Teaching in Colorado is a rewarding career choice that makes a difference in children’s lives. The state believes in education, and is ranked number 4 in the country for 2023 by US News and World Reports’. However, the high praise for their quality schools hasn’t sheltered the state from the teaching shortage impacting the United States. 

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) conducted a 2022-23 Educator Shortage Survey, reporting a 64% increase in unfilled teaching positions from the previous school year. The CDE has opened an Educator Recruitment and Retention Department to help address the growing shortage.  

Colorado’s need for quality educators makes it the perfect time to enter the profession. However, each state has its own requirements to become a licensed teacher. In this guide, we’ve assembled the essential information you’ll need on teaching in Colorado, including the pathways to becoming certified. 

Portrait of a cheerful group of students celebrating in class

Is Teaching the Right Career for You? 

Teaching is an attractive career choice for those passionate about education and committed to making a difference. The role requires dedication, creativity, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to collaborate and persist through challenges. Meeting these high demands requires high energy and self-motivation. 

The incentives to join the vocation are not stimulated by promises of wealth but with opportunities to grow and inspire others. However, teaching has benefits, including substantial vacation time, family-friendly working hours, healthcare, and consistent income.

Salaries and packages vary between school districts and US states. For instance, the average annual salary in Colorado is $58,481, whereas in Kansas, it is $54,815. 

State Requirements for Teaching in Colorado

Teaching requirements in the United States vary across the country. A state’s particular steps to licensing and certification also depend on the grade level and subject a candidate wishes to teach. To help address the teaching shortage, Colorado offers alternative pathways to teaching in addition to the traditional route.

1. Bachelor’s Degree

Colorado requires all teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree as does the rest of the country. The degree must be obtained by a university or college accredited by one of the state’s approved associations listed on their website. 

Those attending a college and university in Colorado can obtain their teacher certification program requirement while pursuing their bachelor’s degree in education or preparing for a secondary teaching degree in their preferred subject.  A, B- or higher is necessary to meet the CDE’s measures of content competency. 

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree will enable you to be a confident and effective teacher in the classroom. You’ll develop necessary education skills such as: 

  • Learning to work with students in the grade levels you wish to teach.
  • Understanding of how to provide a supportive learning environment.
  • Developing and implementing a lesson plan that meets state and federal standards.
  • Implementing various teaching techniques to ensure all students’ needs are met. 
  • Acquiring tools for classroom management.

Colorado offers many options for those seeking a career in education, including:  

  • Elementary Education, BA 
  • K-12 Education, BA (licensure in Art, Music, PE, Special Education, Theatre, or World Languages)
  • Elementary Education, BA (English, Mathematics, or Social Studies)
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Secondary Education, Biology BS
  • Secondary Education, Geosciences BS
  • Secondary Education, Spanish BA
  • Secondary Education, History BA

Several Colorado universities and colleges also have programs for secondary education where the candidate pursues a bachelor’s degree in the subject they wish to teach, like mathematics or English, and then is provided additional licensure training necessary for teaching grades 7-12.

2. Complete an Accredited Teacher Preparation Program

Colorado requires candidates to have completed an approved educator preparation program as either part of their bachelor’s degree or through an alternative licensure program. 

3. Gain Student Teaching Experience

The CDE has not set a minimum requirement for student teaching experience. However, each college, university, or alternative licensure program determines how many hours of fieldwork, student teaching, or mentored teaching are required to complete their program. 

Those pursuing the traditional route must be fingerprinted before they begin their student teaching. These fingerprints are not the same as having a fingerprint and background check for your teaching license. 

4. Pass Content Tests Or Multiple Measures of Content Competency

CDE Teacher Endorsement Requirements include passing the Praxis exam for their endorsement.

However, Colorado’s Multiple Measures of Content Competency pathways offer other options to those seeking their first Colorado teaching license. Competency will be determined by reviewing the applicant’s degree, coursework, grades, and/or portfolio. 

5. Create a COOL Account

You need to set up a COOL Account before obtaining fingerprints for your background check. Do not complete your application after setting up your COOL account until you’ve completed Step 6. 

6. Pass a Background Check

CDE requires a complete set of fingerprints to be submitted into the candidate’s COOL eLicensing account before completing the application for a license or authorization to teach. These fingerprints are different from any submitted for student teaching and must be performed by an approved vendor. 

After the fingerprints are submitted, applicants have 30 days to submit their completed license application. Don’t wait for the background check results, which can take six weeks to arrive. Those who submit their application after 30 days must have new fingerprints taken. 

Fingerprints will be forwarded to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These agencies confirm a candidate’s identity and check for any criminal history or records of child abuse or neglect. The purpose of these checks is to ensure student and staff safety at Colorado schools. 

You can check on the status of your background check via your COOL account. 

7. Get Certified

Teaching candidates in Colorado will apply for an Initial Teacher License through their COOL Account after they’ve submitted their fingerprints for the background checks. Applicants must have electronic copies of all required documents, including:

  • Bachelor’s or higher degree. 
  • Proof of completion of the teaching preparation program.
  • Demonstration of content competency for your grade and/or content area.
  • A valid form of ID.
  • Record of prior work experience.
  • Documentation if you have any prior criminal history, disciplinary actions, or issues related to licensure or employment.

A decision is typically made within 45 days. If you receive an incomplete, you will have 60 days to provide any missing documentation to be reconsidered for your license. 

Consider Getting A Master’s Degree

Colorado does not require a master’s degree to teach. However, obtaining a master’s often provides candidates with an edge in securing a position in the most sought-after school districts, improves pay, and can lead to future careers in administration.  

A master’s degree can be obtained after becoming a teacher in the traditional route. In addition, some of Colorado’s approved alternative preparation programs combine a master’s degree with their teacher training for those already possessing a non-education bachelor’s degree. 

Alternative Pathway To Teaching in Colorado

Colorado has alternative teacher pathways that enable individuals to work in a teacher position while fulfilling the rest of the state’s requirements. These pathways allow candidates to pursue a teaching career without returning to college or university and obtaining a second bachelor’s degree in education. They also allow candidates to earn an income while training. 

To take part in an alternative program, a Colorado candidate must:

  • Already have a bachelor’s degree or higher from a college or university that meets the state’s accreditation standards. 
  • Be accepted in an alternative teacher program approved by the CDE.
  • Apply and be accepted for one of two alternative pathway teaching licenses.

The CDE alternative licenses for candidates using the alternative pathway are:

  • Alternative Teacher License
  • Interim Authorization

The Alternative Teacher License is for candidates who meet the state’s requirements for content knowledge concerning the subject they will teach. The license is issued for the length of the alternative teacher program the candidate is enrolled in, typically one to two years. 

To demonstrate content knowledge, the applicant will need one of the following:

  • Degree in the content area.
  • Twenty-four semester hours of coursework in the content area that is reflected on an official transcript.
  • Passing the PRAXIS exams for that content area.

The Interim Authorization is for candidates who have not met the CDE’s content knowledge requirements. The license is for one year and can be renewed once. By the end of the second year, candidates must be able to fulfill the content knowledge requirement to continue teaching.  

Getting Hired as a Teacher

Getting hired as a teacher in Colorado requires obtaining certification first or being part of the CDE’s alternative pathways. Once these requirements are met, you can proceed to the next steps in finding a teaching position. 

We’ve outlined the steps to getting hired as a teacher. To ensure your success, don’t jump ahead in the process. 

Polish Your CV

Your CV is your most effective tool in reaching the crucial interview stage. To ensure your CV is the best it can be you must have a clear and professional layout and proofread it for typos. 

Pro tip: Always show your CV to others for constructive feedback. Excellent people to ask are:

  • Teachers or administrators already working in education.
  • Professors from your university or college.
  • Coaches or mentors from your alternative teaching program.

When your CV is perfect, save it as a template. Now, it can be tailored for each position you apply for, considering the district’s location, ethos, and education philosophy. The more research you put into a potential job opportunity, the better you can frame your CV to meet their needs. 

Upgrade Your Skill Set

Districts still demand excellence from their applicants despite the teaching shortage. They require candidates to have skills that will lead to success. Even those new to the education sector can demonstrate crucial skills by highlighting work they’ve done through other employment, student teaching, or volunteer work. 

Teaching skills you should brush up on or acquire include the following:

  • Emotional intelligence: Schools are awash with emotions and drama. It is essential not to let yourself be swept up in it all but to stay calm, collected, and self-aware. However, it is also imperative not to be closed off to the needs and feelings of others. Empathy to students and colleagues is necessary to understand the motivation behind their actions and opinions. 
  • Teamwork: Teachers cannot operate alone if they want to help their students meet their goals. True educational success must be realized through working with colleagues, students, guardians, and the community. 
  • Media literacy: Teachers must be able to assess and ascertain if any material they intend to use in the classroom is trustworthy, accurate, and suitable for the age group. Sources include books, worksheets, videos, websites, and learning apps. 
  • Organization: Schools have a lot going on in addition to tightly packed schedules, loaded curriculums, and many extracurricular activities. Meeting teaching demands in this dynamic environment requires maintaining an ordered environment and possessing excellent time management. 
  • Imaginative thinking: Being able to create fresh and unique ideas leads to a more engaged classroom and aids in finding new solutions to issues that crop up in schools. Being able to motivate students to embrace their creativity will also lift the learning environment and lead to greater success in future education and careers. 

Begin Your Job Search

The first stop in your Colorado job search is the CDE website. They recommend the following links to finding a perfect teaching job for you:

Also, contact any school district you are eager to work in. Even if they are not currently seeking qualified teachers, it’s an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself and have your CV kept on file for when an opening becomes available. 

Join a Professional Organization and Network

Joining a professional teaching organization or network provides educators with support and advocacy and enables potentially useful connections.  

Professional organizations in Colorado to consider include:

Ace Your Job Interview

It is essential to ace a job interview to secure a teaching position in Colorado. To help you reach success, take a look at our top tips:

  • Research the school and district. Each school has a unique dynamic, educational philosophy, extracurricular offerings, and demands. During the interview, you must present yourself and craft your answers to meet their needs. 
  • Frame your replies to display a passion for student success. During an interview, a school assesses your ability to lead their students and help them reach their goals. Thus, the interview isn’t about who you are but what you can bring to the benefit of the students. Ensure your answers put students first even when telling your own stories. 
  • Have questions ready. Interviews allow you to learn more about the district you seek to work in. In addition, the questions you ask reflect your priorities, interests, and views of working within an educational environment. Have questions already prepared that can’t be answered with a quick web search. Have a few ready as some may be answered during the interview before you have an opportunity to inquire.   

Career Outlook & Salary in Colorado

Colorado had over 9,700 teaching and SSP positions needing to be filled in 2022-23. That number is projected to grow even bigger as the state’s population continues to rise. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for teachers is projected to grow by 5% from 2001-2031. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary of an elementary teacher in Colorado is $59,170, and for secondary teachers, it’s $62,730. 

Those seeking a teaching position in Colorado can find job links on the CDE website. The CDE reports that the greatest shortage areas are special education, early childhood education, mathematics, science, and world languages. 

Become a Teacher in Colorado

Colorado is an excellent state to teach for those who enjoy the great outdoors and staying healthy. It is the most active state in the United States, with over 83% of its residents taking part in some form of exercise and ranked second in the country for a healthy lifestyle. 

Teaching in Colorado provides a fulfilling career with an excellent work-life balance. It is an investment in the youth and local community. The profession is one of the best ways to make a positive difference in our country.

If you are excited about starting an inspiring educational career in Colorado, Teachers of Tomorrow, the largest national alternative certification provider, is committed to helping you realize that goal.