Licensing Office

General Requirements for All Licenses & Authorizations

General Requirements for All Licenses & Authorizations
Colorado Endorsement Requirements
Fingerprint requirements - Select icon below

Content Exams

Exam Information

PRAXIS exams

Career & Technical Education

Alternative Preparation and Licensure

Teacher: What is it? How to start? Find a program
Principal: What is it? Who qualifies? Create a plan/Find a Program

Additional Services

Other Requirements

English Learner Professional Development requirements
Required of all professional teachers who hold an elementary, English, math, science, social studies or any middle level endorsement.
READ Act requirements
Required of all teachers of grades K to 3
Special Education/Behavior Health Professional Development Requirements (pdf version)

Information for Out-of-State Applicants

Diverse group of educators standing in line holding books and tablets.

Apply

Step 1: Review the Application Checklist
(ensure you meet all requirements before you apply!)

Step 2: Log In to COOL

Renew

Step 1: Review renewal requirements for professional licensees

Step 2: Go directly to the Application Checklist to submit a complete and proper application

Status

Already submitted an application? Check the status by logging into your COOL account. You will also see the current date of applications we are processing.

Educator Credential Search

Look-Up a Colorado Educator's License

News

The latest information/news about educator preparation and licensure.

Provide feedback on rules related to educator licensing, endorsements, School Leadership Program, and Educator Recruitment and Retention Program

Colorado House Bill 22-1220 has numerous implications around education preparation for candidates and programs. Visit this webpage for more information about stipend programs, licensure options and demonstration of content competency!

New Alternative Teacher Application

On July 1, CDE launched a brand-new ALTERNATIVE TEACHER application in which applicants may for one of two credentials. Candidates no longer will use the TEACHER application to apply. Visit this webpage and the alternative teacher application checklist for more information

TEACH Colorado is a one-stop shop with free resources to help talented Coloradans join the teaching profession. The program provides the support you may need to enroll in an educator preparation program. TEACH Colorado offers comprehensive profiles of the state's educator preparation programs, application fee reimbursements, scholarships, and 1:1 licensure advising. Take advantage of these free tools at TEACHColorado.org.
All K-3 educators who teach reading and literacy skills in Colorado must complete evidence-based reading training requirements by Monday, Aug 1 and documentation of completion must be submitted by Monday, Aug 15. Visit the K-3 Teacher Evidence-Based Reading Training Requirements webpage for details and resources.
Visit the Educator Recruitment and Retention webpage to learn more about Educator Recruitment Supports for Districts and BOCES, resources for new teachers and substitutes, and more!

The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) presents the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE), a common language of ethics developed by educators for educators that can support and guide decisions regarding professional practice. Ideal for in-service training or professional learning communities (PLCs). Get started with the following resources:
- MCEE video features the educators who helped develop the MCEE and speaks to the importance of the code and its application in the classroom
- DistruptEd is a two-part video conversation with Troy Hutchings and Phil Rogers about the Code of Ethics (Part 1 and Part 2)
- Contact NASDTEC at support@nasdtec.org with questions or comments.