Licensing Office

As a response to COVID-19 and to ensure safety of educator applicants and CDE staff members through social distancing, the Licensing office will no longer have in-person operating hours.

If you can't find the answer to your question on this website, please:

Send your questions via email to cdelicensing@cde.state.co.us
Or call 303-866-6628, 7:30am-12:30pm

We will be retrieving voicemails daily and returning your phone messages within 24 business hours.

COVID-19-Related Licensure Concerns

Become a Substitute or Guest Teacher!

Guidelines for applicants and employers regarding licensure, test requirements, PD and more!

General Requirements for All Licenses & Authorizations

Content Exams

Praxis, PLACE & NES Exam Information

Update: 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

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
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) teacher requirements FAQ

Information for Out-of-State Applicants

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

Apply

Step 1: Review Application Checklist

Do not skip this step. Checklists contain the most up-to-date forms and application requirements.

Step 2: Log in to eLicensing!

Renew

Step 1: Log in to eLicensing to verify the certification(s) you hold.

Step 2: Review renewal requirements for professional licensees

Step 3: Go directly to the Application Checklist

Status

Already submitted an application? Check the status.

Educator Credential Search

Look-Up a Colorado Educator's License

News

The latest information/news about educator preparation and licensure.

The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) presents the Model Code of Ethics (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.

CDE's Principal Resources webpage brings together internal and external resources to support principals and school leaders. Resources specific to planning for the 2020-21 school year are also available on the COVID-19 Resources for Principals webpage.
TEACH Colorado is a comprehensive digital platform that recruits talented Coloradans into the teaching profession and provides the support they need to enroll in an educator preparation program. Developed partnership among Colorado’s school districts, educator preparation programs, state agencies and business and nonprofit groups to increase the quality, quantity and diversity of the state's teacher pipeline. Discover more at TEACHColorado.org .
Learn more about the Teacher Oath Requirement (per Senate Bill 17-296).