We need your feedback to help improve the CDE website.
Please take a few moments to fill out the CDE Website Effectiveness and Usability Survey by Sept. 13.
Let us know how you and your audience use the website and how we can make that experience better.
You are here
Out-of-State/Country Administrator (not principal)
Preparing to Apply
This checklist is for ...
First-time applicants seeking a Colorado administrator license as a district-level administrator (not principal), director of special education or director of gifted education.
Not in the right place? Review the other checklists.
Qualifications:
- An earned bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the equivalent as determined by a NACES member organization-prepared course-by-course equivalency report)
- For director of special education, a master's degree in special education is required
- For director of gifted education, a master's degree in gifted education is required
- Completion of an approved program for the preparation of district level administrators, directors of special education or directors of gifted education
- Note: You must hold or be eligible to hold an administrator (district-level) in the state in which you completed the preparation program.
- A passing score on the PRAXIS 6991 exam
- PRAXIS 5354 also may be required for a director of special education endorsement
- PRAXIS 5358 may be required for director of gifted endorsement
* Individuals who hold or qualify to hold a district-level administrator (not principal) license in another state and who have not passed the PRAXIS 6991 (or 5354 or 5358, if required) exam may qualify for an interim authorization, valid for one year.
Plan Ahead
- Check to see if you meet Colorado Endorsement Requirements.
- You will need electronic copies of all documentation.
- Allow ample time to request any third party transcripts or other documentation.
- Be sure also to review the application process.
Application Fee:
$110
License Expires:
1, 3 or 7 years from date of issue depending on qualifications
Gather the Necessary Information/Documentation
You will need the following* to submit a complete application for an ADMINISTRATOR license:
- A valid form of government-issued identification.
- A copy of an official transcript for every college/university attended. [Unofficial transcripts are never accepted. Do not include them in your application.]
- Of these transcripts, at least one must be an official, degree-conferred transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that demonstrates a bachelor's or higher degree.
- 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.
- An approved program verification form completed by the registrar or certification officer of the college/university where you completed your program OR three or more years of full-time, fully licensed post-preparation experience (not as a substitute, alternative, emergency, provisional, probationary, temporary or international teacher) within the past seven years as a district-level administrator, director of special education or director of gifted education in the state of licensure. (You must hold a valid license with the endorsement(s) requested.)
- If you do not meet the experience requirement detailed above, you will need a score report for the Colorado State Board of Education-approved PRAXIS 6991 exam.
- All prior work experience.
- Copies of all educator licenses (valid or expired)
- 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 to create your licensure account (if you have not already done so.)
- Submit fingerprints (via the dark blue "CDE licensure" icon) to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
- 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?
Once you have gathered all required documentation, have submitted fingerprints to CBI for CDE licensure purposes and have reviewed the licensure process, log in to your COOL account to complete and submit an ADMINISTRATOR application.
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, 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.
- Should the application be found incomplete, CDE will notify the applicant to specify the information needed to complete it.
- Notifications will be sent via email and available in your COOL account.
- 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.
- CDE will provide a written response within 30 days of any request for reconsideration.
- Requests for reconsideration do not apply to background checks.
- 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, it is your responsibility to check your COOL account regularly for notifications on its status and/or to print a copy of your certificate.
For questions, submit a Licensing Support Request form or call 720-739-3304 (7:30 am to 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday).
Connect With Us
![CDE Jobs](/sites/default/files/pics/globalcontent/CDEJobsIcon_a03e77c1c9896dc528190dfc5b593ef3.png)