Colorado Teaching License (Complete Guide)

Learn how to earn a Colorado teaching license in our comprehensive step-by-step guide. Bookmark this page or download the PDF.

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To get licensed to teach in Colorado:

  • Determine what you want to teach. 
  • Choose the right endorsement area.
  • Review your pathway to licensure. 
  • Determine the time and resources needed.  
  • Review other resources, if you're still exploring. 

 

Note: We do our best to keep all information updated, but because licensing requirements are regularly reviewed and revised, it is best to confirm requirements with your educator preparation program and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) before applying.

“I want to make a call to my colleagues and friends with diverse backgrounds. You can bring your whole, unique self into the classroom. Students need it and they love it and they embrace it. So that’s my call. Come as you are. Just come.” ⎻Dr. Anne Keke

Which statement fits you best?

In Colorado, teachers earn a license to teach a specific set of grades and subjects. Whether you want to focus on a specific subject, like math, or a particular student population, like second-language learners, you’ll find a teaching area that fits you.

If you know what ages or grades you want to teach—your next steps are to:

  • Decide which subject/licensure area you’d like to teach (next section).
  • Select an educator preparation program that offers your desired licensure area and matches your current education level.
  • Apply to your educator preparation program.

Pro Tip: There are lots of different subject areas to teach at all ages and grade levels. At any level, getting licensed in a high-demand area provides more job opportunities. Your employment prospects may be stronger, especially at the elementary level, where there are a large number of applicants. 

Colorado teacher shortage areas

If you’re interested in a high-demand subject area, you’ll increase the number of job opportunities available to you when you earn your license.

If you want to teach early childhood or elementary school, consider choosing a high-demand area:

  • Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-8)
  • Early Childhood Special Education (Ages 0-8)
  • Elementary Education (Grades K-6)

If you prefer middle or high school, high-demand areas include:

  • Business/Marketing (Grades 7-12)
  • English Language Arts (Grades 7-12)
  • Math (Grades 6-8, 7-12)
  • Science (Grades 7-12) 
  • Special Education (Ages 5-21)
  • Technology Education/Industrial Arts (Grades 7-12) 

To broaden your options, you could also consider a shortage area that allows you to teach in all grades (for a complete list of all-grade endorsement areas, see Choosing a Licensure Area):

  • Instructional Technology
  • Music
  • Physical Education & Health
  • Special Education (Ages 5-21)
  • Visual Art
  • World Languages
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Read more about high-need and critical shortage areas for teachers, and the perks that come with teaching in these crucial areas.

Heads Up: Most licensure areas require specific tests. Review the Colorado Department of Education’s testing requirements to get a leg up on which assessments are required for the subject area you wish to teach.

If you know what subject you’d like to teach, your next steps are to:

  • Decide which ages or grade levels you’d like to teach.
  • Identify your licensure area (next section).
  • Select an educator preparation program that offers your desired licensure area and matches your current education level.
  • Apply to your educator preparation program.

Pro Tip: When selecting ages or grade levels to teach, consider that your employment prospects may be stronger at the middle and high school levels than at the elementary level. And if you’re interested in teaching in a rural school, you’ll find plenty of opportunity there too!

The greatest need for teachers is in state-designated shortage areas.

Many high-need subjects are at the middle and high school levels:

  • Business/Marketing
  • English Language Arts
  • Math
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Technology Education (Industrial Arts)

To broaden your options, you could also consider a shortage area that allows you to teach in grades PK-12 (for a complete list of endorsement areas, see Choosing a Licensure Area):

  • Instructional Technology
  • Music
  • Physical Education
  • Special Education (Ages 5-21)
  • Visual Art
  • World Languages
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Heads Up: Most licensure areas require specific tests. Review the Colorado Department of Education’s testing requirements to get a leg up on which assessments are required for the subject area you wish to teach.

