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Teacher License Advancement

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New Mexico has a 3-Tiered Licensure Advancement System for Teachers. Currently there are two options for teachers to advance through the 3-Tiered Licensure Advancement System.  Teachers may complete the National Board Certification (NBCT) or Advancement Program Level (APL) Micro-Credentials to advance from Level 1 to Level 2 and from Level 2 to Level 3A.  Use the links above for more information on each option for advancement.

Use these links to review more information on NBCT and APL Micro-Credentials

Please note that the Professional Development Dossier (PDD) option is no longer available [New Rule Licensure Advancement, dossierinfo@regionix.org].

Advancing Via National Board – from Level 1 to Level 2

Teachers may complete the National Board Certification (NBCT) to advance from Level 1 to Level 2  by meeting the following:

  • Obtain approval from their school district/charter.
  • Completed three school years of teaching on their Level 1 license, with successful annual evaluations.
  • Continuing teacher recommendation form (Also known as the Superintendent Recommendation Form).
  • Earned National Board Certification in their current focus area of teaching.
    • Submit a copy of the National Board Certification (include both the National Board Award letter and certificate).
  • Pay a fee of $120.00.
  • Renewal Application via the NMPED Online Licensure Portal.

Advancing Via National Board– from Level 2 to Level 3A

Teachers may complete the National Board Certification (NBCT) to advance from  Level 2 to Level 3A by meeting the following:

  • Obtain approval from their school district/charter.
  • Completed three school years of teaching on their Level 2 license, with successful annual evaluations.
  • Continuing teacher recommendation form (Also known as the Superintendent Recommendation Form).
  • Earned National Board Certification in their current focus area of teaching.
    • Submit a copy of the National Board Certification (include both the National Board Award letter and certificate).
  • Pay a fee of $120.00.
  • Renewal Application via the NMPED Online Licensure Portal.

Other NBCT Resources

Advancing via Micro-Credentials

A Level 1 teacher is eligible to advance to Level 2 via the APL I-II Micro-Credentials when they have:

  • Completed the required mentorship program for Level 1 teachers
  • Taught three full school years with a Level 1 teaching license and successful annual evaluations for those three years.
  • Teachers with an Alternative License must complete the requirements of the Alternative License.
  • Successfully completed five required micro-credential courses with a proficiency score of 85% or higher

Level 1 Secondary Vocational-Technical (7-12) must meet the above criteria plus the initial requirements:

  • Minimum of 15 semester hours in a Secondary Vocational-Technical Education Program including a supervised classroom internship/student teaching experience; or
  • Professional Development Plan (PDP) developed by the employing authority and approved by the PED, in place of completion of the 15 semester hours in the Secondary Vocational-Technical Education Program including a supervised classroom internship/student teaching experience; and
  • Demonstrate competencies for vocational technical teachers within 3 years of the date of employment.

A Level 2 teacher is eligible to advance to Level 3A via the APL I-II Micro-Credentials when they have:

  • Successfully completed four micro-credentials with a mastery score of 85% or higher
  • Taught three full school years with a Level 2 teaching license and successful annual evaluations for those three years.
  • Earned a master’s degree.

Teachers with a Level 2 Secondary Vocational-Technical (7-12) license do not need to complete APL II-III Micro-Credentials or National Board Certification. Click on this link for the advancement requirements: Vocational License Teachers holding Level 2 license

Process for District/Charter/Private School Verification for Licensure Advancement

diagram of steps, full description of each step is listed below in plain text
Steps For Advancement Through Apl Micro-Credentials

Key Steps for Educators:

  1. Notify HR upon enrollment in APL Micro-Credentials and of the estimated completion time for budget planning purposes.
  2. Notify HR upon completing the required number of APL Micro-Credentials.
  3. Submit confirmation of completion to their Local Education Agency (LEA) HR department, either by printing a transcript of completion or by accessing certificates in Canvas (though certificates are not required for submission to the PED).

Key Steps for LEA HR Staff:

  1. Complete the shared Google Form (“APL MICRO-CREDENTIAL (MCs) VERIFICATION FOR LICENSURE ADVANCEMENT”) for each educator who meets all verification criteria. Do not submit if all requirements cannot be verified.
  2. Download and sign the “APL Micro-Credential Verification Advancement Signature Form.”
  3. Upload the completed, signed document to the educator’s licensure file through the Licensure Portal.
  4. Communicate salary increase policy or requirements to educators.

PED Licensure Review:

  • PED Licensure reviews the request only after the LEA has submitted both the Google Form and uploaded the Required Signature Page to the licensure file.
  • Educators are notified by email if there are issues, or by an automated email from Smartsheet when the license is advanced.

Important Note: Educators do not apply for licensure advancement through the licensure portal, and there is no fee for advancement after completing APL Micro-Credentials

Questions

For more information, please contact – APL.micro-cred@ped.nm.gov