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Colorado Teacher Endorsement Requirements

The information on this page pertains to endorsement requirements for TEACHER licensure candidates only. (Return to Educator Licensure and select the credential type for more information about endorsements for other license types.) Applicants also must meet all other requirements for the license sought; programs completed outside Colorado will be evaluated against Colorado's endorsement standards for comparability. Refer to the Teacher webpage for details about all requirements of the license or authorization you seek.

First-Time Colorado Teacher License Candidates

Applicants seeking their first Colorado teacher license may demonstrate content knowledge in a number of ways:

  • either by meeting requirements as specified below OR
  • via demonstration of Multiple Measures of Content Competency (select the button below that best describes your situation to determine how you would like to fulfill content knowledge requirements)
    • Only those followed by "[ALT]" are eligible for alternative teacher preparation programs.

Colorado ALTERNATIVE Candidates

Colorado TRADITIONAL Candidates

OUT-OF-STATE Candidates

Individuals completing programs at non-Colorado institutions of higher education must hold/qualify to hold a license in the content area of preparation in the state of preparation and meet Colorado's endorsement requirements.

Colorado Teacher License-Holders

Holders of a Colorado initial or professional teacher license may apply to add an endorsement to their license only by meeting the requirements for that endorsement below.

  • Individuals seeking to renew or advance an expired Colorado Initial Teacher License must meet the requirements for their endorsement(s) as they are specified below.
    • If the endorsement area has since been discontinued, contact Educator Licensing so that we may assist you.

Endorsement Requirements

  • The endorsements in blue boxes below are added endorsements only and may not be met via "multiple measures" or alternative pathways.
  • Holders of a valid, Colorado initial or professional teacher license may qualify to add an endorsement to their license only by meeting the requirements for that endorsement below.
    • Individuals completing programs at non-Colorado institutions of higher education must hold/qualify to hold a license in the content area of preparation in the state of preparation.
    • If seeking an endorsement via 24 semester hours, a letter grade of B- or better must have been earned for each course. (Pass/Fail not accepted; quarter or trimester hours will be converted to semester hours.)

Adapted Physical Education (ages 3-21)

  • must hold a Colorado teacher license with an physical education endorsement; and
  • completion of an approved graduate-level program in adapted physical education for school-aged children, including a 200-hour practicum across elementary and secondary grade levels.

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

Business/Marketing (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

Computer Science (grades K-12)   [ALT]

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (grades K-12)

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Bilingual Education (grades K-12)

Dance (grades K-12)   [ALT]

Drama Theater Arts (grades K-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in drama/theater arts; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the drama endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5641 (153)

Early Childhood Education (ages 0-8)   [ALT]

  • Passing scores on the following exams:
    • PRAXIS 5024 (160) AND
    • PRAXIS 5205 (159) 

Early Childhood Special Education (ages 0-8)

  • Completion of an approved program from a regionally accredited institution in early childhood special education that includes student teaching and practicum; and
  • Passing scores on the following exams (5024 may be waived with a valid Colorado teacher license/ECE endorsement):
    • PRAXIS 5024 (160) AND
    • PRAXIS 5205 (159) AND
    • PRAXIS 5692 (159)
      • PRAXIS 5691 (159) also accepted if taken before 08.31.2023; accepted thru 08.31.2028

New! Only for Colorado professional teacher license-holders with an early childhood education (ages 0-8) or special education generalist (ages 5-21) endorsement earned via completion of an approved program

Elementary Education (grades K-6)   [ALT]

  • Passing scores on the following exams:
    • PRAXIS 5205 (159) AND
    • PRAXIS 5901 series (as outlined below)
      • Mathematics 5903 (157) - 5003 also accepted until 08.31.2026
      • Social Studies 5904 (155) - 5004 also accepted until 08.31.2026
      • Science 5905 (159) - 5005 also accepted until 08.31.2026

English Language Arts (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

Family and Consumer Sciences (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in family and consumer sciences; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the FCS endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5122 (153)

Gifted Education Core (ages 4-21)

  • Completion of an approved program for the preparation of gifted education educators, including prescribed field experience and student teaching requirement or 24 semester hours of specific coursework requirements outlined in the gifted education core added endorsement worksheet; and
  • PRAXIS 5358 (157)

Gifted Education Specialist (ages 4-21)

  • must hold a valid Colorado teacher license with a gifted education core endorsement; and
  • master’s degree in gifted education, including prescribed field experience and student teaching requirements
  • This cannot be the same degree by which you met gifted education core endorsement requirements.

