Fingerprint Requirements

Overview

Prior to submitting an application to the Colorado Department of Education, each applicant must submit a complete set of fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining a fingerprint-based national criminal history check by following the steps below. You will have 30 days from the date CDE receives your fingerprint results to submit a complete application for a license or authorization. If you do not submit an application within these 30 days, you will need to submit another set of fingerprints for licensure purposes. You do not need to wait for results before applying, you can apply as soon as you have made your fingerprinting appointment.

Fingerprint results are valid the duration of your CDE issued credential, in most cases. If your credential lapses and you do not hold another valid CDE issued credential, you will need to submit a new set of fingerprints.

Important Note: Fingerprint results (and credentials) expire at 12 a.m. on the date of expiration.

Fingerprints must be submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under your assigned Social Security Number via one of the approved fingerprint vendors as outlined below. For more information on how to obtain a Social Security Number, visit https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/.

Fingerprint clearances and background checks through other employers or state or government agencies are not transferable and do not exempt you from this process.

Fingerprinting Process

As part of the background check process, CBI will forward the submitted fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You have the right to challenge the information contained in either the CBI or the FBI identification record. View details on challenging your criminal history record. Additionally, you may request a copy of your national criminal history record from the FBI. View details on obtaining your criminal history.

Once CBI/FBI processes a fingerprint submission, they only provide those fingerprint results to the entity identified as part of that submission (see the "How to Submit Fingerprints for ..." section below). If you submit fingerprints for licensure purposes, the fingerprint results only will be sent to CDE, at which point CDE will update your status in your COOL account.

This process can take up to six (6) weeks depending on your submission method, though it usually occurs much more quickly. To check your background status, login to your COOL account and go to the "My Profile" section. 

Please note: CDE's Enforcement Unit will not review fingerprint results until a complete and qualifying application is received.

Setting up your COOL (Colorado Online Licensing) Account

You must have a COOL account before submitting fingerprints to CBI, so that we can update that account once the fingerprint results are received:

• Create your one, lifetime COOL account under your complete legal name, date of birth and Social Security Number (SSN). (How to obtain a Social Security Number.)
• You must have an assigned SSN in order to establish your account.
• Include a personal email address that you check often. We highly recommend that you do not use a college or school district email address.

* Log in to your COOL account to submit an application to verify the SSN in your account and/or on your background reports. (Go to "My Profile" and select the "Update SSN" link.)

Validity of Fingerprints

Your fingerprint results received by CDE remain valid for 30 days (if no qualifying application is received) or for the time in which you hold a valid CDE-issued license or authorization. In many cases, an educator who consistently maintains an active, CDE-issued education license or authorization will need to submit fingerprints to CBI for licensure purposes once. Field experience fingerprints may need to be resubmitted if you reside outside of Colorado for a year or more.

If you have submitted fingerprints for CDE credentialing in the past, but allowed all credentials to lapse - even if for one day - you must submit a new set of fingerprints to CBI for current fingerprint results. This also applies to anyone who has placed a professional license on inactive status and does not hold another valid credential at the time of the reactivation request.

CDE reserves the right to evaluate all applications for adherence to fingerprint requirements and will notify applicants by email should any follow-up be needed.

How to Submit Fingerprints for...

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Any CDE
Credential

Student
Teaching

Private
Schools

Charter
Schools

Non-Licensed
Employees

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Follow the instructions below for the type of fingerprinting you will need.

Click Here

Getting fingerprinted for any CDE application under the Educator Licensing Act

Fingerprinting for CDE is for any application for an educator license or authorization issued by CDE pursuant to the Educator Licensing Act, 22-60.5-103 C.R.S. This includes both in- and out-of-state applicants (out-of-state applicants, please see the FAQs below for more information). These criminal history fingerprint results are sent directly to CDE. Please use this process for all educator licenses or authorizations. 

Important notes:

1. You must include your Social Security Number on your fingerprint submission. Your Social Security Number must match your account and visa versa, if they do not you may need to repeat the process.
2. You must submit an application via your COOL account within 30 days from the date CDE receives your fingerprint results.* If you do not submit an application within these 30 days, you will need to submit another set of fingerprints for licensure purposes.

*You do not need to wait for fingerprint results to post to your account before submitting an application. You may apply as soon as you have confirmed an appointment via one of the approved fingerprint vendors. Always check your status via "My Profile" in your COOL account.

         

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Getting fingerprinted for field experience (student teaching) - For COLORADO traditional preparation students only*

If you are currently enrolled in a Colorado traditional preparation program and will be completing field experience or student teaching, you may submit fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining a fingerprint-based criminal history check pursuant to 22-2-119.3 C.R.S. Your educator preparation program and/or the school district/BOCES that will be placing you will review your background information.

