New Mexico Administration/Principal Certification
New Mexico principal certification requires an Educational Administration Pre K-12 license issued by the NMPED Professional Licensure Bureau. Candidates need a qualifying teaching or instructional support license, a bachelor’s and post-baccalaureate degree, 18 graduate semester hours in educational administration, a 180-hour apprenticeship, and a passing score on the Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision exam.
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The Professional Licensure Bureau of the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) issues the Educational Administration Pre K-12 license to qualified applicants who want to work as principals, assistant principals, or other school administrators. This guide walks through every step of New Mexico principal certification, from qualifying licenses and coursework to your final application. This license builds on an existing teaching or instructional support license, so if you haven’t yet earned your New Mexico teaching certification, start there first.
New Mexico Educational Administration License Requirements
New Mexico sets four main requirement categories for the Educational Administration Pre K-12 license: education, a qualifying teaching or support license, examination, and an administrative apprenticeship. You must satisfy all four before the NMPED Professional Licensure Bureau will review your application.
Education Requirements
You must meet the following education requirements:
- Possess both a bachelor’s degree and a post-baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Complete at least 18 semester hours of graduate credit in an educational administration program approved by the NMPED
Learn more about the graduate school process. Contact schools offering educational administration degree programs in New Mexico.
Qualifying Teaching or Support License
Before you can apply, NMPED requires you to already hold one of the following:
- A Level 2 teaching license, having met all of the requirements for a Level 3-A teaching license
- A Level 2 teaching license, plus at least four years holding a Level 3 school counselor license while working as a teacher or school counselor
- A Level 2 or Level 3 instructional support provider license
Examination Requirements
You must pass the Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision exam (test code 5412). This is the assessment NMPED currently requires for the Educational Administration Pre K-12 license, including renewal after an expired Level 3-B credential.
Apprenticeship Requirements
You must complete a PED-approved administrative apprenticeship totaling at least 180 clock hours over one calendar year, including time at the beginning and end of the school year. You can complete this either through a college or university educational administration program, or under the supervision of a local school superintendent, private school official, charter school licensed administrator, or state agency educational administrator. Whichever path you choose, your supervisor verifies that you’ve met NMPED’s adopted competencies for educational administration.
How to Apply for New Mexico Administrator Licensure
Application and Document Requirements
Once you’ve fulfilled the education, license, examination, and apprenticeship requirements, you apply for your Educational Administration Pre K-12 license entirely online. NMPED no longer accepts paper applications for licensure. Paper submissions are returned to the sender.
- Pay the $150 non-refundable initial application fee
- Create an account and apply through the NMPED Licensure Portal
- Submit official sealed transcripts showing conferral of your bachelor’s and post-baccalaureate degrees
- Provide proof of your qualifying teaching or instructional support license
- Provide documentation of your passing Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision score
- Provide verification of your completed administrative apprenticeship
- Complete your fingerprint background check (see below)
Criminal History Background Check
As an applicant for initial Educational Administration licensure in New Mexico, you must submit to a criminal history background check under NMPED Service Code 2BH23R and ORI# NM920140Z, using the reason code “Teacher Licensure” regardless of the license you’re seeking. In-state applicants register with IdentoGO for a live-scan fingerprint appointment. Out-of-state and out-of-country applicants get fingerprinted locally and mail the card in through IdentoGO’s out-of-state process. Either way, IdentoGO charges a $59 fee, and your background clearance stays valid for 24 months. NMPED cannot review your license application until your background check clears.
Contact Information
For questions on administrative licensure in New Mexico, call the NMPED main line at 1-505-827-5800 (select Option 1 for Licensure) or email [email protected]. If you’re weighing principal certification requirements in other states, our national overview covers how the process varies state to state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exam do I need to pass for New Mexico principal certification?
You need to pass the Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision exam. This is the exam NMPED currently requires for the Educational Administration Pre K-12 license.
Can I apply for a New Mexico administrator license by mail?
No. NMPED has moved entirely to its online Licensure Portal for administrator licensing. Paper applications are returned to the sender, so you’ll need to create a portal account to apply, pay fees, and track your application status.
How long does it take to process a New Mexico administrator license application?
NMPED reports an average processing time of about 20 business days once your application packet is complete, though this can run longer during high-volume periods. Your background check has to clear first, and that check itself stays valid for 24 months once completed.
Do I need a master’s degree to become a principal in New Mexico?
Yes. NMPED requires both a bachelor’s degree and a post-baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, along with 18 graduate semester hours specifically in an approved educational administration program.
Do I need teaching experience before I can become a principal in New Mexico?
Yes, but the exact license you need depends on your background. NMPED accepts a Level 2 teaching license paired with completed Level 3-A requirements, a Level 2 teaching license plus four years as a Level 3 school counselor, or a Level 2 or Level 3 instructional support provider license. You’ll also need a 180-hour administrative apprenticeship.
- Four requirement categories apply — education (bachelor’s plus post-baccalaureate degree and 18 graduate hours in educational administration), a qualifying teaching or support license, examination (Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision), and a 180-hour apprenticeship.
- Your existing license determines your path — NMPED accepts a Level 2 teaching license with completed Level 3-A requirements, a Level 2 license plus four years as a Level 3 school counselor, or a Level 2/3 instructional support provider license.
- Applications are online only — NMPED’s Licensure Portal replaced paper applications, and mailed packets are returned to the sender, with a $150 non-refundable fee.
- The Professional Licensure Bureau reviews every application — contact them directly at 1-505-827-5800 (Option 1) with licensure-specific questions.
Find accredited educational administration degree programs in New Mexico, including coursework that satisfies NMPED’s 18-graduate-hour requirement for your principal license.
