Early Childhood: Pre- Kindergarten – 3rd Grade

Initial License

• $150 (non-refundable) fee; and
• Initial application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
• Official sealed transcripts Bachelor’s and or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university in early childhood; and include
  • 45 semester hours in an Early Childhood Education program; and include:
    • 15 semester hours must include 6 hours of practicum or supervised field experience, 9 hours of EC student teaching in the range 3yrs old – 3rd grade; and
    • at least 135 contact hours of practicum or supervised field experience in other range than 3yrs old – 3rd grade (i.e Birth to 4 years of age); or
    • Evidence of 3 years of documented, verified, satisfactory work experiences with at least 2 of the age ranges of birth-three, three-five, or five-eight and
  • 6 semester hours of credit in the teaching of reading, if educator started school on or after 8/1/2001.
• Passage of the following PRAXIS exams:
  • Teacher Competency in Education of Young Children
• Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.

Renewal License

• $120 (non-refundable) fee will be valid for a one year grace period for level 2 or 3 (from 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 expiring year.
  • If 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 fee); and
• Renewal 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”.

Reciprocating a License

• $150 (non-refundable) fee; and
• Initial Application via NMPED Online Licensure Portal; and
• Official sealed transcripts Bachelor’s and or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university in early childhood; and
  • If this was completed through an alternative teacher preparation program, please have that agency complete the NMPED Approved Program Completion Verification Form
  • And if applicable – Official Foreign Transcripts and Official Course-by-Course Transcripts Evaluation; must be sealed and addressed to 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501
• Copy of current valid teaching license from out-of-state state education agency, Department of Defense School, or foreign country or a Notarized statement stating licensure was not required; and
• Copy of Passage of Teacher Exams or a Notarized statement stating exams were not required; 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 form below; and
• Register for background/fingerprints for “Teacher Licensure”.

**Out of State Licensure 1CS – A one year certificate (1CS) is a provisional License issued contingent upon a signed letter requested by your New Mexico employing district/charter supporting you. “Out-of-state 1CS” means a license issued to an individual who holds a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree who has completed a standard or alternative teacher preparation program, completed out-of-state teacher exams and has a valid out-of-state teacher license, but has no teaching experience.

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.

NMPED Correspondence with Educators:

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