If you’re considering teaching as the next stage in your career path, your next steps are to:

  • Decide which ages or grade levels and the subject area you’d like to teach.
  • Identify your licensure area (next section).
  • Select an educator preparation program that offers your desired licensure area and matches your current education level.
  • Apply to your educator preparation program.

Pro Tip: If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree or have vocational work experience, you may be eligible for alternative pathways to licensure that put you in the classroom faster. Learn more about the alternative pathway and approved licensure areas.

  • Do you have a bachelor’s degree? Licensure-only or alternative licensure programs can get you licensed to teach without earning an additional degree. These programs may take less time and cost less than traditional licensure programs. Head over to About Programs to learn more.
  • Do you work in a trade or technical field? If you have experience as a skilled tradesperson or in certain vocations, you can get licensed to teach for a Career & Technical Education program in a middle or high school through an alternative program. Positions may be available in fields such as automotive, manufacturing, construction, culinary arts, hospitality, plumbing and others. You can learn more about this pathway here.
  • Are you a military veteran? Colorado students need veterans to serve again as their teachers. Check out Troops to Teachers for resources and opportunities available for veterans interested in teaching.

If you’re already licensed to teach—in Colorado or elsewhere—your next step is to learn more about your eligibility for licensure by reviewing the Colorado Department of Education licensure page.

These resources will help determine your pathway to Colorado licensure if you are:

  • An out-of-state or international educator looking to teach in Colorado.
  • A licensed Colorado educator interested in renewing or advancing your licensure.
  • A licensed Colorado educator wanting to add additional teaching areas to your license or earn an administrator license.

Colorado teaching license reciprocity

“Reciprocity” means that if you’re already licensed to teach outside of Colorado, your license may be valid in Colorado. 

Find out if you’re eligible for a Colorado license with your out-of-state credential.

Consider a Critical Needs Subject or Shortage Area

You’ll have more job opportunities—and make a bigger impact—teaching in a high-need area. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you may also be able to start teaching (and start getting paid) sooner through an alternative licensure program. 

The Colorado Department of Education lists the following hard-to-staff areas that may qualify for teacher loan forgiveness or other district-level incentives:

  • Business/Marketing (Grades 7-12)
  • Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-8)
  • Early Childhood Special Education (Ages 0-8)
  • Elementary Education (Grades K-6)
  • Instructional Technology (Grades K-12)
  • Math (Grades 6-8, 7-12)
  • Music (Grades K-12)
  • P.E. (Grades K-12)
  • Science (Grades 7-12)
  • Social Studies (Grades 7-12)
  • Special Education Generalist (Ages 5-21)
  • Special Education: Deaf & Hard of Hearing (Ages 0-21)
  • Technology Education (Industrial Arts) (Grades 7-12)
  • Visual Art (Grades K-12)
  • World Languages (Grades K-12)
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (Grades K-12)
  • Teachers in rural schools (All ages & grades)

Some programs offer scholarships or forgivable loans to pay for your education preparation program if you commit to teaching in hard-to-staff areas:

  • The Colorado Rural Teaching Fellowship offers $10,000 of financial assistance to future educators in the final year of teacher preparation who commit to teaching in a rural school district.
  • You may also be eligible for student loan relief from Uncle Sam if you’re willing to commit to teaching for several years in high-need areas, thanks to the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
  • The value of the Colorado Rural Teaching Stipend is up to $4,000 for the semester of student teaching. Stipend recipients are expected to complete student teaching in a Colorado rural school district and then apply to and work in a rural school district.
  • The Rural Alternative Licensure Stipend (RALS) provides recipients with up to $6,000 to pay for a variety of program-related costs (e.g., Alternative Licensure program-, PRAXIS-, Alternative License-, Initial License-, technology- and travel-related costs).

Colorado Teaching Endorsements

Once you know your grade and subject preferences, you can select a licensure endorsement area.

Pro Tip: You can add endorsement areas in different grade levels and subject areas throughout your teaching career. You don’t have to get all your endorsements at once.

