Educator Licensing Office

Welcome to Educator Licensure!

Colorado issues four license - teacher, principal, administrator and special services - and 14 authorizations, including substitute, emergency and career and technical education (CTE). Select the corresponding button at right for more information.

Related Information and Requirements

• Background checks/fingerprints (via icon below)

• Find an approved Colorado preparation program
• Application checklists
• Educator Effectiveness Evaluator Training (E-Train)
  • Required for all principal and administrator credentials
  • Effective: Aug. 1, 2024
  • Required for renewal of all professional teachers who hold an elementary, English, math, science, social studies or any middle level endorsement
  • Deadline: Sept. 1, 2025
  • Required of all teachers teaching reading K-3 and all interventionists (grades 4-12)
  • Deadline: Aug. 1 of each year
  • Required of all principals and administrators
  • Deadline: Aug. 1, 2024 and every Aug. 1 thereafter
  • Required for renewal of all professional teacher, principal, administrator and special services license-holders
  • Deadline: June 30, 2025

  Additional Services

  • Check your application status
    • Name change
    • SSN verification

    To apply:

    1. Select a button below to review requirements.
    2. Select the Out-of-State button if you completed a teacher, principal, administrator or special services preparation outside Colorado and are applying for your first Colorado credential of that type.

    ALL OUT-of-STATE CANDIDATES

    out-of-state/international applicants: first-time Colorado teacher, principal, administrator, special services

    TEACHER

    all teacher types: alternative, interim, initial, professional, renewals, teacher of record

    SPECIAL SERVICES

    school SLP, audiologist, psychologist, OT, PT, RN, O&M specialist, social work, counselor

    PRINCIPAL

    initial, professional, authorization for alternative preparation

    ADMINISTRATOR

    administrator, director/special education, director/gifted education

    ALL AUTHORIZATIONS

    substitute, emergency, TEE, CTE, SLPA, adjunct, SSP intern, educational interpreter, JROTC, exchange educator and more

    Content Exam Requirements

    Resources for District/BOCES Leaders

    • Accessing & navigating the COOL system
    • Educator Recruitment & Retention
      • Contact your regional representative
      • Educator effectiveness resources
      • Induction supports
      • Resources for principals
      • Colorado teacher endorsement requirements (select the buttons above for endorsement requirements for the other credential types)
      • General professional development requirements
      • 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 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.

        News

        The latest information/news about educator preparation and licensure.

        • Colorado House Bill 22-1220 has numerous implications around education preparation for candidates and programs.
          • Visit this webpage for more information about stipend programs.
          • Learn more about "Multiple Measures of Content Competency" for first-time Colorado teachers!
          • TEACH Colorado is a one-stop shop with free resources to help talented Coloradans join the teaching profession.
            • 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.