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Secondary (6-12)

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A secondary-level teaching license authorizes an individual to teach in a departmentalized setting. The individual must be endorsed in the subject they are teaching.

Initial License

  • $150 (non-refundable) fee; and
  • Initial application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
  • Official sealed transcripts reflecting completion of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university; and
  • 24 semester hours of Secondary education course work, 12 semester hours of which must be in upper division courses, to include student teaching; and
  • 24 semester hours in teaching fields such as language arts, social studies, math, etc; and
  • 3 semester hours in teaching reading for those who first entered any college or university on or after August 1, 2001; and
  • Passage of the following PRAXIS exams:
  • If you graduated from and completed the portfolio/assessment through an NMPED-approved New Mexico Secondary educator preparation program in 2024 or thereafter, you are not required to pass an assessment for this license. If you completed an educator preparation program outside New Mexico, or a New Mexico-based educator preparation program that is not NMPED-approved, you must pass all assessments required for New Mexico Secondary licensure. You can find a list of our NM-approved programs HERE and a list of required exams can be found HERE.
  • OR…
  • Possess a valid certificate issued by the national board for professional teaching standards for the appropriate grade level and type.
  • Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.

Secondary NMAC Code

Renewal License

      • $120 (non-refundable) fee will be valid for a one-year grace period for levels 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); or
      • A notarized letter attesting that you have not been employed and used your New Mexico license(s) during the life of the license(s).
        • Note: The earliest you can renew same level license is January of the expiring year.
        • If the educator does not have additional valid licenses on file, then must register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.

      Note: If you are renewing a level 2 or 3 expired license (expired for more than a year), you will be required to complete the following:

      • $150 fee (non-refundable); and
      • Initial Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
      • Superintendent Recommendation Form for renewal from last employing school district from the HR (must be school district letterhead; and
      • Verification of 5 years teaching experience in New Mexico (must be on school district letterhead); and
      • Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.

      Superintendent Recommendation Form

      Secondary NMAC Code

      Reciprocating a License

      • $150 (non-refundable) fee; and
      • Initial Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
      • Provide Official transcripts reflecting a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree earned from a regionally accredited college/university; and
        • If this was completed through an alternative teacher preparation program, please have that agency complete the NMPED Approved Program Completion Verification Form
        • If applicable – Official Foreign Transcripts and Official Course-by-Course Transcripts Evaluation; must be sealed and addressed to 300 Don Gaspar, Room 103, Santa Fe, NM 87501
      • Copy of current valid teaching license from out-of-state state education agency, Department of Defense School, or foreign country. If no licensure was required, your state education agency/private school administrator/out-of-country licensure agency must provide a signed letter confirming this; and
      • Copy of Passage of Teacher Exams. If no exams were required, your state education agency/private school administrator/out-of-country licensure agency must provide a signed letter confirming this; and
      • Verification of experience (Must be on Out-of-State School District Letterhead). Please break down experience by M/D/Y and please indicate the number of days taught for each year. 160 days commonly equals 1 full school year. Please use the form below; and
      • Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.

      Licensure Forms

      Reciprocity NMAC Code

      Delay of application

      • Your application lacks the supporting documents listed in the above checklist.
      • 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.

      NM PED Correspondence with Educators

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

      All fees submitted are non-refundable