Add Endorsement to an Initial or Professional License

Preparing to Apply

This checklist is for ...

Colorado teacher, special services and administrator license-holders wishing to add an endorsement to their active initial or professional license. It is not for those who hold a license and wish to apply for an alternative license/special education. (To apply to add another CTE area to your professional teacher license, please contact us so that an application may be started for you.)

Note: You must already hold a valid license of the correct type (teacher, SSP, etc.) for the endorsement area requested.

Not in the right place? Review the other checklists.

Qualifications:

For endorsements that require a degree or 24 semester hours (teacher licenses only):
- A completed endorsement worksheet.
- Copies of official transcripts reflecting the degree or completed coursework
  - Up to six (6) semester hours of applicable professional development activities and/or work experience may satisfy some of the requirements for an added endorsement.
    - Applicable work experience in the content area will be verified against the information in you application and any official letters from your district that outlines the work experience, content area(s) and grades taught.
      - Note: work experience at the elementary level will not meet requirements for a secondary endorsement and vice versa.
    - Certificates of completion required for workshops, in-service training and other professional development activities.
For endorsements that require completion of an approved program:
- A verification form completed by the certification officer or registrar of the college/university at which you completed your program.
  - Programs completed outside Colorado must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university; upon completion the individual must be eligible to hold a license with the endorsement in the state in which the program is approved without having to meet any additional requirements.
- Applicable teaching experience (required for some endorsements) will be verified against information included in the application.
For endorsements that may be added via exam (teacher licenses only):
- A copy of the official score report for the Colorado State Board of Education-approved content exam(s)

Plan Ahead

You will need electronic copies of all requested documentation.
Allow ample time to request any third-party transcripts or other documentation.
Be sure also to review the application process.

Application Fee:

$80

Gather the Necessary Information/Documentation

In the application you will need to include the following:

A valid form of government-issued identification.
The documentation needed for the endorsement requested, to include one or more of the following:
- A completed endorsement worksheet.
- Copies of official transcripts reflecting the degree or completed coursework, verification letters from employers and/or professional development certificates of completion
  - Transcripts from institutions outside the US must be in English or include an authentic English translation and have been evaluated by a NACES member organization for course-by-course equivalency.
- A verification form completed by the certification officer or registrar of the college/university at which you completed your program.
- A copy of the official score report for the Colorado State Board of Education-approved content exam
Updated work experience.
Documentation for any self-disclosures related to the following:
- Prior criminal history
- Disciplinary actions
- Issues related to licensure or employment

Then ...

Log in to COOL
Ensure you have a current background check on file. You have 30 days from the time CDE receives your background check to apply for a license.
- If you have submitted fingerprints for CDE credentialing in the past, but allowed all credentials to lapse or did not submit within the 30-day window, you must submit a new set of fingerprints to CBI for licensure purposes.
- The status of your background checks will be noticed in your COOL account and within your application(s).

Have everything ready to go?

When you have gathered all required documentation, have submitted fingerprints to CBI for CDE licensure purposes and have reviewed the licensure process, log in to COOL and select the "+ endorsement" button in the TEACHER credential details section of your dashboard.

Final Reminders

At the risk of repeating ourselves, we again reiterate these important reminders:

You have 30 days from the time CDE receives your background checks to submit an application or you will need to submit a new set of fingerprints for licensure purposes at the time of application.
By submitting an application, you are verifying that you have submitted fingerprints for CDE licensure purposes, provided all requested documentation and answered all questions truthfully.
Within 45 days of receipt (usually far sooner!), CDE will evaluate the application.
- Upon determination of qualification, CDE will notify the applicant and the corresponding certificate will be available for view or print in the individual's COOL account.
If for some reason CDE is not able to access all documentation in the application, the application will be deemed "incomplete" and CDE will notify the applicant via email and specify the information needed to complete it. This includes notification that we have yet to receive your background checks!
- An applicant has 60 days from the date of this notification to cure the deficiency (i.e., provide the necessary information or submit background checks) or submit to the department a written request for reconsideration stating the basis for the request. Additional time is not granted to those who receive this notification due to background checks. Any additional deficiency noticed also will need to be cured within the original 60-day period.
  - Requests for reconsideration do not apply to background checks.
  - CDE will provide a written response within 30 days of any request for reconsideration.
- An applicant who fails to cure the deficiency or request reconsideration within these 60 days will be deemed as having withdrawn the application, and such withdrawal shall not be subject to appeal or review.
State statute prohibits the refunding of any application evaluation fee.
Once you have submitted an application, check your COOL account regularly for notifications on its status and/or to print a copy of your certificate.

APPLY / LOG IN TO COOL

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