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Renew or Reinstate a Professional CTE Authorization

Preparing to Apply

This checklist is for ...

Individuals who already hold a professional CTE authorization and are seeking to renew or reinstate it.

Not in the right place? Review the other checklists.

Qualifications:

  • For active authorizations or CTEs expired within the past two years:
    • Completion of 90 contact hours (six (6) semester hours) of professional development activities applicable your profession, trade or endorsement area:
      • For active authorization-holders, these activities must have been completed within the span of your active authorization.
      • For those with expired authorizations of less than two years, these activities must have been completed within the five years immediately preceding the submission date of the application to renew.
  • For authorizations expired for two (2) years or longer:
    • Completion of 90 contact hours (six (6) semester hours) of professional development activities - application to the profession, trade or endorsement area - completed within the five years immediately preceding the submission date of the application to reinstate; AND
    • Verification of 1,000 paid hours of teaching or or other occupational experience in the content area within the past seven (7) years.

Plan Ahead

Application Fee:

$90

Authorization Expires:

5 years from date of issue

Gather the Necessary Information/Documentation

In the application you will need to include:

  • A valid form of government-issued identification. 
  • Documentation needed to renew or reinstate your authorization, to include one or more of the following:
    • Verification of 90 contact hours (six (6) semester hours) of applicable professional development activities completed within the effective period of your present active authorization or, if  expired, within the five years preceding your date of application to renew the license.
      • Copies of official transcripts are required for verification of college/university coursework
      • Certificates of completion for professional development activities
      • 1 semester hour = 15 contact hours  | 1 quarter hour = 10 contact hours | 1 CEU = 10 contact hours
      • More information can be found in the following Renewal FAQs
    • A completed verification of teaching form (when applicable) or
    • A completed occupational experience form
      • You may also need employer reference letters, military discharge papers and/or W-2 or Schedule C forms
  • Updated work experience
  • 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.)
  • 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?

When you have gathered all required documentation,* have submitted fingerprints to CBI for CDE licensure purposes and have reviewed the licensure process, log in to COOL and select the "renew" button in the CTE credential details section of your dashboard. If for some reason this option is not available to you, please submit a support ticket so that this issue can be resolved directly.

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.

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