• At the very minimum, all applicants for initial substitute teacher licensure shall have attained eighteen (18) years of age for those seeking to perform instructional services in grades K-8, and twenty-one (21) years of age for those seeking to perform instructional services in grades 9-12;
• And have earned a high school diploma or high school diploma equivalency;
• Each applicant shall meet the requirements of either Subsections H or I below, or shall meet the requirements of two or more of Subsections A through G:

  a. have, within 12 months of their date of initial employment with a local district, received on the job training by serving as a voluntary assistant to a licensed teacher in a school classroom for a minimum of three hours during three days;
  b. have observed 3 hours or more teaching in a school system and at the grade level of students in which the substitute will serve,
  c. have completed a substitute teacher workshop conducted by or acceptable to the local school district in which the substitute teacher is employed or seeking employment;
  d. have, within the past three school years of application for employment or licensure, performed at least three hours of instructional services as a substitute teacher in any school accredited or recognized by the New Mexico Public Education Department;
  e. have engaged in any paid employment in the three years prior to applying for substitute teaching licensure or employment, which, after verification by and in the opinion of the superintendent of the local district, invests that applicant with relevant work or life experience;
  f. have completed at least 60 hours of college-credit courses in a regionally accredited college;
  g. have completed or currently be enrolled in an approved college course or program from a regionally accredited college, where the course or program is structured to provide primary/secondary teacher preparation;
  h. have completed an approved teacher preparation program from a regionally accredited college or university;
  i. is in possession of a current substitute or standard teaching standard teaching license issued by another state’s educator licensure issuing agency. (6.63.10.8 NMAC N, 09-29-00; A, 08-31-04)

PLEASE BE AWARE: Our Substitute Services Staff will be available from 8 - 11am Monday through Thursday at the District Office (500 Laser). Scheduled appointments will take precedence over walk-ins. Staff will accept completed applications, fingerpring documents, and cashier checks/money orders during these times. Call 896-0667 Ext. 135 to schedule an appointment, or you can contact us by email (typically faster).