Education Licensure Information for Colorado
Here is what you need to know.
Become an Educator in Colorado
American College of Education (ACE) is excited to help you start or advance your education career in Colorado. Whether you want to start teaching in the classroom or leading a school, we have affordable and flexible programs to help you make it happen.
Teaching in Colorado
You could complete an initial teacher licensure program from ACE and apply it to Colorado’s out-of-state licensure requirements to obtain your Elementary (K-6) and Secondary (6-12) initial teaching license.
The Colorado Department of Education requires that those who complete a program at an out-of-state institution meet that state’s licensing requirements, but you do not need to apply for or obtain a license in that state.
You must satisfy additional requirements, including:
- Registering for and taking required content certification exam(s).
- Completing online training in suicide prevention, child abuse and neglect, and human trafficking.
- Obtaining valid CPR certification.
After you receive your context certification exam scores, you will send an official score report to [email protected], along with the Approved Program Verification Form for Out-of-State. After ACE completes the form for you, you will submit it to the Colorado Department of Education.
Teaching Special Education
If you’re interested in teaching special education, Colorado offers a Special Education Generalist endorsement. To obtain this endorsement, you will need to do the following:
- Take and pass three Colorado-approved content exams. First-time applicants for a Colorado teacher license may also demonstrate content knowledge via a Multiple Measures of Content Competency review in lieu of all or some of the exams.
- Demonstrate 24 semester hours of applicable coursework to meet the endorsement requirements.
For the most current information about becoming a teacher in Colorado, please check the Colorado Department of Education website.
Leadership in Colorado
You could complete ACE’s M.Ed. in Educational Leadership or Certificate in Principal Preparation (if you already possess a master’s degree) and apply it to Colorado’s out-of-state licensure requirements to obtain your Colorado principal license.
You must also register and take the required certification exam: Praxis 5412: Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision. After you receive your exam scores, you will send an official score report to [email protected], along with the Approved Program Verification Form for Out-of-State. After ACE completes the form for you, you will submit it to the Colorado Department of Education.
The Colorado Department of Education requires that those who complete a program at an out-of-state institution meet that state’s licensing requirements, but you do not need to apply for or obtain a license in that state.
For the most current information on becoming a principal in Colorado, please check the Colorado Department of Education website.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Endorsement in Colorado
The following ACE programs can be applied to Colorado’s requirements to add Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education (Grades K-12) endorsement to your Colorado license:
You must satisfy additional requirements, including:
- Holding a valid Colorado teacher license in another content area.
- 24 semester hours of college-level coursework completed at a regionally accredited college/university that meet the minimum requirement in each of the required areas (documented professional development or work experience may satisfy up to six semester hours).
You will need to provide official transcripts documenting all applicable coursework.
For the most current information on this endorsement in Colorado, please check the Colorado Department of Education website.
Have Questions?
Our Enrollment Counselors can guide you through the steps and requirements needed to earn an educator license or endorsement in Colorado. Email [email protected] or call 800-280-0307, option 2 to contact our Enrollment team.