LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

The New Mexico Teacher Assessments are required for individuals who are seeking initial New Mexico licensure on or after July 1, 1999. The following licensure requirements apply:

• Individuals applying for initial educator licensure with certain endorsements must also take the Content Knowledge Assessment(s) in History, Geography, Economics, Civics and Government; Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health Education; Library/Media; Music; Physical Education; Reading; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); Visual Arts; and/or Modern and Classical Languages (Spanish, French, German). These Content Knowledge Assessments may also be taken to add endorsements to an existing license in lieu of coursework requirements.
• The secondary-level Content Knowledge Assessments are intended for individuals seeking a Secondary Education (7–12) license.
• The middle-level Content Knowledge Assessments are an option for Elementary Education (K–8) licensed teachers to demonstrate that they meet the standard of "highly qualified" in a subject area according to the requirements of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. These Content Knowledge Assessments are not required for New Mexico teacher licensure and may not be taken to obtain secondary license endorsements.
• Individuals seeking a School Counselor, Educational Administrator, or Educational Diagnostician (PreK–12) license must take the Content Knowledge Assessment in that area.
• Individuals seeking a Special Education (PreK–12) license must take the Content Knowledge Assessment in Special Education in addition to the New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Basic Skills and the New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Competency (Elementary or Secondary).

Please see the PED Web site at www.ped.state.nm.us for additional information about educator licenses and endorsements.

Initial Licensure Requirements

*Individuals seeking additional endorsements must take 24 semester hours in the appropriate content area OR must take and pass the appropriate content knowledge assessment in Family and Consumer Sciences; French; German; Health Education; History, Geography, Economics, Civics and Government; Language Arts; Library/Media; Mathematics; Middle Level History, Geography, Economics, Civics and Government; Middle Level Language Arts; Middle Level Mathematics; Middle Level Science; Music; Physical Education; Reading; Science; Spanish; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); OR Visual Arts.

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