Decide what you want to teach, and choose the teaching license that’s right for you. Download our free Licensing Guide for even more info!
If you already know what you want to teach, or if you want to get a feel for your options, jump to the next section.
Not sure yet? You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a state-designated shortage area.
Many schools offer extra pay or signing bonuses for shortage area teachers! You may also qualify for generous student loan forgiveness programs and other financial aid.
These subjects are teacher shortage areas for the 2024–2025 school year: (1)
In some cases, you may have multiple teaching licenses to choose from! For example, if you want to teach middle school math, you could get a middle level teaching license for grades 5–9 or a secondary license for grades 6–12.
Once you know the age group and subject you want to teach, you can choose your teaching license.
Your teaching license sets the grade range you can teach. For some subjects, like elementary or special education, your teaching license also covers your content area.
Want to teach a specific subject, like math, science or language arts? You’ll get a teaching license for the grade range you want to teach, and you’ll add an endorsement area in your subject (more on that in Step 2!). (2)
License |
Grades |
Shortage Area? |
|---|---|---|
| Blind & Visually Impaired | Birth–Grade 12 | ✅ |
| Deaf & Hard of Hearing | Birth–Grade 12 | ✅ |
| Early Childhood | Birth–PreK OR PreK–Grade 3 | ✅ |
| Elementary Education | Grades K–8 | ✅ |
| Middle Level | Grades 5–9 | |
| Secondary | Grades 6–12 | |
|
Secondary Vocational-Technical *Such as skilled trades, hospitality or health sciences | Grades 7–12 | |
| Special Education | Grades PreK–12 | ✅ |
|
Specialty Area *Such as art, math, music or physical education | Grades PreK–12 |
If you plan to teach a specific subject, like history or math, you’ll add an endorsement area onto your teaching license.
In this section, the tables show your endorsement area options, as well as which licenses go with each endorsement.
You can add endorsements to your teaching license throughout your career. You don’t have to get all your endorsements at once!
Keep a list of teaching license subject areas handy, and get step-by-step details on pathways to teaching and how to get licensed in New Mexico.
It’s all free in our Licensing Guide!
Talk to an experienced local educator about how to become a licensed teacher in New Mexico. Get free advice on how to choose what subject and grade to teach and apply to the right program.
Read MoreIf you have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to start teaching right away. Learn how TEACH New Mexico can help you get started.
Read MoreEnter your email to get FREE resources for future New Mexico teachers—from tailored advising to funding opportunities and more. Already signed up? Sign in at the top of the page to access your dashboard.