Important Notes:

1. In order for these fingerprint background checks to qualify for initial licensure purposes, you will need to submit an application for licensure within 30 days of program completion. If you do not, you will need to submit a set of fingerprints under the Educator Licensing Act (CDE licensure icon above) at the time of application.
2. CDE is not permitted to conduct a background check investigation under this statute; it is only a pass-through of criminal history information to your educator preparation program and/or the school district/BOCES in which you are placed. CDE only will conduct a background check when you submit a qualifying application for licensure.
3. Before moving forward, read the field experience information and complete the "Program" section in your COOL profile.
4. You must include your Social Security Number on your fingerprint card submission or you will be required to resubmit.

* Colorado alternative preparation program students and candidates in a program approved outside of Colorado must submit fingerprints under the Educator Licensing Act (CDE licensure icon above) once you are ready to apply for a credential.

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Getting fingerprinted for a private school

This is for those private school educators who are not required to hold licensure, but where the governing board of the nonpublic school requires a fingerprint background check pursuant to 22-1-121 C.R.S. (If your private school requires licensure, follow the steps for CDE Licensure).

While the resulting fingerprint results come directly to CDE, statute does not permit them to be eligible for use for licensing purposes.

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Getting fingerprinted for a charter school

If you are employed in a charter school, you need to submit fingerprints pursuant to 22-30.5-110.7 C.R.S. for your employing charter school. Before beginning, you must obtain your charter school's CBI account number which begins with CONCJ----.

The fingerprint results will go directly to your charter school -- not to CDE -- and cannot be used for licensing purposes.

Some charter schools may require this in addition to any requirements needed for CDE, in which case you will get printed for both your charter school and for CDE.

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Getting fingerprinted as a non-licensed employee of a public school district (bus driver, custodian, office staff, etc.)

If you are employed by a public school district in a position that does not require a CDE-issued license or authorization, fingerprints shall be submitted pursuant to 22-32-109.8 C.R.S. for your employing school district. Before beginning, you must obtain your school district's CBI account number which begins with CONCJ----. You may obtain this number from your school district's human resources department.

The fingerprint results will go directly to your school district -- not to CDE -- and cannot be used for licensing purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I live outside of Colorado, do I have to come to Colorado to be fingerprinted?

A: No, after selecting the proper icon above, select IdentoGO . Many IdentoGO locations outside Colorado may be able to assist you in submitting to Colorado. Or, you may select the "Submit A Fingerprint Card by Mail" link and IdentoGO will convert your fingerprint card into an electronic submission. Prints must be taken on the FD-258 fingerprint card.

Q: I do not have a Social Security Number. How may I obtain one?

A: Visit https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ for more information and to initiate the process.

Q: Will CDE notify me when it receives my fingerprint results?

A: We will update your COOL account as soon as we receive the results from both CBI and FBI. You may check your background status by logging into your account and then click on "My Profile" where your status should be noted at the top of the screen. Most statuses shown are self explanatory, more information regarding a particular status can be found here.

Q: I submitted fingerprints for my district or for another job, can I use those for CDE?

A: No, you must be fingerprinted specifically for CDE.

Q: Can I mail a hard-copy fingerprint card?

A: Yes, but not directly to CBI or CDE. You must mail your FD-258 card to a CBI-approved vendor card conversion center, which at present is IdentoGO. Select the appropriate icon above, select IdentoGO and then select the "Submit A Fingerprint Card by Mail" link. For information on how to obtain a hard-copy fingerprint card, view additional FAQs. It should be noted that this method should be used as a last resort as it can cost you more, it will significantly increase processing time and if the fingerprints are rejected, you may need to repeat the process.

Q: Can I get fingerprinted at my local police department or Sheriff's office?

A: Most people will need to select one of the options above to schedule an appointment at an approved fingerprinting center. However, pursuant to Colorado House Bill 19-1186, if you work for a Colorado school district/BOCES/charter school and the district/BOCES/charter school is more than 20 miles from a fingerprinting center, your district/BOCES/charter school can request that fingerprints be taken by the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in that area. If you get printed outside an approved fingerprinting center, you still will need to select the appropriate icon above, select IdentoGO and then the "Submit A Fingerprint Card by Mail" link.

View additional FAQs

Processing Time

If your prints were submitted at one of the CBI-approved vendors via one of the icons above, processing time can take anywhere between a day to two (2) weeks (in rare cases). If you mail a hard-copy fingerprint card to one of the CBI-approved card conversion centers, the process can take up to six (6) weeks (longer in some cases). Login to your COOL account to check your fingerprint status.

Notes

1. Do NOT mail fingerprint submissions to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) or the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). You must choose from one of the options above to submit a fingerprint card. Any fingerprint card sent to CDE is destroyed for security purposes.
2. To view an overview of circumstances that may result in Denial, Suspension, Revocation or Annulment of licenses, click here