Licensure
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Specialty License (Grades Pre K-12)
A Pre K-12 specialty level teaching license authorizes an individual to teach in a departmentalized setting. The individual must be endorsed in the subject they are teaching. **Educators who have completed a program in Physical Education (preK-12), Performing Arts Education (preK-12), and Visual Arts Education (preK-12) are eligible to apply for this license.**
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 in PreK-12 Education program including student teaching; and
- 3 semester hours in teaching reading for those who first entered any college or university on or after August 1, 2001; and
- 24 semester hours in the teaching field, e.g., language arts, or social studies with 12 of those hours earned at the upper division (generally 300 or above); and
- Passage of the following PRAXIS exams:
- 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”.
NOTE:
- If an Educator has an NM Special Education license – he/she is automatically eligible for the Pre K-12 license provided they meet the endorsement requirement.
- If an educator has an NM Elementary license– and has 3 credit hours in the Secondary Pedagogy course or passes the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624) exam – he/she is eligible for the Pre K-12 license provided they meet the endorsement requirement.
- If an Educator has an NM Secondary license– and has 3 credit hours in an Elementary Pedagogy course or passes the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 (5622) exam – he/she is eligible for the Pre K-12 license provided they meet the endorsement requirement.
- If an Educator has an NM Mid-Level license– and has 3 credit hours in the Secondary Pedagogy course or passes the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 (5624) exam – he/she is eligible for the Pre K-12 license provided they meet the endorsement requirement.
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 (non-refundable) fee; and
- Initial Application 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”.
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”.
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.