These licensure areas allow you to teach in multiple subject areas at the early childhood and elementary school levels.

Licensure AreaRangeCritical Need
Early Childhood Education Ages 0-8 ✅
Elementary EducationGrades K- 6✅
Early Childhood Special EducationAges 0-8✅

 

These licensure areas allow you to teach students with disabilities or students who require additional academic supports at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Licensure AreaRangeCritical Need
Gifted Education CorePreK-12 
Gifted Education SpecialistPreK-12 
Special Education GeneralistAges 5-21✅
Special Education SpecialistAges 5-21✅
Early Childhood Special EducationAges 0-8✅
Special Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of HearingAges 0-21✅
Special Education Specialist: Visually ImpairedAges 0-21 

 

These licensure areas allow you to teach in humanities subject areas in middle or high school, and reading or world languages at all levels.

Licensure AreasGrade RangeCritical Need
English Language Arts7-12✅
Reading TeacherK-12 
Reading SpecialistK-12 
Speech7-12 
Social Studies7-12✅
World Languages K-12✅
American Sign LanguageK-12✅
FrenchK-12✅
GermanK-12✅
ItalianK-12✅
JapaneseK-12✅
LatinK-12✅
Mandarin ChineseK-12✅
RussianK-12✅
SpanishK-12✅
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse EducationK-12✅
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Bilingual Education Specialist K-12✅

 

These licensure areas allow you to teach science and math subjects at the middle school or high school levels.

Licensure AreasGrade RangeCritical Need
Mathematics: Middle School6-8✅
Mathematics: Secondary7-12✅
Science7-12✅

 

These licensure areas allow you to teach in one of several enrichment subject areas at the elementary, middle and high school levels. 

Licensure AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
Drama Theater Arts K-12 
HealthK-12 
MusicK-12✅
Physical EducationK-12✅
Visual ArtsK-12✅
DanceK-12 

 

These licensure areas allow you to teach in career and technical-education subject areas at the middle and high school level.

Licensure AreaGrade RangeCritical Need
Agriculture and Natural Resources Education7-12 
Business/Marketing7-12✅
Family and Consumer Sciences7-12 
Instructional TechnologyK-12✅
Technology Education7-12✅
Instructional Technology SpecialistK-12✅
Trade and Industry7-12 

If you have workforce experience, you can get licensed to teach for a Career & Technical Education program in a middle or high school through an alternative program. Positions may be available in fields such as automotive, manufacturing, construction, culinary arts, hospitality, plumbing and others. You can learn more about this pathway here. Available endorsement areas are below.

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources Education
  • Business/Marketing
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Instructional Technology
  • Technology Education

“As a teacher, you can change lives every day by revealing the joy of reading to your students, exploring important scientific discoveries or opening up new exciting career paths. TEACH Colorado will be a one-stop shop to help anyone explore a fulfilling career as a teacher.” —Colorado Education Commissioner Katy Anthes.

Your Pathway to Teaching

Most Colorado teachers begin with an Initial Teacher License for new educators.
  1. 1

    Earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.

    Colorado accepts degrees from a large number of universities, but you should confirm that yours is a regionally accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degree you earn should be in a field closely related to what you want to teach. To be accepted into a Colorado educator preparation program, you generally need a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 for all undergraduate courses.

    Keep in mind that you can earn your degree and your teaching license at the same time, so if you’re an undergraduate, see step 2 below.

    Paying for your program can feel like a lot. That's where our financial aid guide comes in: get our favorite tips to find grants, scholarships, loan forgiveness opportunities and other strategies to cover your costs.

  2. 2

    Complete a state-approved educator preparation program.

    You can meet this requirement either as part of your undergraduate coursework, or by completing a master’s or licensure-only program after you graduate.  

    Generally, you’ll need a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 for all undergraduate courses and passing scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills Tests or SAT or ACT. Each program sets its own requirements for admission and completion.

