Career resources for New Mexico school teachers and administrators
T2T Applicant Procedures
What to Complete in Order to Obtain an Intern License, Find a Teaching Position, and Enter NMT2T:

- Hold a bachelors degree, or higher, including an acceptable GPA for admission to a New Mexico University Graduate Program.
- Decide what you want to teach. Please note: In order to obtain an intern license /NM Level I Alternative License you must meet content coursework requirements as follows:
- elementary or special education: 30 undergraduate credit hours or twelve graduate credit hours of coursework in any combination of the subject areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, history, fine or performing arts and foreign language
- K-12 or secondary: 30 undergraduate credit hours or twelve graduate credit hours in your chosen content area.
- Register for at the least one of the required New Mexico Teacher Assessments (NMTA). We recommend starting with the Basic Skills Test. You can register by going to http://www.nmta.nesinc.com/
- Complete the Haberman "Star Teacher" On-Line Pre-Screener by going to http://www.habermanfoundation.org/StarTeacherPreScreener.aspx. The Pre-Screener will cost $20 to take, and the results print immediately after you complete it. Submit the results of the Pre-Screener with your application to the NMT2T program. Note: Submitting the results of the Pre-Screener is a required component of the NMT2T application for admission. However, the results will be used solely for a needs assessment and will have NO bearing on your admission to the NMT2T program.
- Apply for the Teaching Intern License, by downloading Intern licensure application. An application is available at: http://www.ped.state.nm.us/Licensure/index.html
- Complete and submit an Application for the New Mexico Transition to Teaching Program.
Note: The NMT2T program has been designed to support candidates who are planning to earn their NM Level 1A Teaching License through the Alternative Licensure Portfolio Pathway AND who commit to teaching in a high need district and school for three years. Please check the list of high need districts.
- To be fully accepted into the program, you must secure a teaching position in a high needs district/school and apply for an intern teaching license. We recommend that you find a teaching position first and then complete the intern license and the NMT2T applications.
What to Complete in Order to Earn a NM Level 1A Alternative Teaching License through the Portfolio Route, with the Support of the NM Transition to Teaching Program:
- Take and pass all required NMTA’s; you can register by going to http://www.nmta.nesinc.com/
- Complete required reading courses through the Santa Fe Community College’s On-line or On-Campus program. NMT2T will pay the Santa Fe Community College directly for each candidate to take the required reading course(s) (6 hours for early childhood, elementary or special education; 3 hours for secondary education or k-12). To sign up contact t2t@unm.edu.
Note: If you are awaiting acceptance into the NMT2T Program, you should pay for your own reading course so that you may qualify for an intern teaching license. Once you are accepted into the program, you may apply for a reimbursement by submitting your receipts and proving that you completed you reading course.
- Complete IRIS modules by logging into NM T2T on the upper right hand side of the IRIS website: http://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/
- Complete program workshops on effective teaching and learning in New Mexico. For information please contact the Institute for Professional Development at t2t@unm.edu or (505) 277-1998. It is recommended that you complete these workshops prior to taking the NMTA Teacher Competency test.
- Work with your assigned portfolio coach on portfolio preparation
- Create your portfolio for the alternative licensure review panel
- After being a teacher of record, not a substitute or educational assistant (EA), for at least 160 days, submit your Online Portfolio for Alternative Licensure (OPAL) for evaluation.
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Supported by the Educator Quality Division at the New Mexico Public Education Department