Licensure
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Substitute License (Pre K-12)
A substitute license authorizes a trained individual to provide temporary instructional services when an assigned licensed teacher is absent from class.
Initial License
- $50 (non-refundable) fee; and
- Initial Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
- Obtained a high school diploma or equivalency
- You must be eighteen years of age; and
- Submit a copy of the superintendent’s Verification Form (must be on School District/Charter letterhead (any selections checked on Group A, Group B, or Group C must also provide proof of documentation); and
- Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure.”
- Educators may complete the Foundations in Substitute Teaching Practices online course (effective 7/1/2025), and upon successful completion, they will upload the certificate to their online application. The district/charter must also confirm the course completion on the superintendent’s verification form (Group B).
Renewal License
- $50 (non-refundable) fee; and
- Renewal Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
- Superintendent‘s Recommendation for support provider form (must be on School District/charter Letterhead).
- Note: The earliest you can renew same level license is January of expiring year.
- A Substitute can only advance up to Level 2 (Level 3 does not exist).
- If your level 1 support provider license has expired, you will need to apply for an initial level 1 license.
- If educator does not have additional valid licenses on file, then must register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.
NMPED Licensed Teachers Substituting
- Unless teaching outside of their expert field area, a licensed teacher does not need to hold a substitute license when substituting a class. A teacher license will suffice. For example, if a Special Education teacher is teaching a 11th grade art class but does not hold the endorsement, they must hold a substitute license.
NMPED Correspondence with Educators
- Consultants correspond by email. Please check your spam/junk folder.
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.