    Through your preparation program, you will:

    • Take coursework related to the specific subject and grade levels you want to teach, along with courses on teaching best practices (pedagogy).
    • Participate in hands-on, clinical experiences in a variety of classroom settings, where you can observe and practice with instructors, mentors and teachers who are effective and experienced.

    Need a little support to prepare your teaching program applications? Our teacher prep program application guide has all the info you need to ace your exams, request your transcripts, write an excellent essay and more.

    TEACH Colorado can help you reduce your teaching program application costs! We’ll reimburse up to $100 for any expenses required for you to apply to a teaching program (like application fees, transcript fees and more). Get the details on our Fee Reimbursements page.

  3. 3

    Know teacher testing requirements

    Most Colorado educator preparation programs require teacher candidates to pass specific tests that evaluate your knowledge of teaching and the subject area you wish to teach. Your educator preparation program will determine the timing of when you will take these assessments.

    Stressed about testing? You're not alone! Our testing guide covers everything from exam registration to study materials to what to expect on test day. 

  4. 4

    Submit an application to the state and pay the application fee.

    After you meet the requirements above, it’s time for you to formally apply for your teaching license. First, confirm with your educator preparation program that you are eligible to apply. After that, check out the Colorado Department of Education website to apply for your license. 

    Pro Tip: By creating an online account with the Licensing Office, you can apply for your license online, pay fees, check the status of your application or print unofficial copies of your license.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a teacher in Colorado?

In order to become a teacher in Colorado you must have earned at least a bachelor's degree and completed an approved teacher preparation program. The average time frame is 2-4 years. 

What is the starting salary for Colorado teachers? 

The average starting salary is $59,258. Learn all about Salary & Benefits. 

Is Colorado a good state for teachers? 

If you’re in this to make sure every student has the opportunity to succeed, then there’s an opening for you in a Colorado classroom.

Colorado students need great teachers who:

  • Represent their backgrounds, experiences and cultures.
  • Prepare them to thrive, today and tomorrow.

Here’s why you should teach in Colorado.

Adding it Up

Teaching is the greatest opportunity to shape the trajectories of young people’s lives—and the future of our world. While the experiences you’ll have are priceless, you may be wondering what it costs to get licensed to teach in Colorado. 

The total costs will vary depending on the educator preparation program you attend and the tests required for your licensure area. Below are some of the costs you can expect while applying for your license: 

  • Initial educator license: $90
  • Out-of-state initial educator license: $110
  • Content-specific exams: Starting at $120

Pro Tip: It's understandable to have your eye on the cost of educator preparation programs, but there are lots of scholarships, loan forgiveness and other funding opportunities that may lower program costs for future teachers. Check out Financial Aid & Scholarships to learn more.

People also ask

Getting licensed to become a teacher might seem daunting, but we’ve got you covered. Let's start with the basics.

Short answer: Yes, for most subjects. Long answer: There are many different endorsements, depending on where and what you want to teach. When you get licensed, you become eligible to teach certain subjects and grades in Colorado. You may be eligible for a special license if you have career experience or if you've been licensed to teach in another state. Check out the About Licensure page for more information on various pathways to the profession.

There are several paths to licensure. Step one is finding the right one for you, whether it’s entering a teaching program as an undergrad or a master’s degree program, an alternative preparation program, or anywhere in between.

Want to discuss your options? Talk to a coach.

Since requirements differ by subject and grade level, deciding who and what you want to teach can go a long way. 

If this is starting to feel a bit overwhelming, check out About Licensure for four steps to get licensed to teach in Colorado. 

Additional Resources

Looking to dive a little deeper?

  • Educator Preparation Program Profiles

    Head over to Explore Programs to learn more about TEACH Colorado’s participating educator preparation options.

    Learn More

  • Get Free Advice

    Talk to a TEACH Colorado coach and get answers to all your questions about teaching and licensure.

    Learn More

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