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    What Is Alternative Licensure?

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    FAQs

What is alternative licensure?

An alternative licensure teaching candidate leads a class of high school students.

In a nutshell, alternative licensure lets you teach while you complete a teacher preparation program. 

With an alternative teaching license, you can: 

  • Earn a salary while you complete your teaching program.
  • Gain experience while you learn the tools of the trade.
  • Finish a teaching program for less money and less time than a standard program.

Start with your college degree.

A Colorado alternative licensure candidate sits in her classroom, filling out paperwork on a clipboard

If you have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to start your path to the classroom today. Alternative licensure could be a good fit if any of these apply to you: 

  • You have a bachelor’s but have not completed a teacher preparation program.
  • You’re mid-career but want to make a difference.
  • You’re a community member with life experiences you could apply to the classroom.
  • You’re a school staff member who wants to get your teaching license faster.

How to apply for an alternative teaching license

An alternative teaching candidate leads a bilingual class of elementary students.

There are a few steps to getting your alternative teaching license. Here’s the short version:

  1. Earn at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 
  2. Apply for teaching jobs in a Colorado school district. Check out the district job boards below to find the position that’s right for you!
  3. Enroll in an alternative licensure program. (2) Many school districts work directly with alternative licensure programs to train teachers.

Our (free!) Alternative Licensure Guide has more details about eligibility, steps to get started and resources to help along the way!

Download the Guide

Apply for a teaching job

Explore job boards from districts across Colorado that partner with an alternative teaching program!

Job Board
Aspen 1
Eagle County RE-50
Hayden RE-1
Lake County RE-1
Moffat County 1
Rangely RE-4
Roaring Fork RE-1
South Routt RE-3
Steamboat Springs
Summit County RE-1
West Grand

Job Board
Briggsdale RE-10
Brush RE-2(J)
East Grand
Eaton RE-2
Estes Park R-3
Greeley-Evans RE-6
Fort Morgan RE-3
Meeker RE-1
Park-Estes Park RE-3
Pawnee RE-12 (Grover)
Platte Valley RE-7 (Kersey)
Poudre R-1
Prairie RE-11
St. Vrain RE-1J
Thompson R2-J
Weld County RE-1 (Gilcrest)
Weld RE-4
Weld RE-5J (Johnstown-Milliken)
Weld RE-8 (Fort Lupton)
Weld RE-9
Weldon Valley RE-20(J)
Wiggins RE-50(J)

 

Job Board
Agate 300
Akron R-1
Arickaree R-2
Arriba/Flagler C-20
Bennett 29J
Bethune R-5
Buffalo RE-4J
Burlington RE-6J
Byers 32J
Cheyenne Co RE-5
Deer Trail 26J
Frenchman RE-3
Genoa-Hugo C113
Haxton RE-2J
Hi-Plains (Vona) R-23
Holyoke
Idalia RJ-3
Julesburg RE-1
Karval RE-23
Kit Carson R-1
Liberty J-4
Limon RE-4J
Lone Star 101
Otis R-3
Peetz Plateau RE-5
Revere Schools
Strasburg 31J
Stratton R-4
Valley (Sterling) RE-1
Woodlin R-104
Wray
Yuma 1

Job Board
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Adams 14/Commerce City
Adams-Arapahoe 28J (Aurora)
Archuleta
Boulder Valley RE-2
Cherry Creek 5
Clear Creek RE-1
Denver County 1
DSST Public Schools
Douglas County RE-1
Englewood 1
Gilpin County RE-1
Jefferson County R-1
KIPP Colorado
Littleton 6
Mapleton 1
New America School
Peak to Peak Charter School
Pinnacle Charter School
Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen
Rocky Mountain Prep
School District 27J
Sheridan 2
STRIVE Prep
Weld RE-3J
Westminster Public Schools


 

 

Job Board
Academy 20
Big Sandy 100J
Calhan RJ-1
Cañon City RE-1
Cheyenne Mountain 12
Colorado Springs 11
Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
Cripple Creek-Victor RE-1
District 49
Edison 54 JT
Elbert 200
Elizabeth
Ellicott 22
Fremont RE-2
Fountain 8
Hanover 28
Harrison 2
Kiowa C-2
Lewis-Palmer 38
Manitou Springs 14
Miami-Yoder 60 JT
Park County RE-2
Peyton 23 JT
Platte Canyon 1
Pueblo City 60
Pueblo County 70
Salida
Widefield 3
Woodland Park RE-2

