Alternative Licensure Program

The Alternative Licensure Program can be completed in four semesters. The Elementary, Early Childhood and Special Education concentrations consist of 21 hours, while the Secondary concentration consists of 18 hours.

Typical Program Sequence:

Most students complete the program within one or two years of beginning, depending on their individual schedules, family, and work obligations. Students may apply for an extension, if needed.

Elementary Course Sequence

Secondary Course Sequence

Early Childhood Course Sequence

Special Education Course Sequence

New Mexico Alternative Teacher Licensure Requirements

1.  Degree Requirements:
   • • BA including 30* credit hours in a particular field that appertains to the licensure area sought, OR
   • • MA including 12 graduate credit hours in a particular field that appertains to the licensure area sought, OR
   • • Ph.D. in a particular field that appertains to the licensure area sought

*Note: For candidates in the Early Childhood, Elementary or Special Education program, the thirty credits must include a minimum of 6-credit hours in each of the core subject areas (mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies) and 6 additional credit hours in any other areas, with a grade of C or higher.

Secondary Education licenses require 30 semester hours in a single content area (12 credits must be upper-level credits), with a grade of C or higher. All semester hours must be complete prior to application.

The New Mexico Public Education Department requires that you have at least a 2.75 GPA for previous coursework.

• See Public Education Department (PED) website for details on the various licensure pathways: 

Candidate must pass a Criminal Background Check:

• Testing Requirements for Licensure
  1. Teacher Licensure Assessment passing scores Core Academic Skills on Praxis in:
     1. Reading with minimum of 156
     2. Writing with minimum of 162
     3. Mathematics with minimum of 150

• Professional Education Requirement:

Alternative Teacher Licensure Program credit hours are listed below:

*All programs include practicums and a supervised field experience

Supervised Field Experience (SFE) is the capstone of the Alternative Teacher Licensure Program. Candidates are assigned to a school and cooperating teacher. Candidates will gradually assume responsibility for the classroom culminating in two weeks of full teaching responsibilities. Explicit, specific requirements for the SFE will be provided by the SFE Coordinator.

To be eligible to enroll in Field Experience, students must have:

Supervised Field Experience students must complete a minimum of 180 contact hours in which they observe, work with small groups of students, develop and implement lesson plans, and take full responsibility for classroom instruction for a minimum of two weeks. Both the faculty of the Alternative Licensure Program (ALP) and the Cooperating Teacher/Administrator provide feedback throughout this field experience. Students are expected to progress in the development of the New Mexico Teacher Competencies such that they are at entry level by the end of the course.

There are two pathways to Supervised Field Experience:

Local On-Campus Field Experience

Students who need to be placed with a cooperating teacher and those who have taught for less than one year in the content area and grade level in which they are seeking licensure are eligible for on-campus field experience. Candidates will attend 8 professional seminars and are observed by ALP faculty at least 3 times and the cooperating teacher at least 2 times. New Mexico Teaching Competencies guide the observations, feedback, and assessment of SFE students.

Distance On-Campus Field Experience

Students who are not local to the Clovis area are eligible to complete their Field Experience where they live. They are required to participate in all activities as outlined in the SFE Handbook which is provided to them and must attend the professional seminars virtually. Students must arrange times for ALP faculty to observe virtually and/or in person at least 3 times. The school site cooperating teacher will also conduct two observations of the student and submit a report to the college supervisor. New Mexico Teaching Competencies guide the observations, feedback, and assessment of SFE students.

View PDF For more details.

Application

Thank you for your interest in the Clovis Community College Alternative Licensure Program. Alternative Licensure is for individuals who have either a Bachelor’s, Master’s and/or Doctorate Degree and desire to start a career in teaching. Our program will provide rigorous and meaningful preparation for beginning teachers and address relevant entry level competencies as approved by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED).

Students interested in the Alternative Licensure Program must complete the application form.

ALP Program Application Deadlines

Fall: July 1

Spring: November 1

Summer: April 1

Overall, the Bureau of Labor projects employment in educational instruction to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032.

The 2023 national annual median pay for teaching Education is:

• $63,670 for Elementary School Teachers
• $64,290 for Middle School teachers
• $65,220 for High School teachers
• $65,910 for Special Education teachers