Alternative licensure programs are meant for those who wish to become teachers but have not graduated from a traditional teacher preparation program.
Interested in learning about the traditional approach? Contact schools offering teaching certification programs in New Mexico.
Grand Canyon University - Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral programs
For those seeking licensure or looking to enter the field of education for the first time, but with a degree in a field other than education, GCU has initial programs that lead to licensure and programs that do not lead to licensure.
USC Rossier Master of Arts in Teaching Online — No GRE *
Purdue Global University - offering Bachelors and Masters programs
From master’s degrees to teacher-certification pathways, Purdue Global University offers flexible online education programs to help you pursue a career in teaching, enhance your current skills, or advance in your education career.*
You must pass the New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Basic Skills, the New Mexico Assessment of Teacher Competency for your area of licensure, and the New Mexico Content Knowledge Assessment for the area in which you wish to become licensed to teach.
If you have five years of post-secondary teaching experience and a post-bachelor’s degree, and complete the reading requirement and all other education/examination requirements, you are exempt from completing an alternative program of teacher preparation. In this case, you must also complete a one-year internship while working as a teacher.
Regardless of the route you take to teacher licensure (traditional or alternative), you must undergo a criminal history background check. After you call the Educator Ethics Bureau at 505-827-6649 and request a fingerprint card packet, take it to your local law enforcement agency. They will fingerprint you for a fee. Mail the completed fingerprint card packet along with your application for alternative licensure.
For information on alternative teacher licensure in New Mexico, contact the Professional Licensure Bureau of the New Mexico Public Education Department at 505-827-5821.