Colorado Teaching License (Complete Guide)

Prefer to specialize in your subject area or work with older students? Teach in a middle or high school and go deep in your favorite topics, whether it’s biology, geometry, history, literature or math. (And lots of others!)

If you have industry experience in agriculture, business, manufacture and repair, or technology, you may want to teach in a high school industry training program. 

Many of these subjects don't require a bachelor's degree, but you do need industry certifications and experience. 

Some subjects—like P.E., music or art—allow you to work at any level, from elementary through high school. 

The same goes for many special education endorsements. These subjects allow flexibility to move between grade levels and find a wider range of job openings. 

Some subjects have a higher need for teachers than others. If you want to make the biggest impact and have guaranteed job openings, consider learning more about where you’re needed most, including science, bilingual education, early childhood, and special education.

Get the full list of Colorado shortage areas. Our Guide to Colorado Licensure Areas will give you details.

Colorado’s littlest learners need teachers, too. You could work in a childcare center, a Pre-K program, or an elementary school. Some licenses don’t require you to have a bachelor’s degree right away, so it can be a good place to start if you need to earn a degree. Learn more about Early Childhood Education. 

Love lots of subjects? Enjoy working with young children? Elementary teachers get to make fun lesson plans and engaging activities for math, reading, science, history and more for grades K-6. 

Most teaching licenses require you to have a bachelor’s degree. There are a couple of exceptions though:

• Some Early Childhood Education positions do not require a bachelor’s degree. But they do require teacher education and experience. We can walk you through the details in our Guide to Early Childhood Education in Colorado.
• Many Career & Technical Education positions rely on your industry experience rather than a degree. Learn about options in our Guide to Colorado Licensure Areas.

Nope! For almost all teaching positions, you want a degree or lots of coursework in your specific teaching subject—that means a degree in math to teach math, a degree in science to teach science, and so on.

If you’re an undergraduate, you may find it helpful to minor in education, if that’s an option. Talk to your college advisor about this.

If you already have a degree in a field like anthropology or marketing, and you want to teach science or English, you need a certain number of course credits in those subjects, though you may be eligible to take a test to show you know your subject.

Not sure if your degree counts? Talk to a TEACH Colorado advisor for FREE. Let our experts walk you through your options.

Talk to an Advisor

You don't always know what you want to teach when you first choose a major. Or you may be thinking about switching careers into your new area of interest. 

Either way, you can earn an endorsement in a subject other than your degree subject in a couple of ways:

• Additional credits: If you have at least 24 credits in the subject you want to teach with a B or better grade average, even if it's not your major, you may be eligible to teach it.
• Testing: For many subjects, you can test to show your qualifications. 

No matter which method you choose, you'll want to make sure you enroll in a teaching program that offers an endorsement option in the subject you want to teach. If your major and your subject are really different (you have a degree in math and want to teach art), talk to an advisor before diving in!

Talk to a TEACH Colorado advisor.

A "traditional" bachelor’s or master’s degree program allows you to weave a teaching license into your degree program. These programs offer the most intensive support, with full coursework, student teaching, and lots of feedback. 

If you don't have a degree yet, then a bachelor's degree program is the perfect way to combine your education with your teaching license. And you can begin at a community college, too. Many community colleges offer direct pathways and experience for future teachers.

If you do have a bachelor's degree, then you should consider whether you want an advanced degree or whether you're only looking for a program that helps you earn a license.

A master's degree program offers extra support to learn the teaching trade, from lesson planning to classroom management—and you earn an advanced degree. Of course, the program may take longer and cost more than other options, such as alternative licensure, though you'll be eligible for financial aid. 

Apprenticeship programs pair you with a school district to get hands-on experience in your grade and subject while earning a paycheck and earning your license. These are great if you like to learn by doing and want to fast-track your license. 

These programs are designed especially for early childhood education, elementary education, and special education. You can learn more at the Colorado Department of Education website, here. 

Typically for working adults with a degree, an alternative licensure program allows you to start teaching right away after a short training period, and with significant support during your first year on the job.

Unlike a master's degree program, you won't earn a degree with this pathway and you'll dive right into the classroom. So if you feel confident jumping right in—with support from your school—this pathway might be right for you. 

You’ll need to enroll in an alternative licensure teaching program and take courses outside of your job, but you have two years to finish up the program and earn your license while you teach. 

If you already work at a school—as a teacher's aide, substitute teacher, or other instructional support staff, you may be eligible for specialized programs that keep you working at your current school while you advance your career into the classroom. 

At the University of Colorado's Paraprofessional to Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway, you can take courses online while staying at your school in your hometown. 

Learn more about the Paraprofessional to Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway.

Not already working at a school? Consider applying! 

Schools have many important roles helping teachers in and out of the classroom. You’ll gain valuable classroom management experience, make connections with teachers and schools, and earn a living while working towards your license. 

There’s no simple answer to this question. It depends on your circumstances and whether you already have a bachelor’s degree or need to earn one. Some programs pay you during training.

Here are some factors that affect the cost of your teaching training:

• You don’t have a bachelor’s degree. If you need to earn a bachelor’s degree, then you’ll be looking at the cost of a college education. Colorado has programs such as the Colorado Promise that pay for up to two years of your schooling!
• You have a degree in your teaching subject. If you already have a degree in the subject you want to teach, you can apply for teaching positions through alternative licensure and start earning a salary right away. You’ll still need to pay for your teaching program, but it will be offset by your salary.
• You are an experienced tradesperson. If you are experienced in an industry skill or trade, you may be able to begin teaching right away through career and technical education!
• You plan to teach in a high need subject area. You’ll find additional scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness options if you choose a subject area such as special education, math, science, bilingual ed or early childhood education.

Get the Finances Guide for Future Teachers to learn more. 

Colorado wants to make teaching programs as affordable as possible. You may be eligible for the following types of financial assistance for future teachers.

• Colorado Promise. You can get two free years of college if your family income is lower than $90,000. Learn more about the Colorado Promise.
• Scholarships & Grants. These are free money based on factors such as the subject you choose to teach, the program you enroll in, your income, and more.
• Loan Forgiveness. If you do need to take loans for school, you can get them forgiven—that means you won’t have to pay them all back—for teaching. Learn more about loan forgiveness programs.
• Earn While You Learn. Some programs allow you to earn a salary while you earn your teaching license. This salary offers both living expenses and offsets the cost of your program.