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New Mexico Teacher Certification and Career Guide

To become a public school teacher in New Mexico candidates must earn a teaching license. The New Mexico teacher certification process is overseen by the Licensure Bureau of the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED or PED) and is outlined below for those seeking information on how to become a teacher in New Mexico. The main steps for the traditional path to teacher certification in New Mexico are:

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree with a state-approved teacher preparation component.
  2. Complete a student teaching placement.
  3. Pass the required teacher certification exams.
  4. Apply for a teaching certificate or license.
  5. Upgrade your license.

Continue reading to learn more about the traditional certification pathway in New Mexico.

Table of Contents


How to Become a Teacher in New Mexico

This section covers the traditional steps to teacher certification in New Mexico. New Mexico uses a tiered licensing structure for educators:

  • Level I Provisional License (3-year): For new teachers who meet the state requirements for licensure.
  • Level II Professional License (9-year): For teachers who have successfully taught for three full-time years under a Level I License and completed the required Advancement Program Level (APL) Level I-II micro-credentials with proficiency or have National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).
  • Level III License (9-year): For teachers who have successfully taught for three full-time years with a Level II License with a master’s degree and who have completed the required APLII-III micro-credentials with proficiency or have National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree that includes an approved teacher preparation program.

Candidates pursuing a New Mexico educator certificate must complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and an educator education program (EPP), usually as part of the bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree major you choose will depend on the area of licensure you pursue. You can find a list of PED-approved EPPs on the NMPED website.

You can compare key metrics for state-approved teacher preparation programs on our New Mexico schools page. Those who have a bachelor’s degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program may be eligible for alternative teacher certification in New Mexico.

2. Complete a student teaching placement.

As part of your program, you will also complete a student teaching placement, sometimes called an internship. This is typically a full-time, semester-long placement during which you will have opportunities to lead a classroom while paired with an experienced mentor teacher. To meet the requirements for state certification, the student teaching placement should be at the grade level and in the subject you wish to teach. Some programs may offer longer student teaching placements or the opportunity to pursue multiple placements. Most approved EPPs in New Mexico offer either a paid student teaching placement or a paid teacher residency placement during the program.

3. Pass the required New Mexico teacher exams.

New Mexico State SealAs of 2024, teacher candidates in New Mexico are not required to take exams, except elementary school teachers and special education teachers. Prospective elementary school teachers must take the Praxis: Teaching Reading: Elementary test and prospective special education teachers must take the Praxis: Special Education: Foundational Knowledge test. For all other prospective teachers who are taking the traditional route to certification, a standard portfolio is completed as part of the EPP, which will serve as part of the approval process in place of the examinations. Read more on the NMPED Assessment Requirements page.

4. Apply for New Mexico teacher certification.

Once the steps toward teacher certification in New Mexico have been completed, candidates must apply for a Level I License. The following documentation is required:

  • Background check
  • Official transcripts
  • Passing scores on required exams, if required
  • Non-refundable fee

New Mexico has moved to an online licensure portal for applications and renewals. Visit the NMPED Licensure Portal to register.

5. Upgrade your license.

As a Level I teacher, you will work for three years to acquire the required APL Micro-Credentials to advance to the Level II License or complete National Board Certification. You can advance using your NMPED Licensure Portal login.

Guide to Other Teaching Pathways

New Mexico Teacher Certification Renewal

Level II and Level III Licenses in New Mexico are good for nine years and are renewable. You will need to renew via the NMPED Online Licensure Portal and include your Superintendent’s Recommendation for Continuing Licensure on official school letterhead. For more information, review the licensure requirements for your license.

Adding Subjects or Grades to a Certificate

Once you receive your teaching certificate, you will only be eligible to work as a teacher in the grade levels and certification areas listed on your certificate, though occasional, temporary exceptions are made. To add an endorsement to your existing license, you will need to take specialized coursework in the area or pass the content area exam. Some endorsements, such as the Bilingual and Gifted endorsements, require both credit hours and passing the exam. To learn more, review the Endorsements page.

New Mexico Teaching License Reciprocity

Teachers from other states with comparable licenses may apply to be a New Mexico teacher by reciprocating a license. To apply, they must create an account on the NMPED Licensure Portal and submit:

  • Official transcripts
  • Copy of current valid teaching license
  • Copy of passage of teacher exams or notarized statement saying exams were not required
  • Verification of experience on out-of-state school district letterhead
  • Background check with fingerprints
  • Non-refundable fee

For more information, refer to the licensure requirements for your desired license.

