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Colorado Department of Education application documents

Which documents does Colorado require from an out-of-state teacher?

The state, institution, employer or testing provider may need to send some records directly.

Open Teachers from Out-of-State/Out-of-Country
Official state guidance State makes the decision Checked 2026-08-23

Core application evidence

Requirement

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.

Which application this evidence supports

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.

What can change this answer

CDE determines the license duration, endorsement alignment and any examination requirement only after reviewing a complete application.

Conditions to resolve before sending records

  • •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

Send identity documents and background records only where the state agency instructs. TeachPassport does not receive them.

Official sources

Check again by 2026-11-23