What Tests Do I Need to Take?

Final Administration of NMTA Tests: December 21, 2020

Monday, December 21, 2020, was the final administration of the NMTA program and the National Evaluation Series (NES) tests for New Mexico teacher candidates. Learn more about the program transition on the New Mexico Public Education Department's website.

NMTA program tests, comprised of custom NMTA tests and NES® (National Evaluation Series™) tests, are required for individuals who are seeking initial New Mexico licensure on or after July 1, 1999. The following licensure requirements apply:

Individuals applying for initial educator licensure with certain endorsements must also take the content knowledge assessment(s) in Art; English Language Arts; English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Family and Consumer Sciences; General Science; Health; Mathematics; Music; Physical Education; Reading; School Library Media Specialist; Social Science; and/or Modern and Classical Languages (Spanish, French, German). These content knowledge assessments may also be taken to add endorsements to an existing license in lieu of coursework requirements.
The secondary-level content knowledge assessments are intended for individuals seeking a Secondary Education (7–12) license.
The middle-level content knowledge assessments are an option for Elementary Education (K–8) licensed teachers to demonstrate that they meet the standard of "highly qualified" in a subject area according to the requirements of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. These content knowledge assessments are not required for New Mexico teacher licensure and may not be taken to obtain secondary license endorsements.
Individuals seeking a School Counselor, Educational Administrator, or Educational Diagnostician (PreK–12) license must take the content knowledge assessment in that area.
Individuals seeking a Special Education (PreK–12) license must take the content knowledge assessment in Special Education in addition to Essential Academic Skills (subtests I, II, and III) and the Assessment of Professional Knowledge (Elementary or Secondary).

Please see the New Mexico Public Education Department website for additional information about educator licenses and endorsements.

Initial Licensure Requirements

Teaching License	Testing Requirements for an Initial License
Early Childhood Education (Birth–Age 3)	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) NES Early Childhood Education (Birth–Prekindergarten)
Early Childhood Education Age 3–Age 8	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) NES Early Childhood Education (Age 3–Age 8)
Elementary Education (K–8)	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) Assessment of Professional Knowledge: Elementary Elementary Education (Subtests I and II) Essential Components of Elementary Reading Instruction
Grades PreK–12 Teaching	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) Assessment of Professional Knowledge (Elementary OR Secondary) Content knowledge assessment—For the first endorsement* on the license, the appropriate content knowledge assessment is required in Art; English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Family and Consumer Sciences; French; German; Health; Middle Grades English Language Arts; Middle Grades General Science; Middle Grades Mathematics; Middle Grades Social Science; Music; Physical Education; Reading; School Library Media Specialist; OR Spanish.
Middle Level Education (5–9)	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) Assessment of Professional Knowledge (Elementary OR Secondary) Content knowledge assessment—For the first endorsement* on the license, the appropriate content knowledge assessment is required in Art; English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Family and Consumer Sciences; French; German; Health; Middle Grades English Language Arts; Middle Grades General Science; Middle Grades Mathematics; Middle Grades Social Science; Music; Physical Education; Reading; School Library Media Specialist; OR Spanish.
Secondary Education (7–12)	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) Assessment of Professional Knowledge (Secondary) Content knowledge assessment—For the first endorsement* on the license, the appropriate content knowledge assessment is required in Art; English Language Arts; English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Family and Consumer Sciences; French; General Science; German; Health; Mathematics; Music; Physical Education; Reading; School Library Media Specialist; Social Science; OR Spanish.
Educational Administrator (PreK–12)	Content knowledge assessment for Educational Administrator
Educational Diagnostician (PreK–12)	Content knowledge assessment for Educational Diagnostician
School Counselor (PreK–12)	Content knowledge assessment for School Counselor
Special Education (PreK–12)	Essential Academic Skills (Subtests I, II, and III) Assessment of Professional Knowledge (Elementary OR Secondary) Content knowledge assessment in Special Education

*Individuals seeking additional endorsements must take 24 semester hours in the appropriate content area OR must take and pass the appropriate content knowledge assessment in Art; English Language Arts; English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); Family and Consumer Sciences; French; General Science; German; Health; Mathematics; Middle Grades English Language Arts; Middle Grades General Science; Middle Grades Mathematics; Middle Grades Social Science; Music; Physical Education; Reading; School Library Media Specialist; Social Science; OR Spanish. 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.