TESOL Certification in New Mexico | How to Become an ESL Teacher in NM

New Mexico’s foreign-born population is one of the nation’s largest. Nearly 1 in 10 residents here hail from an international background, with about 70 percent from Mexico. The role they play in the economy here cannot be overstated, given that they make up about one-quarter of the construction trades, and are vital to agriculture too, representing about two-fifths of all fishermen, farmers, and foresters in the state.

Featured Programs:

Liberty University Offers Undergrad Cert and B.Ed. in English as a Second Language.
The Grand Canyon University offers a Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program and a B.A. in Secondary Education.
Arizona State University - Online Offers Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, MTESOL
Campbellsville University Offers an ESL Endorsement (P-12), M.A. in Teaching - Secondary Education, M.A. in TESOL
St. John's University Offers a Ph.D. in Literacy: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
George Mason University Offers a MEd in Curriculum & Instruction, Concentration in TESOL

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), English language learners (ELLs) comprise nearly 16 percent of all students in New Mexico’s public school system, so it comes as little surprise that ESL was identified by the U.S. Department of Labor as a teacher shortage area in the 2020-2021 school year.

These steps will show you exactly how to earn TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification and become an ESL teacher in New Mexico:

	Earn a Degree in TESOL and Qualify to Become an ESL Teacher in New Mexico
	Pass the Necessary Praxis Exams
	Apply for Your New Mexico Teaching License
	Consider Earning a Master’s in ESL as Part of Maintaining and Upgrading Your New Mexico Teaching License
	Learn More About ESL Teacher Salary Expectations for Jobs in Nebraska

Step 1. Earn a Degree in TESOL and Qualify to Become an ESL Teacher in New Mexico

In New Mexico, learning how to become an ESL teacher involves earning a TESOL endorsement alongside an elementary, secondary, or special education teaching license.

If you’re new to the teaching field and don’t yet have a bachelor’s degree, you’ll want to complete a bachelor’s or master’s in TESOL that’s part of an approved educator preparation program, which includes all of the necessary pedagogical and hands-on learning experience needed for a teaching certificate in New Mexico.

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Step 2. Pass the Necessary Praxis Exams

The New Mexico Public Education Department’s Professional Licensure Bureau requires that all teacher candidates pass basic skills and content testing in their desired teaching area.

As of 2020, all new educators must take and pass the appropriate Praxis exams, which include the appropriate subject assessments, as well as the Praxis II English to Speakers of Other Languages exam for those seeking a TESOL endorsement.

Step 3. Apply for Your New Mexico Teaching License

When you have completed the necessary requirements above, you are ready to apply for your New Mexico Teaching License (and TESOL endorsement) using the New Mexico Public Education Department’s licensure portal. You’ll earn a Level 1 teaching license, which is valid for 5 years.

If you’re applying for a TESOL endorsement as a licensed educator, you’ll complete an Endorsement Application through the licensure portal. Learn more about applying for a TESOL endorsement here.

Step 4. Consider Earning a Master’s in ESL as Part of Maintaining and Upgrading Your New Mexico Teaching License

New Mexico maintains a three-tiered licensing process.

Your Level 1 teaching license is valid for five years. To upgrade it to a Level 2 license, you must:

Complete three years of full-time teaching experience (with at least 160 days per year) under the Level 1 license
Complete a Professional Development Dossier (PDD) to demonstrate your professional growth during the past three years.

If you wish to upgrade your Level 2 license to a Level 3, you must complete three years of full-time teaching experience (with at least 160 days per year) under the Level 2 license and meet one of the following requirements:

Earn a master’s degree and submit a Professional Development Dossier
OR
Become certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Graduate Degrees for TESOL Teachers in New Mexico

As you can see above, earning a graduate teaching degree can help you to advance your license in New Mexico’s professional licensure system. Possibilities for TESOL teachers seeking master’s degrees in New Mexico are:

Master of Education in TESOL
Master of Arts in Education – TESOL Specialization
Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary TESOL
Master of Arts in Teaching – Secondary TESOL
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction – TESOL Concentration

Step 5. Learn More About ESL Teacher Salary Expectations for Jobs in Nebraska

As of May 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the following salaries for educators in New Mexico:

Elementary School

Early Career (25^th percentile): $47,150
Median: $58,060
Experienced (90^th percentile): $92,110

Middle School

Early Career (25^th percentile): $43,040
Median: $51,210
Experienced (90^th percentile): $69,600

High School

Early Career (25^th percentile): $45,870
Median: $55,740
Experienced (90^th percentile): $80,820

BLS stats also reveal what ESL teachers are earning in some of New Mexico’s largest metro areas, as of May 2020:

Albuquerque (Elementary School)

Early Career (25^th percentile): $46,900
Median: $56,580
Experienced (90^th percentile): $84,240

Farmington (Middle School)

Early Career (25^th percentile): $56,520
Median: $72,140
Experienced (90^th percentile): $101,210

Santa Fe (High School)

Early Career (25^th percentile): $52,010
Median: $60,370
Experienced (90^th percentile): $91,010