Health (grades K-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in health; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the health endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5551 (155)

Mathematics - Middle School (grades 6-8)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in math: or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the middle school math endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5164 (157)
    • PRAXIS 5169 (165) also accepted if taken between 09.01.2018 and 08.31.2022; accepted thru 08.31.2027

Mathematics - Secondary (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in math; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the secondary math endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5165 (159)
    • 5161 (152) also accepted if taken between 09.01.2016 and 08.31.2022; accepted thru 08.31.2027

Mentor Teacher (grades K-12)

  • must hold a valid Colorado professional (7-year) teacher license
  • completion of a CDE-approved mentor teacher training program, including a minimum of one full school year of successful service as a mentor teacher for a teacher candidate participating in clinical practice

Music (grades K-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in music; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the music endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5113 (161)

Physical Education (grades K-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in physical education; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the PE endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5091 (148)

Reading Specialist (grades K-12)

  • must hold a valid Colorado teacher license; and
  • three or more years' full-time licensed teaching experience; and
  • completion of a master's degree in reading and an approved graduate program from a regionally accredited institution for reading specialists which includes a supervised practicum or internship as a reading specialist.
  • must be knowledgeable about research-based literacy instruction as outlined in rule 4.02(5)-4.02(13) and the Colorado Academic Standards in reading, writing and communicating
  • programs completed outside Colorado will be evaluated against Colorado standards; the PRAXIS 5302 may be required to demonstrate content knowledge and competency

Science (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in any of the sciences identified on the science endorsement worksheet:; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5436 (141)
    • PRAXIS 5435 (152) also accepted if taken before 08.31.2023; accepted thru 08.31.2028

Social Studies (grades 6-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in social studies, history or political science; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the social studies endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5081( 150)

Special Education Generalist (ages 5-21)   [ALT]

  • completion of an approved program for the preparation of special education generalists from a regionally accredited college or university or 24 semester hours as identified on the SpEd Gen added endorsement worksheet: and
  • passing score on each content exam below:
    • PRAXIS 5355 (145) 5354 (151) accepted until 08.31.2029 
    •  PRAXIS 5901 series (as outlined below; may be waived with a valid Colorado teacher license/elementary endorsement) 
      • Mathematics 5903 (157) - 5003 also accepted until 08.31.2026
      • Social Studies 5904 (155) - 5004 also accepted until 08.31.2026
      • Science 5905 (159) - 5005 also accepted until 08.31.2026
    • PRAXIS 5205 (159)

Special Education Specialist -- Deaf/Hard of Hearing (ages 0-21)

  • master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in special education deaf/hard-of-hearing or its equivalent, as determined by the department; and
  • completion of an approved program from a regionally accredited institution for special education specialists: deaf/hard-of-hearing that includes prescribed field experience requirements.

Special Education Specialist - Visual Impairment (ages 0-21)

  • master’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution in special education visual impairment or its equivalent, as determined by the department; and
  • completion of an approved program from a regionally accredited institution for special education specialists: visually impaired that includes prescribed field experience requirements.

Teacher Librarian (grades K-12)

  • must hold a valid Colorado teacher license; and
  • completion of an approved program from a regionally accredited institution in library science, media science or similar area, including a supervised practicum or internship which includes both elementary and secondary school library experience.
  • programs completed outside Colorado will be evaluated against Colorado standards; the PRAXIS 5312 may be required to demonstrate content knowledge and competency

Technology Education (grades 6-12)  [ALT]

Visual Arts (grades K-12)   [ALT]

  • bachelor's or higher degree in fine art/visual arts (with emphasis on studio arts); or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework as identified on the visual arts endorsement worksheet; or
  • PRAXIS 5135 (158)

World Languages (grades K-12)   [ALT]

American Sign Language, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish only

  • bachelor's or higher degree in the identified world language; or
  • 24 semester hours of coursework in the world language as identified on the world languages endorsement worksheet; or
    • for French -  PRAXIS 5174 (162)
    • for German -  PRAXIS 5183 (163)
    • for Japanese - PRAXIS 5661 (156)
    • for Latin - PRAXIS 5601 (152)
    • for Mandarin Chinese - PRAXIS 5665 (164)
    • for Russian - PRAXIS 5671 (130)
    • for Spanish - PRAXIS 5195 (163)
  • Exams not available for ASL or Italian

Discontinued Endorsements

Unless otherwise indicated below, these discontinued endorsements are issued only upon renewal of an active Colorado initial teacher license or an active or expired Colorado professional teacher license.

Business (7-12)

  • Discontinued May 30, 2019.
  • Qualifying renewing license-holders will receive the business/marketing combined endorsement.

Early Childhood Special Education Specialist (ages 0-8)

  • Discontinued May 30, 2024.
  • See early childhood special education above

Gifted & Talented Specialist (PreK-12)

  • Discontinued March 30, 2016
  • See gifted education core above.

Instructional Technology (K-12) 
Instructional Technology Specialist (K-12)

  • Discontinued Nov. 30, 2022.
  • See computer science above.

Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12)

  • Discontinued Dec. 31, 2012.
  • See culturally and linguistically diverse education above.

Linguistically Diverse Bilingual Education (K-12)

  • Discontinued Dec. 31, 2012.
  • See culturally and linguistically diverse education bilingual above.

Marketing (7-12)

  • Discontinued May 30, 2019.
  • Qualifying renewing license-holders will receive the business/marketing combined endorsement.

Reading Teacher (K-12)

  • Discontinued Nov. 30, 2022.
  • See reading specialist above.

School Librarian (K-12)

  • Discontinued March 30, 2016.
  • See teacher librarian above.

Special Education Specialist (ages 5-21)

  • Discontinued May 30, 2024.
  • See special education generalist above.

Speech (7-12)

  • Discontinued Nov. 30, 2022.
  • See English language arts above.

Trade and Industry (7-12)

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