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Colorado teacher license transfer

How to transfer your teaching license to Colorado

Colorado evaluates out-of-state or out-of-country preparation, content knowledge, licenses and licensed experience for a first Colorado teacher license and requested endorsements.

Build my license plan See official sources

Leaving Colorado? Choose where you are moving

Starting point

Does Colorado accept out-of-state teaching licenses?

An out-of-state license can open a path to Colorado certification, but it does not transfer automatically. The state decides which certificate, endorsements, tests or additional requirements apply.

Your exact route can still depend on your license type, preparation, experience, subjects, grade levels and testing history.

How teacher license reciprocity works · Look up your current license

Mobility compact

Colorado joined the teacher mobility compact

Compact eligibility may matter when your current license also comes from a member state. Joining the compact does not replace the need for current Colorado application instructions and an eligible-license match.

Check compact states and eligibility

Keep your place

Your Colorado application checklist

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State review still applies

What can change your path

  • • A valid Social Security number is required to apply; an applicant who has only an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number must contact CDE before applying
  • • The program verification form comes from the registrar or certification officer of the preparing college or university; a program completed outside the United States is verified through the NACES course-by-course evaluation instead
  • • An out-of-state alternative-program completer without three years of fully licensed experience after preparation also needs an official, signed letter from that state's department of education confirming the program was state-approved and describing its entry and exit requirements
  • • Listed work experience counts as licensed experience only where the license copies cover its dates
  • • The application must be submitted within 30 days after CDE receives the background check
  • • After an incomplete-application notice, the applicant has 60 days to supply the missing material or request reconsideration; CDE does not extend that deadline to wait for a background check

What the state says

1 official source

These facts come from official sources. The state agency still makes the final licensing decision.

Credential outcome

A first Colorado teacher license may be issued for one, three or seven years depending on the applicant's qualifications and CDE evaluation.

Content knowledge

Each requested endorsement needs accepted content-knowledge evidence, such as an approved exam, endorsement worksheet or CDE multiple-measures approval; CDE may determine an exam is still required.

Core evidence

CDE lists official transcripts from every institution, the program verification form, copies of all educator licenses, work history, identity evidence, any required disclosure documents and, for some alternative-program completers, a state letter confirming the program.

Base application fee

$110 is the published base teacher-license application fee. Colorado law prohibits refunding the application-evaluation fee; fingerprint and third-party costs are separate.

Agency review

CDE states that it evaluates a complete application within 45 business days and requires filing within 30 days after receiving the background check. An applicant has 60 days after an incomplete notice to cure the deficiency or request reconsideration; missing the deadline causes the application to be deemed withdrawn.

State certification help

4 guides

01Application documentsSee the core records to prepare and who may need to send themOpen 02Out-of-state testingSee how the state treats prior tests for an out-of-state applicationOpen 03Application feeCheck the published amount and what it does not includeOpen 04Processing timeRead the agency’s published timing and which application it coversOpen

Why your details matter

State websites describe the possible routes. The right one for you can depend on your license, preparation, experience, subjects, grades, tests, National Board status and compact eligibility. Your license plan keeps those details beside the state’s requirements and application steps.

One thing to know: CDE determines the license duration, endorsement alignment and any examination requirement only after reviewing a complete application.

Plan the whole move

Questions to answer before you apply

The application is only one part of the move. Check the costs, timing and records that can hold up an otherwise complete file.

01What could this cost?Plan for state fees, records, tests and fingerprints.Read 02How long could it take?See what affects review time and when to start.Read 03Will my test scores count?Check prior Praxis scores before registering again.Read 04Will I need new fingerprints?Use the destination’s required process and vendor.Read 05How will my experience count?Prepare the verification the state actually accepts.Read 06Should I apply to jobs first?Work out whether the license or job offer comes first.Read

Common license moves to Colorado

1 routes

01TX → COFrom TexasOpen

Official sources

State agency material

Colorado Department of EducationTeachers from Out-of-State/Out-of-Country
Transfer a teaching license to Colorado | TeachPassport