N.M. Code R. § 6.61.12.8 - REQUIREMENTS

All persons who perform instructional services in early childhood education (i.e., age three to grade 3) as defined in this rule in public schools or in those special state-supported schools within state agencies must hold valid standard licensure in early childhood education issued by the PED:

A. persons seeking licensure in early childhood education pursuant to the provisions of this rule shall meet the following requirements:

(1) possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and including, for those students first entering a college or university beginning in the fall of 2017, the following:

(a) nine semester hours in communication

(b) six semester hours in mathematics

(c) eight semester hours in laboratory science

(d) nine semester hours in social and behavioral science

(e) nine semester hours in humanities and fine arts; and

(2) earn 45 semester credits of professional education coursework at a regionally accredited college or university in an early childhood education program approved by the PED in the competencies identified in 6.61.12.10 NMAC, and

(3) earn a minimum of 15 semester hours, six of which would be practicum or supervised field experience and nine semester hours of student teaching component in early childhood education for one of the following age ranges: age three to grade 3 with children who are developing either typically or atypically; and

(a) earn at least 135 contact hours of practicum or supervised field experience at a developmental stage (s) other than the stage selected for student teaching set forth in Paragraph (3) above; or

(b) evidence of three years of documented, verified, satisfactory work experiences with at least two of the age ranges set forth in Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of 6.61.8.8 NMAC above at a center accredited by the national academy of early childhood programs, a postsecondary laboratory early care and education setting, or an early childhood program accredited by the PED; and

(4) in addition to the requirements specified in Paragraphs (1), (3) and (5) Subsection A of 6.61.12.8 NMAC, six hours in the teaching of reading for those who have first entered any college or university on or after August 1, 2001 regardless of when they graduate or earn their degree; and

(5) pass all required portions of the New Mexico teacher assessment (NMTA) or any successor teacher examination adopted by the PED; and

(6) satisfy the requirements of a highly qualified beginning early childhood teacher if new to the profession after June 30, 2006, or

B. possess valid certificate issued by the national board for professional teaching standards for the appropriate grade level and type.

Notes

N.M. Code R. § 6.61.12.8

6.61.12.8 NMAC - N, 01-29-10, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 23, December 12, 2017, eff. 8/1/2018