the department and include an internship in a school setting as described in Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 6.63.5.8 NMAC; or
      3. the 60 graduate hours as described in Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 6.63.5.8 NMAC, with documentation of 1,200 hours within a two-year period of successful supervised experience in one of the following areas:
        1. school psychology;
        2. psychological assessment and counseling; and
        3. other psychological interventions with at least 600 hours in a school-related setting;
    2. a doctorate degree in psychology, which includes 12 semester hours of child-focused course work in development, assessment, intervention, and 600 hours of supervised experience in a school-related setting; or
    3. a valid psychologist or psychologist associate license issued by the New Mexico Board of Psychologist Examiners and that includes 12 semester hours of child-focused course work in development, assessment, and interventio, and 600 hours of supervised experience in a school-related setting; and
  3. fulfill the requirements of Paragraph (1) or (2):
    1. the specialty area examination of the Praxis Series exam in school psychology with at least a score of 147; or
    2. hold an active nationally certified school psychologist credential issued by the National Association of School Psychologists.
School Psychologist NMAC Code

Renewal License

  • $120 (non-refundable) fee will be valid for a one year grace period for level 2 or 3 (from 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:  See information below regarding level 2 or level 3 renewal requirements.
    • The earliest you can renew same level 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”.

Instructional Support Provider Superintendent Recommendation Form

School Psychologist NMAC Code

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.

Requirements for Persons Seeking Level 2, School Psychologist Licensure

Persons seeking level 2, school psychologist, pre k-12 licensure pursuant to the provisions of this rule shall meet the following requirements:

  1. a valid level 1 license with at least three full school years of school-related experience; and
  2. successful completion or demonstration of competencies for a level 1 school psychologist, and, and
  3. satisfactory completion of supervised experience as a level 1 school psychologist, consisting of a minimum of 600 internship hours and 1,200 post-internship supervised hours in a school-related setting.

Requirements for Persons Seeking Level 3, School Psychologist Licensure

Persons seeking level 3, clinical supervising school psychologist, pre k-12 licensure pursuant to the provisions of this rule shall meet the following requirements:

  1. a valid level 2 license with at least three full school years of school-related experience, including 750 hours of satisfactory post-graduate experience as reported by a level 3 supervising school psychologist; and
  2. 60 graduate hours in a master’s or master’s plus certificate of advance graduate studies (CAGS) program, educational specialist degree, master’s or doctorate degree in school psychology from a regionally accredited college or university. The master’s CAGS and educational specialist programs shall include at least one academic year of pre-degree supervised internship experience, consisting of a minimum of 1,200 hours of which at least 600 hours must be in a school-related setting; and
  3. successful completion or demonstration of competencies for the school psychologist level 1 and 2 licenses;
  4. hold one of the following valid and current certifications or licenses:
    1. a license as a psychologist issued by the New Mexico board of psychology examiners;
    2. a license as a psychologist associate issued by the New Mexico board of psychology examiners; or
    3. an active nationally certified school psychologist credential issued by the national association of school psychologists.

All fees submitted are non-refundable