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Colorado Professional License (Principal) Renewal

Preparing to Apply

Am I in the Right Place?

This checklist is for applicants who hold an active (or expired) Colorado professional principal license -- are within six (6) months of expiration -- and would like to renew it. 

Not in the right place? Review the other checklists

Plan Ahead

  • You will need electronic copies of all documentation.
  • Allow ample time to request any third-party transcripts or other documentation.

Application Fee:

$90.00

License Expires:

5 years from date of issue


Checklist

Identification

  • Ensure you have a current background check on file. If you have submitted fingerprints for CDE credentialing in the past, but allowed all credentials to lapse, you must submit a new set of fingerprints to CBI.
  • Confirm you have a valid form of government-issued identification. 

 

Education

  • Obtain proof of completion of 90 contact hours or 6 semester hours of accepted renewal activities.
    • 1 semester hour = 15 contact hours
    • 1 quarter hour = 10 contact hours
    • 1 CEU = 10 contact hours
    • Your credits must have been completed within the effective period of your present, valid license or, if your license has expired, within the five years preceding your date of application to renew the license.
    • More information can be found in the following Renewal FAQs
  • You will include your PD activities and upload supporting documentation in a grid in the application.
  • Teachers who hold a professional license with an elementary, English, math, science, social studies or any middle-level endorsement are required to document 45 clock hours of applicable professional development in culturally and linguistically diverse education training. This training is optional for principals. (A designation will be added to your certificate to indicate "yes," you have met the requirement; "no," you have not yet met the requirements and still need to do so; or "optional" for those individuals whose licenses are not endorsed in one of the areas listed above.)

    • To document your 45 hours:

      • Complete training through an approved provider or complete the English learner professional learning matrix:
        • Obtain a copy of your certificate of completion from the approved provider. OR
        • Download and complete the matrix, aligning any completed coursework or PD activities to the required standards and elements. For these 45 hours, you may use credit dating back further than five (5) years.
        • Learn more before proceeding: To learn more about how you can meet the standards and see examples about what this means for you individually, visit the CDE website for English learner professional development requirements.
    • Keep in mind: You will need another 45 hours of applicable professional development activities completed within the past five years (for a total of 90+ hours) to renew your license.

Employment

You will need to update your work experience:

  • Include employer/business name, dates of employment, reason for leaving, work addresses, supervisor names, and contact information.

 

Self-Disclosure

You are required to self-disclose and include documentation regarding any new:

  • Criminal events
  • Disciplinary actions
  • Issues related to licensure or employment


Apply

Once you have gathered all required documentation and have reviewed the rules governing the licensure process, you are ready to complete and submit a PRINCIPAL application.

Important Reminders:

  • An application is deemed complete when CDE has received all required information, documentation and fees.
  • By submitting an application, you are verifying that the application is complete, that all requested documentation has been provided and that all questions within have been answered truthfully.
  • CDE will contact you within 45 days of receipt of your application should additional information be required to complete and evaluate your application. You then will have 60 days in order to submit the information, request consideration or withdraw your application, or the application will expire and you will need to reapply.
  • If we do not receive your background checks within 60 days of your application, your application will expire and you will need to reapply.
  • State statute prohibits the refunding of any application evaluation fee.
  • Once you have submitted an application, check your status online regularly for notifications, updates and/or to print a copy of your certificate.

Register or Log In

 

For questions, email CDELicensing@cde.state.co.us or call 303-866-6628.

 

 

For questions, submit a Licensing Support Request form or call 720-739-3304 (7:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday).