Teachers from Out-of-State/Out-of-Country

Checklist

Identification

• Submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).( View Fingerprinting Instructions )

• Confirm you have a valid form of government-issued identification. If you are using a photo ID issued by another state or country, please carefully review the identification requirements as additional documents will be needed. ( View List of Valid IDs )

Education

• State board rule requires that you submit an official degree-conferred transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that demonstrates a bachelor's or higher degree and completion of an approved teacher preparation program. Additional transcripts reflecting coursework for endorsement qualifications are also required. ( View Transcript Requirements )
• Transcripts from institutions outside the US must be in English or include an authentic English translation and have been evaluated by a NACES member for course-by-course equivalency.
  • Note: Unofficial transcripts are never accepted. Please do not include them in your application.
• Three or more years of full-time, licensed teaching experience within the past seven years in the state of licensure OR a completed Approved Program Verification Form. If you have three or more years' post-preparation experience as a full-time, fully licensed teacher (not as a substitute, emergency, provisional, probationary or  temporary teacher), please include in the application copies of all licenses (expired or current) that cover this experience. If you do not have three years of full-time licensed teaching experience, please include a complete approved program verification form, unless your teacher preparation program was completed outside the US. ( Download the Verification Form (PDF)  )
  • Out-of-state applicants who completed an alternative preparation program and who have not yet accrued the three years' fully licensed experience post-preparation must also include an official, signed letter from the department of education in the state in which you completed the alternative program confirming that the program you completed was indeed state-approved. It must also outline the program requirements for the alternative program you completed.
• Obtain the results for any CDE-accepted PLACE or PRAXIS exams you have passed.
  • Do not include results for exams other than those specifically accepted by the state of Colorado.
  • If you have not taken any of the exams listed, please do not select an exam in the pull-down menu. CDE will review your application materials to determine whether an exam is required.
  • Our Credentialing Guide for Out-of-State Applicants  provides clarification on what to expect from the licensure evaluation process.
     

Employment

• Your employment history will help determine the type of Colorado license you will be issued.  It is critical that you include the information below:
  • Copies of all active and expired teaching licenses covering the years of experience you have had as an educator.
  • All employment history, including employer/business name, dates of employment, reason for leaving, work addresses, supervisor names, and contact information.

Self-Disclosure

• If applicable, obtain supporting documentation for the following:
  • Past criminal history
  • Disciplinary actions
  • Any issues related to licensure or employment

  ( View Self-Disclosure Requirements )

Register and Apply

Have all the information mentioned above? Begin the online application by registering an account in the eLicensing system or, if you are already registered, log in. Select the TEACHER application. 

Important Notes:

• Fingerprint-based background checks must be received by CDE in order to fully process and evaluate an application. Please be sure you have submitted your fingerprints specifically for CDE licensure purposes.
• By signing an application, you are verifying that the application is complete and that all questions within have been answered truthfully.
• Should CDE require additional information to evaluate your application, your application will be deemed "incomplete" and you will be contacted via the email address with which you created your account to provide that information.
• State statute prohibits the refunding of any application evaluation fee.
• Once you have submitted an application, please check your status online regularly to ensure you have met all requirements. 

. Register  OR  Log In

For questions, email CDELicensing@cde.state.co.us or call 303-866-6628.