Anyone looking to become a teacher in Colorado must be able to submit the following:
Most new educators complete their teacher preparation program during their coursework for their bachelor's degree. There are plenty of alternative paths to certification, however, for those who hold a bachelor's degree but have not yet completed a teacher preparation program.
Colorado offers teacher certification reciprocity for out-of-state educators as well. Individuals who are looking to get a teaching license in Colorado but who already hold a valid out-of-state license may be eligible for a streamlined application. They can submit any valid and expired credentials with the above application materials to the licensing office of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) where applications for teacher certificates are handled.
Access thousands of practice questions so that there are no surprises on the exam
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create Account
There are two ways a prospective educator can become a teacher in Colorado. One is through a traditional teacher preparation program from an accredited institution, completing all of the coursework there, and then applying for Colorado teacher certification and obtaining employment. The other is through an alternative teaching license plan through which a candidate with content-area knowledge who already holds a bachelor's or advanced degree can obtain a temporary license and teach while learning proper planning and methods in an approved program.
The Educator Preparation Office of the CDE approves all teacher education programs-initially and subsequently for reapproval-at Colorado's institutions of higher learning. Some accredited schools that both offer teacher preparation programs in Colorado and are able to boast a 100% pass rate on the Praxis exam are as follows:
These and other institutions offer the traditional pathway to become a teacher in Colorado by providing coursework and training first. Employment comes after graduation, test taking, and licensure. Most educators complete their Colorado teaching credential programs while earning their undergraduate degrees, focusing on pedagogy, fieldwork, and student teaching experience(s).
When applying to a teacher credential program, students should double-check that the program is listed on the CDE's website as an approved program. With approximately 32 programs to choose from across the state, new educators seeking a Colorado teaching license can get adequate hands-on experience with and training from state-certified teachers quite easily.
Just as important as accreditation is the endorsement area a teacher candidate can study. Colorado State, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, and Western Colorado University offer the most endorsement areas to choose from for teachers who want more options for deciding content-area specialties. Some schools also offer dual endorsement programs through which teacher candidates can simultaneously become endorsed in Elementary Education and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, or Science and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, to name a few. This option gives new teachers more areas to teach, making them very marketable later.
There are also institutions that specialize in alternative teaching license preparation programs, such as:
These and 19 other designated agencies offer alternative programs that are designed with the individual in mind who already has a degree in a content area but needs pedagogy and, possibly, additional content area coursework in order to become certified to teach. Such individuals undergo program training at an institution while simultaneously working as a teacher in a classroom, having obtained employment with a cooperating school district in Colorado.
In addition to presenting proof of a completed degree, candidates for these one- and two-year educator preparation programs must be able to pass the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessment and successfully complete a background check, all prior to seeking employment. If a teacher has not received a job offer from a school district before applying for the alternative teaching license program, he/she would have sixty days from the start date to secure one.
These temporary licenses can only be obtained in one endorsement area.
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create AccountIn order to become a teacher in Colorado, teachers must earn a bachelor's degree from a CDE approved teaching credential program, with 24 semester hours of course credit in the subject area they wish to teach. Approved programs also include a student teaching segment in that endorsement area.
The curriculum across traditional teaching credential programs is similar, connecting educational theories with hands-on approaches, like applying differentiated learning strategies, incorporating state standards into lesson planning, and employing classroom management techniques.
In the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, students will usually need to complete 45 credits, 24 of which must be in an area of specialization, as well as be able to present a comprehensive portfolio at the end of the program.
Many schools require a minimum 3.0 GPA in order to progress through the teaching credential program, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
For those taking the alternative teaching license route, such one- to two-year programs depart from the traditional coursework and utilize online video coaching, instructor assistance, and a sense of community with program partners as the program's curriculum.
Colorado does not require the Praxis Core or Principles of Learning and Teaching exam. Educators will, however, need to pass the appropriate Praxis content exam(s) for certification in their endorsement area(s). Praxis passing scores for the exams vary depending on the content area and the grade level for which the exam is geared.
While most educators will only need to pass one Praxis content exam, those who are looking to become a teacher at the elementary level will need to pass two exams. The first exam is the Praxis Teaching Reading Elementary Education (code 5205), and the second is Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Mathematics, Social Studies, & Science (code 5901). In order to pass the exam, a teacher will need to pass all three subtests of the 5901 (5903, 5904, 5905). If a teacher does not pass one subtest, he/she is able to retake Praxis test individually.
In order to get and maintain a teaching license in Colorado, all new and current educators must submit their fingerprints for a criminal background check. This requirement needs to be handled prior to submitting an application for Colorado teacher certification. Educators have only thirty days from when fingerprints have been submitted to the CDE to apply for their teaching license. A new set of fingerprints would need to be submitted if they fail to apply within that window.
The CDE handles all educator applications online. In order to get an initial teaching license in Colorado, applicants will need to provide electronic copies of the following teaching certificate requirements:
Colorado operates on a tiered teaching licensing structure, as follows:
In order to advance from an Initial Colorado Teaching License (valid for three years) to a Professional Colorado Teaching License (valid for five years), teachers must undergo an approved teacher induction program. These programs will pair educators with mentors and provide professional development and ethics training. New educators will submit to performance evaluations throughout this process and must be able to submit an online application for the license transfer upon completion of the program to the CDE. The human resources department at a teacher's district of employment can assist with this entire process; therefore, it's not a process that can take place in another state. However, if teachers hold certification from the NBPTS, they need to inquire of the district in which they are employed to see if the district expects them also to go through the state's induction program. If not, this teaching certificate requirement for renewal could be waived for such certificate holders.
Colorado is a participant in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement. Therefore, teachers who hold valid licenses in the following states/territories may be eligible for a streamlined licensing process: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Specifically, out-of-state teachers with a valid license and at least three years of teaching experience in their intended content area will not have to take additional licensing exams in order to apply for a professional Colorado teaching license.
In addition, Colorado offers interim authorization for military spouses who hold a valid out-of-state teaching license. Although the temporary license expires after one year, the CDE is able to renew it for an additional year.
In 2020-2021, Colorado employed 55,842 teachers in 1,914 schools. While the student-to-teacher ratio is on the higher side at 16.6:1, with over 883,000 students across 178 districts, the state boasts a graduation rate that has steadily climbed over the past 10 years to 81.9%.
Therefore, more student retention makes way for more opportunities to become a teacher in Colorado. Throughout the next decade, the need for 29,000 more teachers is projected, with annual openings of 15,000 in the field of education. Specifically, teachers of special education, English as a second language, and the STEM courses would be needed most.
Regarding earnings, new educators who lack significant work experience earn on average $33,000 a year, but that starting salary changes depending on the school district. Entry-level educators who work in Denver, for example, earn $45,000, more than new educators in smaller Colorado cities would make. Experienced educators in Denver can earn $71,000, but most statewide earn $60,000 annually.
Nadim Tabsch is an adjunct English professor with over 15 years of experience. He has deep expertise in Literacy and Social Sciences and has been an educator at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate level. Nadim graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Barry University and a Master's degree in Literacy from the University of New England.
 |
Complete the practice test below to test your knowledge.
Choose your answers below. Complete the 15 questions then click "See Results."
The correct answers are highlighted with green below. Create an account to keep studying for the .
Easy-to-follow study guides, practice tests and resources.
Create Account