Job Board
De Beque 49-JT
Delta County 50J
Garfield RE-2
Garfield 16
Gunnison Watershed RE-1J
Hinsdale RE-1
Mesa County Valley 51
Montrose RE-1J
Norwood R-2J
Ouray R-1
Plateau Valley 50
Ridgway R-2
Telluride R-1
West End RE-2

 

Job Board
Bayfield
Centennial R-1
Center 26 JT
Creede Consolidated 1
Del Norte C-7
Dolores County RE-2
Dolores RE-4A
Durango 9-R
Ignacio 11-JT
Mancos
Moffat 2
Monte Vista C-8
Montezuma-Cortez RE-1
Mountain Valley RE1
North Conejos RE-1J
Sanford 6J
Sangre De Cristo RE-22J
Sargent RE-33J
Sierra Grande R-30
South Conejos RE-1

 

Job Board
Aguilar RE-6
Alamosa RE-11J
Buena Vista
Custer County
Fremont RE-3/Cotopaxi
North Conejos RE-1J
Silverton

 

Job Board
Branson Reorganized 82
Campo RE-6
Cheraw
Crowley RE-1J
East Otero R-1
Fowler R-4J
Granada RE-1
Hoehne RE-3
Holly RE-3
Huerfano RE-1
Kim RE-88
Kiowa RE-1/Eads
Lamar RE-2
Las Animas RE-1
La Veta RE-2
Manzanola 3J
McClave RE-2
Plainview RE-2
Primero Reorganized 2
Pritchett RE-3
Rocky Ford
Swink
Wiley

 

Job Board
Charter School Institute
Colorado Early Colleges
Colorado League of Charter Schools
ECE Centers
Facility Schools
Facility School: Devereux Colorado
Facility School: Hampden Youth Campus
Facility School: Laradon
Facility School: Shiloh House
Facility School: Spectra School
Facility School: Third Way Center
Facility School: Tennyson Center for Children

 

Get free career advice

Have questions? Talk to an alternative licensure specialist over phone, video or email! Choose a date and time, then click to sign up. Don't see a calendar? Try logging out and refreshing your page, or email colorado@teach.org for assistance.

Learn what to expect and how to prepare for your session.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a teaching license or certificate from another state, you may not have to apply to an alternative teacher licensure program in Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Education has more information about the out-of-state licensing process. 

While we can’t guarantee you’ll find a job through an alternative pathway, demand for teachers is high, and it’s likely you’ll land a position sooner than later. School districts are actively looking for future teachers like you!

You may find a job faster or have more options if you get licensed in a state shortage area (like math, early childhood or special education) or in a high-need geographic area. Colorado’s rural districts especially need teachers across subject areas and grade levels. 

Colorado’s average teacher salary is over $60,000! Most teachers also receive comprehensive health insurance, retirement, vacation benefits and more.

That said, pay and benefits vary widely by district, so always check out district salary schedules to know what to expect. 

Learn more about Colorado teacher salaries.

Yes! There are many options to pay for your teaching program costs, especially if you teach in a rural school district. 

If you teach in a rural area, you’ll have access to special student loan forgiveness programs, stipends to cover your licensure costs and more. These opportunities provide up to $6,000 (and sometimes more!) to help pay for your teaching program. 

Learn more about support for rural educators. 

Not teaching in a rural area? Our Finances Guide has more ways to pay for your teaching program. 

What’s next

Start Teaching Before You Earn Your License

If you have a bachelor’s degree, you may be able to start teaching right away with an alternative teaching license.

Read More

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Not licensed but want to teach?

Learn how you can teach in Colorado with an alternative teaching license.

Download the Free Guide

In 2022, Colorado public schools had over 8,000 open teaching positions. (1) With an alternative teaching license, you’ll work in an in-demand field and support Colorado students at the same time.

References

  1. Colorado’s Educator Shortage Survey Results, Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/edshortage-surveyresults 
  2. Alternative Teacher Candidates: What You Need to Know, Colorado Department of Education. https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/altteacheroverview