All persons who perform services in educational diagnosis in public schools or in those special state-supported schools within state agencies, must hold a valid, educational diagnosis licensure issued by the PED. Persons seeking level 1 licensure in educational diagnosis pursuant to the provisions of this rule shall meet the following requirements:

1. A. bachelor's degree and master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university; and

2. B. 30 graduate hours, which may be completed as a part of the master's degree program or in addition to the master's, meeting the applicable program requirements as follows:

   (1) the 30 graduate hours, if awarded by a New Mexico college or university, must be from an educational diagnostic or school psychology program approved by the PED and include an internship as follows:

   (a) 240 hours, if the applicant began a program in education diagnosis prior to July 1, 2006;

   (b) 300 hours, if the applicant began a program in education diagnosis on or after July 1, 2006; or

   (2) the 30 graduate hours awarded by a college or university outside New Mexico must be from an educational diagnostic or school psychology program accepted by the PED and include an internship as provided in Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 6.63.4.8 NMAC; and

   (3) all persons previously licensed as educational diagnosticians or special education teachers may substitute two years of verified, successful employment as educational diagnosticians or special education teachers for these requirements if a diagnostic internship was not part of their educational program; and

3. C. background experience to be met by:

   (1) holding a valid New Mexico teaching license, counseling license, or professional licensure in another area of instructional support; or

   (2) demonstrating three (3) years of documented, verified satisfactory experience in one or a combination of the following areas: work in community-based programs serving children or adults with special needs or developmental disabilities; mental health work related to educational diagnosis; clinical practice related to educational diagnosis; vocational evaluation; or teaching; and

4. D. a candidate who applies for licensure as an educational diagnostician on or after the September, 2007 administration of the PED's specialty area licensure examinations shall take and pass the content knowledge assessment for educational diagnostician as stated in 6.60.5.8 NMAC, or hold national certification from the national association of school psychologists (NASP) or from the council for educational diagnostician services (CEDS) prior to the issuance of the license.

[6.63.4.8 NMAC - Rp, 6.63.4.8 NMAC, 11-30-05; A, 06-30-06; A, 06-15-09]