New Mexico Test Requirements

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.

^{1 Required by PED. If your institution has a required portfolio, you must complete it.}

^{2 All Elementary Educators seeking licensure must still complete Praxis. Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205) examination per state statute 22-10A-1 NMSA 1978.}

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 (PDF).