In addition to teaching licenses, New Mexico also offers licenses for instructional support providers, administrators, and support professionals. Some of these include:

  • Educational Administration (Pre-K-12) License: Requires a graduate-level degree, completion of a PED-approved administration apprenticeship program, at least 18 semester hours of graduate credit in an educational administration program, and passage of the required Praxis exam.
  • Educational Diagnostician License: Requires a valid New Mexico teaching license or at least three years of experience, specific graduate coursework in an educational diagnosis or school psychology program, and passing the required test or national certification.
  • School Social Worker License: Requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work and a valid social work license issued by the New Mexico Social Work Examiners Board.

For more information about support licenses in New Mexico, find your desired license on the Licensure Requirements page.

New Mexico Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

Projected Job Growth

6%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in NM through 20322*

There were 881 public K-12 schools in New Mexico during the 2017-2018 academic year, serving approximately 334,345 students.3 With an estimated 21,092 public school teachers, this gave New Mexico a student-to-teacher ratio of about 16:1.3

Job prospects for educators in New Mexico are projected to be significantly stronger than the national average through 2032. In New Mexico, elementary teacher positions are expected to grow by 5.9%, compared to 0.7% nationally; middle school teacher positions by 6%, compared to 0.8% nationally; and secondary school teacher positions by 6.2%, compared to 1% nationally.2 The table below provides a detailed comparison of job growth prospects and salary levels for New Mexico teachers.

TypeNumber Employed in NM4Average Annual Openings in NM2NM Proj. Job Growth 2022-20322Average Annual Salary in NM425th Percentile Wages in NM575th Percentile Wages in NM5
Preschool Teachers2,7003108.7%$36,750$28,200$40,600
Preschool Teachers, Special Education140——$63,890$51,630$77,530
Kindergarten Teachers1,3201405.6%$64,550$52,810$74,820
Elementary School Teachers8,0205605.9%$65,690$56,010$74,840
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Special Education1,030705.2%$67,960$60,100$77,490
Middle School Teachers4,2603006%$76,750$61,290$101,480
Middle School Teachers, Special Education480——$78,770$62,360$106,270
Secondary School Teachers6,9104506.2%$68,400$59,650$77,250
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education1,250——$69,400$60,640$76,660
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education220104.8%$68,900$57,400$80,530

*The estimated job growth average is based on projections for mainstream kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Projections for other categories, such as special education and career and technical education, may be higher or lower than the average.

Teacher Shortages in New Mexico

Most of the US is dealing with an educator shortage. According to the US Department of Education Teacher Shortage Area report for 2023-2024, New Mexico has designated the following deficits:

In addition to these shortages, New Mexico had 690 unfilled positions during the 2022-2023 school year.7 During the 2017-2018 school year, over 726 teachers in New Mexico were considered underqualified for their assignment, which includes teachers assigned to classrooms outside their certification field on a temporary or emergency basis.7

Additional Resources

Related Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the requirements to become a high school teacher in New Mexico?

Answer: To be a high school teacher in New Mexico, you must hold a license from the state. The requirements for the license include completing a bachelor’s degree and a teacher preparation program that includes student teaching and a portfolio. Read more on the NMPED website.

Question: How can I be a substitute teacher in New Mexico?

Answer: To get a Substitute License (Pre-K-12) in New Mexico, applicants need to be 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, submit a copy of the superintendent’s Verification Form on school district letterhead, and pass a background check. They must also pass the online course “Strategies and Practices for the Substitute Teacher Success.” Find out more on the NMPED website.

Question: How many private schools and private school teachers are there in New Mexico?

Answer: According to the latest statistics available, as of the 2019-20 school year, there were 174 private schools in New Mexico, with 1,956 full-time teachers and 18,201 students.8 New Mexico law does not require private school teachers to be certified, though schools may prefer to hire teachers with state credentials. Check with private schools in your area to confirm requirements.

References:
1. New Mexico Public Education Department: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, New Mexico Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2017-2018: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, New Mexico: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nm.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
6. US Department of Education, Teacher Shortage Areas: https://tsa.ed.gov/#/reports
7. Teacher Shortages in the United New Mexicos, Tuan D. Nguyen et al.: https://teachershortages.com/
8. National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey, 2019-20: https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/TABLE15fl1920.asp