English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
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48 hours or ParaPro in New Mexico
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
For a New Mexico Level 3 licence you can pass a paraprofessional test or complete 48 semester hours. The rule does not name ParaPro: it asks for at least 70 percent on a PED-approved test of reading, writing and maths at an 8th grade level. The 48 hours take longer but also count toward a degree.
What the rule actually says
Section 6.63.9.10 NMAC gives three Level 3 routes: an associate degree, 48 semester hours of academic credit, or a passing score of at least 70 percent on a test. Section 6.63.9.11 describes the test. It must assess basic skills in reading, writing and maths at an 8th grade level, and the Public Education Department must approve it.
People often call this the ParaPro route, after the national paraprofessional test many states use. The New Mexico rule does not name any brand of test, so ask your district which test it gives and where you take it.
Test or hours: side by side
The two routes reach the same licence. They differ in time, cost and what you have afterwards.
| Point | Test route | 48-hour route |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | Pass a PED-approved test of reading, writing, maths | Earn 48 semester hours with a 15-hour core |
| Pass mark or rule | At least 70 percent | Hours from a nationally or regionally accredited college |
| Time | Study, then one sitting | Months to a few years, part-time |
| Counts toward a degree | No | Yes, if the college counts the hours |
| Who to ask | Your district | Your college and the PED or district |
When the test makes sense
The test suits someone who has a job offer in a Title I school now and is comfortable with reading, writing and maths at an 8th grade level. It is the fastest way to meet the rule. It does not build toward a degree, so if you hope to teach later, you will still need college hours.
- You need Level 3 before a start date.
- Your basic skills are strong.
- A degree is not in your near plans.
When the 48 hours make sense
The 48 hours suit someone with some college already, or someone who plans to become a teacher. Every hour can count toward an associate or bachelor's degree. The 15-hour core needs 3 hours of reading or language arts, 3 of writing, 3 of maths and 6 of education-related study, all non-remedial; the other 33 hours can be any college subjects.
UPI Study's courses carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations. They count toward the 48 only once a nationally or regionally accredited college posts the credit on its own transcript. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Ask the college how it would post each course, and ask the PED or your district in writing whether those hours count.
- You already have some college hours.
- You want to teach one day.
- You can study part-time around school hours.
Doing both
Some assistants pass the test to get Level 3 quickly, then keep earning college hours toward a degree. That way the job is secure now and the path to teaching stays open. Whichever route you pick, keep copies of your licence, transcripts and any written replies from the PED or your district.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the PED Professional Licensure Bureau, or your district's licensure contact, in writing whether hours posted by a college from ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses count toward the 48 hours and the 15-hour core, and keep the reply.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
What score do I need on the New Mexico paraprofessional test?
At least 70 percent, according to 6.63.9.10 NMAC. The test must assess reading, writing and maths at an 8th grade level and be approved by the Public Education Department. Your district can tell you which test it uses, how to register and whether it has any study material.
Is ParaPro the test New Mexico uses?
The rule does not name ParaPro or any other brand. It sets the content, the 8th grade level and the 70 percent pass mark, and requires PED approval. Some districts may use a national test and others their own, so ask your district which one applies to you.
Do remedial courses count toward the 48 hours?
Not toward the 15-hour core, which the rule says must be non-remedial. Whether remedial courses count toward the other 33 hours depends on how the college awards them, so check your transcript and ask the PED in writing. College-level courses such as English Composition 1 and College Algebra avoid the question.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
College Algebra
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Get a written answer from the PED or your district first, then work through your hours at your own pace and have a college post the credit.
Sources
- 6.63.9 NMAC: Licensure for Educational Assistants Pre K-12 (State Records Center and Archives) (official)6.63.9.8: Level 1 needs a high school diploma or equivalency, age 18 and an orientation; Level 2 adds the PED educational assistant competencies. 6.63.9.10: educational assistants in Title I targeted assistance or school-wide programs must hold Level 3, by an associate degree or 48 semester hours from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university (each with at least 15 non-remedial hours: 3 language arts or reading, 3 writing, 3 maths, 6 readiness, professional education, classroom management, teaching assistance or special education, or pedagogy), or at least 70 percent on a test under 6.63.9.11 (reading, writing and maths at an 8th grade level, PED approved). 6.63.9.13: Level 1 for up to 3 years, not renewable; Levels 2 and 3 for 9 years. History: amended 10-31-07. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.