Overview of New Mexico Testing Requirements
Important Information
Beginning July 2022, approved educator preparation programs in New Mexico must adopt a standardized portfolio that will serve as a rigorous approval process for becoming a licensed educator in New Mexico, and Praxis examination pathways will be removed for educators who will graduate in Spring 2024. All Elementary Educators seeking licensure must complete the Praxis: Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) examination per state statute 22-10A-1 NMSA 1978. All Special Education Educators seeking licensure must complete the Praxis: Special Education: Core Knowledge and Application (5354 – accepted through 8/31/23) or Praxis: Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355 – required beginning 9/1/23) per state statute 22-10A-8 NMSA 1978.
For students currently enrolled in a traditional or alternative educator preparation program and graduating between May 2022 and December 2023, all Praxis Core examinations will be waived but all other examinations will need to be completed and passed.
Graduation/Completion Date
Portfolio
Standardized Examinations
Spring, Summer and Winter 2023
No
No Praxis Core, but student must take all other required exams
Spring, Summer and winter 2024 and ongoing
Yes
No Praxis examination required except for out-of-state candidates or unique circumstances
Other Important Information
- New Mexico requires a Social Security number (SSN) in order to process educator certification paperwork. ETS does not require your SSN for its own purposes, but will submit it to New Mexico with your test results. Failure to provide your SSN could delay processing of your certification application.
- Applicants seeking the Principal and/or School Administrator license must pass the appropriate Praxis assessment.
- ETS has discontinued paper-delivered testing; however, Praxis tests will continue to be available in a paper-delivered format as required for ADA accommodations. All scores for previously administered paper-delivered tests are reportable for 10 years from the date the test was taken.
Score reporting
- If you test in New Mexico at a test center or at home, and your Praxis profile address is in New Mexico, your score report will be sent automatically to the New Mexico Department of Public Education.
- If you test outside New Mexico or your Praxis profile address is not in New Mexico, your scores are NOT automatically sent to the New Mexico Department of Public Education. To have your scores sent to the New Mexico Department of Public Education, you must select the New Mexico Department of Public Education (state code 8685) as a score recipient when you register.
- For all methods of Praxis testing, to request additional score reports you must select the New Mexico Department of Public Education (state code 8685) with each additional score report request.
How to qualify for licensure
For certification in New Mexico, all candidates must:
- Pay the applicable application fee and submit an application.
- Pass the applicable licensure tests.
- Submit officially sealed transcripts that support the license that the applicant is seeking.
- Complete the Department Background Check ORI NM920140Z for "Teacher Licensure". (All licensed personnel must have a cleared background check.)
- For information on licensure via an alternate route, visit the New Mexico Public Department of Education alternative route page.
Who must take the test?
Teacher candidates or those wishing to become certified must take the Praxis tests.
- In New Mexico, you must take the appropriate Praxis tests for each area of certification you seek.
See also links to other Praxis web pages and resources
For more information about educator requirements in New Mexico:
- New Mexico: Certification website
Other Programs used in New Mexico
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