Basic Licensure Requirements for Teachers
General Requirements
The Colorado Department of Education issues initial educator licenses that include teaching, special services, principal, administrator, or director of special education.
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The basic requirements include:
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an academic degree appropriate for the license from a regionally accredited college or university, and
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completion of an approved educator preparation program.
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Consult the summary of license requirements, using links for endorsement areas listed below. Additional requirements may exist for some licenses.
The summaries are intended to provide a general representation of the requirements found in the Colorado State Board of Education Rules for the Implementation of the 1991 Educator Licensing Act.
A criminal background check is required based upon submission of fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Fingerprint Information
Applicants from another state or country must have completed an approved educator preparation program in another state/country, be eligible for licensure in that state/country, and meet Colorado’s minimum requirements.
- Applicants that completed an out-of-state alternative program: You are required to submit an official signed letter from your State Department of Education confirming the completion of the state approved program AND the program requirements for the alternative program you completed.
- Specific Requirements:
Initial Teaching License-Approved Programs: Elementary, Secondary, K-12, Early Childhood Education, Special Education Generalist, Early Childhood Special Education, Linguistically Diverse Educator, Linguistically Diverse Educator: Bilingual, School Librarian.
- Applicants that completed an out-of-state alternative program: You are required to submit an official signed letter from your State Department of Education confirming the completion of the state approved program AND the program requirements for the alternative program you completed.
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