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 still complete the Praxis: Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) examination per state statute 22-10A-1 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.
For students who are currently in and/or will be entering the alternative online portfolio program pathway, 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 2022 | No | No Praxis Core, but student must take all other required exams |
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** |
* Required by PED. If your institution has a required portfolio, you must complete it.
** All Elementary Educators seeking licensure must still complete Praxis. Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) examination per state statute 22-10A-1 NMSA 1978.
Find your licensure area below to determine which test you need to take and see the minimum qualifying score. To learn more about a specific test, click the test title. Once you know your test(s), find out how to register for Praxis® tests and read the Praxis® test retake policy.
In general, unless it is specifically stated that a calculator is permitted or required for a particular test, calculators may not be used on any Praxis tests (see Calculator Use).
Tests Required for Initial Licensure Areas
Early Childhood Education
All candidates for an initial teaching license in Early Childhood Education are required to take the appropriate content assessment.
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Education (Birth–PreK) | |||
Content Assessment | |||
Pre-Kindergarten Education | 5531 | * | |
Early Childhood Education (PreK–Grade 3) | |||
Content Assessment | |||
Education of Young Children | 5024 | * |
Elementary Education (K–8)
All candidates for an initial teaching license in Elementary Education are required to take a Principles of Learning and Teaching assessment and the appropriate content assessments.
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Elementary Education (K–8) | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching Assessment | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 | 5622 | * | |
Content Assessment | |||
Elementary Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment | 5017 | * | |
and | |||
Teaching Reading: Elementary | 5205 | * |
Middle School Education (5–9)
All candidates for an initial teaching license in Middle Level Education (5–9) are required to take a Principles of Learning and Teaching assessment and a content assessment for the first endorsement on the license.
Secondary Education
All candidates for an initial teaching license in Secondary Education are required to take a Principles of Learning and Teaching assessment and a content assessment for the first endorsement on the license.
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Secondary Education (7–12) | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching Assessment | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 | 5624 | * | |
One of the Content Assessments Listed Below for the First Endorsement on the License | |||
Art: Content Knowledge | 5134 | * | |
English Language Arts: Content Knowledge | 5038 | * | |
English to Speakers of Other Languages | 5362 | * | |
Family and Consumer Sciences | 5122 | * | |
French: World Language | 5174 | * | |
General Science: Content Knowledge | 5435 | * | |
German: World Language | 5183 | * | |
Health Education | 5551 | * | |
Accepted through August 31, 2022Mathematics: Content Knowledge(On-screen graphing calculator provided.) | 5161 | * | |
Mathematics(On-screen graphing calculator provided.) | 5165 | * | |
Music: Content Knowledge | 5113 | * | |
Physical Education: Content Knowledge | 5091 | * | |
Psychology | 5391 | * | |
Teaching Reading: K–12 | 5206 | * | |
Library Media Specialist | 5311 | * | |
Social Studies: Content Knowledge | 5081 | * | |
Spanish World Language | 5195 | * | |
Technology Education | 5051 | * |
Specialty Pre K–12
All candidates for an initial teaching license in Grades Specialty Pre K–12 are required to take the a Principles of Learning and Teaching assessment and a content assessment for the first endorsement on the license.
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Specialty Pre K–12 | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching Assessment | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 | 5622 | * | |
or | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 | 5624 | * | |
One of the Content Assessments Listed Below for the First Endorsement on the License | |||
Art: Content Knowledge | 5134 | * | |
English to Speakers of Other Languages | 5362 | * | |
Family and Consumer Sciences | 5122 | * | |
French: World Language | 5174 | * | |
German: World Language | 5183 | * | |
Health Education | 5551 | * | |
Music: Content Knowledge | 5113 | * | |
Physical Education: Content Knowledge | 5091 | * | |
Teaching Reading: K–12 | 5206 | * | |
Library Media Specialist | 5311 | * | |
Spanish World Language | 5195 | * |
Special Education (Pre K–12)
All candidates for an initial teaching license in Special Education are required to take a Principles of Learning and Teaching assessment and the appropriate content assessment.
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Special Education (Pre K–12) | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching Assessment | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 | 5622 | * | |
or | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 | 5624 | * | |
Content Assessment | |||
Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications | 5354 | * | |
Blind and Visually Impaired (PreK–12) | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching Assessment | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 | 5622 | * | |
or | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 | 5624 | * | |
Content Assessment | |||
Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments | 5282 | * | |
Deaf and Hard of Hearing (PreK–12) | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching Assessment | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K–6 | 5622 | * | |
or | |||
Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7–12 | 5624 | * | |
Content Assessment | |||
Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students | 5272 | * |
Educational Administration (Pre K–12)
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Educational Administrator (Pre K–12) | Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision | 5412 | * |
Instructional Support Provider
To Be Certified in | You Need to Take | Test Code | Qualifying Score |
---|---|---|---|
Educational Diagnostician (Pre K–12) | School Psychologist | 5402 | * |
School Counselor | Professional School Counselor | 5421 | * |
Endorsements
Individuals seeking additional endorsements must take 24 semester hours in the appropriate content area OR must take and pass the appropriate content knowledge assessment. Individuals seeking to add a gifted education endorsement to an initial license must either take 24 semester hours in gifted teaching coursework OR must take 12 semester hours of gifted teaching coursework AND pass the Gifted Education test.
TBA: To Be Announced. All TBA scores will be available once the test is required.
This page is a supplement to The Praxis® Tests Information Bulletin.