Renewal of a Colorado Professional License

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn renewal credit for volunteer work?
How can I earn credit for educational travel?
I attended a conference. How should I write up a professional development activity?
If my license expired years ago. Can I use credit I earned but did not turn in?
Can I use in-service credit I earned outside of Colorado?
I have several certificates for classes that I have attended. Is that all I have to include with my renewal application?
The only paperwork I received from my college was a grade report. Will you accept that as proof of credit?
Can I use computer courses for renewal credit?
Can I send in renewal credit to CDE as I earn it?
I previously held a certificate with both my teaching and special services endorsements on it. I now have two licenses. Do I have to fill out two applications and pay two renewal fees?
My school district did not notify me that my license was due to expire until it had expired. What do I do now?
I recently received a student teacher form verifying renewal credit. Do I send that form to CDE and do you keep it on file for me?
I'm retired and want to get licensed again. What do I need to do?
What if my license is expired?

1. Can I earn renewal credit for volunteer work?

No, Colorado no longer grants renewal credit for volunteer work.

2. How can I earn credit for educational travel?

Educational travel credit is granted when the travel experience enhances the educator's knowledge of history, culture, and diversity. Evidence of travel experience must include verification of travel dates, and examples/report of how the travel experience will be applied in the classroom. The travel experience must also relate to one or more of the Performance-Based Standards. Credit is not granted for travel time or meal hours. Be sure to include contact hours spent in the educational travel activity.

3. Can you explain what on-going professional development works?

An educator involved in license renewal shall complete professional development activities totaling six semester hours or ninety clock hours and shall be completed with the five-year period preceding the date of expiration of the license to be renewed. Such activities must be related to increasing the license holder's competence in his or her existing or potential endorsement area, or to increase the licensee's skills and competence in delivery of instruction in his or her existing or potential endorsement area.
Click here to view rule 12.02(1) for greater detail on professional development

4. I attended a conference. How should I write up a professional development activity?

Please provide a brief statement explaining what the professional development was, how it enhanced your skills, and how it relates to one or more of the performance-based standards listed on page 3. Evidence of the professional development activity should include a certificate of completion or a letter from the organization that offered the professional activity. All certificates should have the name of the organization, address, name(s) of the presenter(s), date of the activity (mo/day/yr), and clock hours printed on them. Certificates with altered dates and/or clock hours will not be accepted. All letters should be signed and dated by the presenter(s) on company letterhead.

5. If my license expired years ago, can I use credit I earned but did not turn in?

Credit for the renewal of a professional license cannot be more than five years old at the time of application.

6. Can I use in-service credit I earned outside of Colorado?

No, acceptable in-service activities must be provided by a Colorado school district, Colorado non-public school, or Colorado BOCES.

7. I have several certificates for classes that I have attended. Is that all I have to include with my renewal application?

You may include the certificates only if the dates of attendance and the contact hours of attendance are noted on the original certificates. Do not alter these certificates, as we do not accept altered materials. Contact the workshop/class provider and request an updated certificate or an addendum to the original certificate if your original certificate does not include the date and/or contact hours. This type of credit can be turned in under professional development.

8. The only paperwork I received from my college was a grade report. Will you accept that as proof of credit?

No, you must request an official transcript from the registrar's office at your college or university. You will probably be charged a minimal fee.

9. Can I use computer courses for renewal credit?

Yes, if you can show that they enhanced your professional growth and can relate them to one or more of the Colorado Professional Educator Standards.

10. Can I send in renewal credit to CDE as I earn it?

No, please include evidence of renewal credit with your renewal application. You can apply for renewal 6 months prior to expiration.

11. I previously held a certificate with both my teaching and special services endorsements on it. I now have two licenses. Do I have to fill out two applications and pay two renewal fees?

When renewing more that one type of license at the same time, please photocopy your renewal application, including attachments, and submit both with a renewal fee for each license.

12. My school district did not notify me that my license was due to expire until it had expired. What do I do now?

It is the responsibility of the license holder to be aware of the expiration date(s) of their license(s).

13. I recently received a student teacher form verifying renewal credit. Do I send that form to CDE and do you keep it on file for me?

No, please maintain your renewal credit information and submit with a complete renewal application at the appropriate time.

14. I'm retired and want to get licensed again. What do I need to do?

You can renew your professional license with six semester hours of college/university credit or 90 clock hours of Professional Development (i.e. inservices, workshops, etc.). You can apply for a five-year substitute authorization if you want to substitute teach. Return to the main menu to order the substitute authorization application.

15. What if my license is expired?

You will fill out the same renewal application as long as you have met the above. There is no penalty and no additional testing required.