Special Education Alternative Licensure - Graduate Certificate (Online)

The NMSU Special Education Alternative Licensure Certificate aims to recruit highly qualified individuals who have earned at least a bachelor's degree in a related field and are eligible for a temporary two-year alternative license in the State of New Mexico. We seek individuals who will have dramatic impact on the social, cultural, emotional, and intellectual growth of youth with whom they will work throughout their career.

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements and submit the required documentation for consideration:

Meet minimum state requirements of at least a bachelor's degree and course requirements of 30 undergraduate credit hours (6.60.3.7 NMAC) in the teaching field with a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA.

  • Passing scores for the Praxis® Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core): https://www.ets.org/praxis/nm
  • Be hired and submit a copy of a current teaching contract from a school district in New Mexico that indicates the candidate is the teacher of record in a special education classroom for each year of employment.
  • Admission to the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration, and Leadership in the College of Education.
  • Admission to the NMSU Graduate School
Prefix Title Credits
Required Courses
SPED 5105Introduction to Special Education in a Diverse Society3
SPED 5110Low Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society3
SPED 5120High Incidence Disabilities in a Diverse Society3
SPED 5130Reading for Elementary Exceptional Learners in a Diverse Society, K-63
SPED 5140Reading for Secondary Exceptional Learners in a Diverse Society, 7-123
SPED 5210Introduction to Assessment of Diverse Exceptional Learners3
SPED 5220Classroom Management for Diverse Learners3
Total Credits21

All licensure courses are eligible for transfer into a regular TPAL master's program.

Other Program Requirements

  • Complete and maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA in all courses throughout the program
  • Pass Praxis® Special Education: Core Knowledge and Applications
  • Pass Praxis® Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades K-6 or Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12
  • Participate in two complete semesters of observation by a University Supervisor with a fee for each semester.