Online Licensure Portal

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:

• Successfully completed five required micro-credential courses with a mastery score of 85% or higher
• Taught three full school years of teaching experience (minimum of 160 days per year) with successful annual evaluations with a Level 1 teaching license.

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

• Successfully completed four micro-credentials with a mastery score of 85% or higher
• Taught three school years with a Level 2 teaching license. (Minimum of 160 days per year) with successful annual evaluations
• Earned a master’s degree. 

Micro-Credentials Information for Licensure AdvancementLicensure Advancement for Level 2 Teachers - Micro-CredentialsLicensure Advancement for Level 1 Teacher - Micro-Credentials

A nonrenewable, 2-year license is granted to allow a person to simultaneously teach and complete face-to-face courses or online courses at an approved university or community college. The Alternative Educator Prep Program is a focused state-accredited (approved) post-baccalaureate program for obtaining your New Mexico Level 1 teaching license.

Approved New Mexico Educator Preparation Programs

The Alternative Educator Prep Program is available for individuals who obtained a bachelor’s degree in a non-traditional education program and are interested in teaching.

Santa Fe Community CollegeNew Mexico State UniversityEastern New Mexico UniversityLeading Educators (through) Alternative Pathways (LEAP)Western New Mexico UniversityCentral New Mexico Community CollegeUniversity of New Mexico

Endorsements

Licensure RequirementsAssessments

OPAL - Principal Verification Form

Official Foreign Transcripts Evaluations: Foreign transcript evaluations must be sealed and addressed to 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM  87501 if the company does not offer download services.

• All foreign transcripts need to have a course-by-course evaluation completed, including US equivalency.
• Click Here for a list of evaluators who are members of the Foreign Transcript Evaluation Services (NACES).
• The Public Education Department does not require nor recommend using NACES-listed service members. There is no “official” organization or regulatory body for foreign credential interpretation or evaluation methodology in the US. It is based on commonly developed and agreed with standards of good practice.

While we can retrieve the downloads from the following companies either via their dashboard or email, educators must request this special/additional service when they apply to have their foreign transcript to be evaluated for US equivalency:

• Academic Credential Evaluation Institute .- They offer a 5-7 day turnaround time
• American Education and Translation Services – They offer discounts, a 3, 5 & 8-day turnaround time, and 24-hour service.
• Center for Applied Research, Evaluation, and Education, Inc
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
• Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
• International Education Evaluations – They offer discounts and a 5-day turnaround time.
• International Education Research Foundation
• Foundation for International Services, Inc.
• The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) – They offer discounts and a 10, 5, and 2-day turnaround time.
• World Education Services

Official Link to NMPED website: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/licensure/foreign-credentialing-agencies/

Education Assistant (Pre K-12)

Level 3 License Requirements:

• Passing Score on ParaPro (457); or
• Passing Score on Para Educator (70% in each of the sections); or
• Passing Score and completion of the Core Academic Skills for Educators: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics; or
• Minimum of 48 semester hours of college credit from a regionally accredited college or university with 15 of those credits being in language arts (3 hours), mathematics (3 hours), writing (3 hours), and reading, writing, math readiness, or professional education (6 hours);