Career and Technical Education (CTE) Authorization General Information

CTE Terms

Credential

A credential is the content area the CTE Authorization allows you to instruct.

Initial CTE Authorization

Issued for three (3) years, an initial CTE authorization may is issued to applicants who meet the educational and occupational requirements for the particular CTE credential sought. An initial CTE authorization may be issued only once and is non-renewable. Upon issuance, CDE will assign specific coursework that is required to advance to a professional, five-year authorization.

Occupational Experience (non-teaching)

Career experience is required for all CTE credentials and must be verified, paid, non-teaching experience unless otherwise stated on the evaluation worksheet. An occupational experience form (or forms) must verify applicable professional experience for the content area requested.

Pathway

Broad groupings of careers that share similar characteristics and whose employment requirements call for many competencies.

Professional Credential

Issued for five (5) years, a professional CTE authorization is available to applicants who have completed all coursework and experience requirements specific to the individual CTE credential held. Once an applicant has obtained a five-year CTE authorization, if he/she also holds a professional teaching license, the CTE authorization will be added to the teacher license and no longer issued as a separate credential.

Renewal Requirements of Professional Credential

A valid CTE professional authorization may be renewed every five (5) years with the combined equivalent of six (6) semester hours or 90 contact/clock hours* of related renewal credit. A combination of college credit, professional development and in-service workshops earned no more than five (5) years prior to the submission date of the CTE: Renewal/Reinstatement application will be accepted with proper documentation.

Those whose CTE credential is reflected on a professional teacher license need only to submit an application to renew the teacher license, and the CTE credential(s) will be renewed appropriately.

Reinstatement of a Credential

To reinstate a professional (5-year) CTE authorization that has lapsed for two (2) or more years, in addition to the requirements assigned at the time the CTE credential was issued, the applicant must provide verification of 1,000 hours of related occupational experience completed in the content area within the last five (5) years. For instructors who have been teaching in the CTE content area for the last seven (7) or more years, three (3) years of full- time teaching experience in the credential area may be substituted for the 1,000 hours of relevant occupational experience required to renew a lapsed credential.

If the credential has expired/lapsed for less than two years, only the requirements for renewal (or advancement to a professional authorization) apply.

Requirements to Advance a 3-Year CTE Authorization to a 5-Year CTE Authorization

Specific, individual requirements are emailed to each applicant upon issuance of a three-year initial CTE authorization. More information can be found at www.coloradostateplan.com.

CTE Credential Evaluation Worksheets

Specific criteria must be met for each CTE credential being sought, prior to issuance of the authorization. Evaluation worksheets for each CTE Authorization outline the specific requirements via the hyperlinks below. Questions? Contact the CTE program director for the specific pathway.

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