Colorado Teaching License (Complete Guide)

If you know what ages or grades you want to teach—your next steps are to:

• Decide which subject/licensure area you’d like to teach (next section).
• Select an educator preparation program that offers your desired licensure area and matches your current education level.
• Apply to your educator preparation program.

Pro Tip: There are lots of different subject areas to teach at all ages and grade levels. At any level, getting licensed in a high-demand area provides more job opportunities. Your employment prospects may be stronger, especially at the elementary level, where there are a large number of applicants. 

Colorado teacher shortage areas

If you’re interested in a high-demand subject area, you’ll increase the number of job opportunities available to you when you earn your license.

If you want to teach early childhood or elementary school, consider choosing a high-demand area:

• Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-8)
• Early Childhood Special Education (Ages 0-8)
• Elementary Education (Grades K-6)

If you prefer middle or high school, high-demand areas include:

• Business/Marketing (Grades 7-12)
• English Language Arts (Grades 7-12)
• Math (Grades 6-8, 7-12)
• Science (Grades 7-12) 
• Special Education (Ages 5-21)
• Technology Education/Industrial Arts (Grades 7-12) 

To broaden your options, you could also consider a shortage area that allows you to teach in all grades (for a complete list of all-grade endorsement areas, see Choosing a Licensure Area):

• Instructional Technology
• Music
• Physical Education & Health
• Special Education (Ages 5-21)
• Visual Art
• World Languages
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Read more about high-need and critical shortage areas for teachers, and the perks that come with teaching in these crucial areas.

Heads Up: Most licensure areas require specific tests. Review the Colorado Department of Education’s testing requirements to get a leg up on which assessments are required for the subject area you wish to teach.

If you know what subject you’d like to teach, your next steps are to:

• Decide which ages or grade levels you’d like to teach.
• Identify your licensure area (next section).
• Select an educator preparation program that offers your desired licensure area and matches your current education level.
• Apply to your educator preparation program.

Pro Tip: When selecting ages or grade levels to teach, consider that your employment prospects may be stronger at the middle and high school levels than at the elementary level. And if you’re interested in teaching in a rural school, you’ll find plenty of opportunity there too!

The greatest need for teachers is in state-designated shortage areas.

Many high-need subjects are at the middle and high school levels:

• Business/Marketing
• English Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology Education (Industrial Arts)

To broaden your options, you could also consider a shortage area that allows you to teach in grades PK-12 (for a complete list of endorsement areas, see Choosing a Licensure Area):

• Instructional Technology
• Music
• Physical Education
• Special Education (Ages 5-21)
• Visual Art
• World Languages
• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Heads Up: Most licensure areas require specific tests. Review the Colorado Department of Education’s testing requirements to get a leg up on which assessments are required for the subject area you wish to teach.

If you’re considering teaching as the next stage in your career path, your next steps are to:

• Decide which ages or grade levels and the subject area you’d like to teach.
• Identify your licensure area (next section).
• Select an educator preparation program that offers your desired licensure area and matches your current education level.
• Apply to your educator preparation program.

Pro Tip: If you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree or have vocational work experience, you may be eligible for alternative pathways to licensure that put you in the classroom faster. Learn more about the alternative pathway and approved licensure areas.

• Do you have a bachelor’s degree? Licensure-only or alternative licensure programs can get you licensed to teach without earning an additional degree. These programs may take less time and cost less than traditional licensure programs. Head over to About Programs to learn more.
• Do you work in a trade or technical field? If you have experience as a skilled tradesperson or in certain vocations, you can get licensed to teach for a Career & Technical Education program in a middle or high school through an alternative program. Positions may be available in fields such as automotive, manufacturing, construction, culinary arts, hospitality, plumbing and others. You can learn more about this pathway here.
• Are you a military veteran? Colorado students need veterans to serve again as their teachers. Check out Troops to Teachers for resources and opportunities available for veterans interested in teaching.

If you’re already licensed to teach—in Colorado or elsewhere—your next step is to learn more about your eligibility for licensure by reviewing the Colorado Department of Education licensure page.

These resources will help determine your pathway to Colorado licensure if you are:

• An out-of-state or international educator looking to teach in Colorado.
• A licensed Colorado educator interested in renewing or advancing your licensure.
• A licensed Colorado educator wanting to add additional teaching areas to your license or earn an administrator license.

Colorado teaching license reciprocity

“Reciprocity” means that if you’re already licensed to teach outside of Colorado, your license may be valid in Colorado. 

Find out if you’re eligible for a Colorado license with your out-of-state credential.

Short answer: Yes, for most subjects. Long answer: There are many different endorsements, depending on where and what you want to teach. When you get licensed, you become eligible to teach certain subjects and grades in Colorado. You may be eligible for a special license if you have career experience or if you've been licensed to teach in another state. Check out the About Licensure page for more information on various pathways to the profession.

There are several paths to licensure. Step one is finding the right one for you, whether it’s entering a teaching program as an undergrad or a master’s degree program, an alternative preparation program, or anywhere in between.

Want to discuss your options? Talk to a coach.

Since requirements differ by subject and grade level, deciding who and what you want to teach can go a long way. 

If this is starting to feel a bit overwhelming, check out About Licensure for four steps to get licensed to teach in Colorado.