1. A. A teacher or school principal licensed in another state may be granted a level two, level three-A or site administrator license if the teacher or site administrator has teaching experience, demonstrates the required competencies and meets other requirements and qualifications for the license for which the teacher or school principal applies, including clearance of the required background check. The local superintendent may require a mentorship period for the licensee if the superintendent deems it necessary. A teacher or site administrator who holds an out-of-state license may apply for a lower level license if the teacher or site administrator does not meet the requirements for the higher level.

2. B. The department may grant an initial site administrator license to an out-of-state candidate who does not meet the other requirements and qualifications of that license if the candidate:

   1. (1) has a standard, valid, unencumbered school administrator license from another state;
   2. (2) has worked as a site administrator for at least three years;
   3. (3) has a recent satisfactory performance evaluation;
   4. (4) is enrolled in a department-approved site administrator induction program; and
   5. (5) meets other requirements of the department.

3. C. The department may grant a superintendent license to an out-of-state candidate who does not meet the other requirements and qualifications of that license if the candidate:

   1. (1) has a standard, valid, unencumbered school administrator license from another state;
   2. (2) has worked as a superintendent for at least three years;
   3. (3) is enrolled in a department-approved superintendent induction program; and
   4. (4) meets other requirements of the department.
4. D. An instructional support provider licensed in another state may be granted a level two or level three license if the instructional support provider has professional experience, holds a professional license in addition to a school license, if applicable, and demonstrates the required competencies and meets other requirements and qualifications for the license sought, including clearance of the required background check. A local superintendent may require a mentorship period for the licensee if the local superintendent deems it necessary. An instructional support provider who holds an out-of-state school license may apply for a lower level license if the instructional support provider does not meet the requirements and qualifications for the higher level.

History: 1978 Comp., § 22-10A-12, enacted by Laws 2003, ch. 153, § 43; 2019, ch. 80, § 1; 2025, ch. 146, § 2; 2025, ch. 148, § 10.

ANNOTATIONS

2025 Multiple Amendments. — Laws 2025, ch. 146, § 2, effective June 20, 2025, and Laws 2025, ch. 148, § 10, effective July 1, 2025, enacted different amendments to this section that can be reconciled. Pursuant to 12-1-8 NMSA 1978, Laws 2025, ch. 148, § 10 as the last act signed by the governor is set out above and incorporates both amendments. The amendments enacted by Laws 2025, ch. 146, § 2 and Laws 2025, ch. 148, § 10 are described below. To view the session laws in their entirety, see the 2025 session laws on NMOneSource.com.

The nature of the difference between the amendments is that Section 22-10A-12 NMSA 1978, as amended by Laws 2025, ch. 146, § 2, allowed reciprocity for levels two and three New Mexico licensure for instructional support providers who are licensed in other states, and Laws 2025, ch. 148, § 10, allowed limited reciprocity for site administrators who are licensed as school administrators in other states or who have worked as a site administrator for at least three years and meet other requirements of the department, and allowed limited reciprocity for superintendents who are licensed as school administrators in other states or who have worked as a superintendent for at least three years and meet other requirements of the department.

Laws 2025, ch. 148, § 10, effective July 1, 2025, allowed limited reciprocity for site administrators who are licensed as school administrators in other states or who have worked as a site administrator for at least three years and meet other requirements of the department, and allowed limited reciprocity for superintendents who are licensed as school administrators in other states or who have worked as a superintendent for at least three years and meet other requirements of the department; in Subsection A, after the second occurrence of "level" deleted "three" and added "three-A or site administrator", and after each occurrence of "teacher or," deleted "school principal" and added "site administrator"; in Subsection B, after "may grant" deleted "a level three-B" and added "an initial site administrator", after "license to" deleted "a" and added "an out-of-state", and after the colon deleted "has a school administrator license issued in another state and has worked as a school administrator in good standing for at least six years", and added Paragraphs B(1) through B(5); and added Subsection C.

Laws 2025, ch. 146, § 2, effective June 20, 2025, allowed reciprocity for levels two and three New Mexico licensure for instructional support providers who are licensed in other states; and added Subsection C [D].

The 2019 amendment, effective June 14, 2019, created separate qualifications for the level 3B license, adding administrator-specific licensing and experience for candidates who do not meet the other requirements and qualifications of that license; and added Subsection B.