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How to become a teacher in Colorado
Steps drawn from the state's data
- Earn a bachelor's degree. At least one initial credential requires one.
- Complete a teacher preparation program. Colorado has 37 Title II providers.
- Complete a background check or fingerprinting.
- Apply to Colorado Department of Education for an initial credential, such as Initial Teacher License.
- Career changers can use one of 2 alternative routes instead of a traditional program.
Teacher preparation providers in Colorado
| Provider | Program types | Enrollment | Completers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 130 | 46 |
| ASPIRE: University of Colorado Denver | Alternative, IHE-based | 621 | 311 |
| Boulder Journey School-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 13 | 10 |
| Centennial BOCES-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 61 | 61 |
| Colorado Christian University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 362 | 130 |
| Colorado College | Traditional | 9 | 7 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Traditional | 68 | 66 |
| Colorado Mountain College | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 170 | 25 |
| Colorado River BOCES | Alternative, not IHE-based | 183 | 48 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Traditional | 30 | 9 |
| Colorado State University Fort Collins | Traditional | 373 | 128 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 210 | 68 |
| Douglas County School District-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 31 | 0 |
| Eagle Rock School and Professional Dev | Alternative, not IHE-based | 4 | 3 |
| East Central BOCES Limon | Alternative, not IHE-based | 46 | 27 |
| Fort Lewis College | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 106 | 45 |
| Fort Morgan School District RE-3 | Alternative, not IHE-based | 46 | 7 |
| Friends School-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 19 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 1,105 | 237 |
| Mountain BOCES-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 152 | 45 |
| Northeast BOCES, Haxtun | Alternative, not IHE-based | 20 | 18 |
| Northwest BOCES, steamboat spring | Alternative, not IHE-based | 27 | 17 |
| PEBC Teacher Residency | Alternative, not IHE-based | 105 | 82 |
| Pikes Peak BOCES-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 187 | 52 |
| Regis University - CO | Traditional | 128 | 41 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education-CO | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 301 | 84 |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design | Traditional | 88 | 10 |
| San Luis Valley BOCES Alamosa | Alternative, not IHE-based | 12 | 6 |
| South Central BOCES | Alternative, not IHE-based | 6 | 3 |
| Southeast BOCES-ALT | Alternative, not IHE-based | 18 | 18 |
| Uncompahgre BOCES: West Central Licensing Program | Alternative, not IHE-based | 19 | 11 |
| University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder | Traditional | 449 | 100 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 570 | 119 |
| University of Colorado Denver | Traditional | 359 | 63 |
| University of Denver | Traditional | 64 | 34 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Traditional | 1,093 | 266 |
| Western Colorado State University | Traditional; Alternative, IHE-based | 77 | 64 |
About teacher preparation in Colorado
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) strives to ensure all teachers are of the highest quality and possess the required licenses and endorsements. For most teachers in Colorado, obtaining licensure in the state is done primarily through completing an approved educator preparation program at an established college or university (“traditional route”) or through a designated agency for alternative teacher preparation (“alternative route”).
Governance Structure & Accountability
Beginning in fall 2023, due to the passing of Senate Bill 23-258, CDE and the State Board of Education have sole responsibility for authorizing and monitoring both traditional and alternative educator preparation providers. Previously, this responsibility was shared with the Colorado Department of Higher Education. As stipulated in 23-1-121(4)(a)(I),C.R.S. and 22-60.5, C.R.S., CDE is required to review all traditional and alternative educator preparation providers not more frequently than once every five years to ensure their programs meet the statutory requirements for reauthorization.
Reauthorization review teams are comprised of academic experts in the field of educator preparation, individuals familiar with the P20 pipeline in Colorado and, when possible, a local K12 practitioner from a partner district associated with the institution. In addition to on-site reauthorization visits, CDE reviews all new educator preparation program proposals submitted by institutions of higher education (IHEs) and proposals submitted for alternative licensure programs. Upon successful review by staff, new program proposals are approved by the official governing board of the agency, the State Board of Education.
CDE has a statutory responsibility to prepare an annual report on the effectiveness of both traditional and alternative educator preparation programs, with data on traditional programs provided by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). The focus of this Educator Preparation Program Report (EPP Report) is on an educator’s first three years of placement as a teacher and includes the following outcomes: (a) educator placement, (b) educator mobility, (c) educator retention, and (d) educator performance evaluation ratings. Additionally, the report includes the number of students who graduated from each educator preparation program during the past year and who received initial teaching licenses. The EPP Report was released for the first time in January 2020 and is refreshed annually with an additional year of data. In January 2022, first-attempt and highest-score pass rates on initial licensure exams and initial licensure application and approval rates were added to the EPP Report.
State Focus
In 2018-19 CDE created the Educator Shortage Survey, which is an annual statewide survey for all school districts and BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services) that employ educators, to gather data on the number of vacant teaching positions by endorsement area as well as the number of vacant special services provider positions and the ways those vacancies were filled, if they were filled at all. These shortage data allow CDE to identify educator shortage areas in Colorado and to report to the Colorado Legislature to inform decisions regarding support for recruiting and retaining educators. The 2024-25 data reflected an increase in the number of vacancies statewide but a decrease in the use of shortage mechanisms to fill vacancies.
In addition to the Educator Shortage Survey, CDE also maintains publicly-available interactive GIS maps to visualize the Colorado educator workforce pipeline. These GIS maps provide insight into district educator shortages, educator preparation program enrollment and completion, educator diversity, and other contextual demographic and economic data. Especially useful for teams tackling educator shortage challenges, these GIS maps support the exploration of how place influences educator shortage and the development and implementation of recommendations and plans to strengthen Colorado’s educator workforce pipeline.
Additionally, CDE has partnered with other statewide education, workforce development, and community groups to create a one-stop-shop that ignites interest and guides people into the profession of teaching. For example, one close partner is TEACH Colorado, which is focused on improving the perception of teaching and recruiting the next generation of teachers in Colorado. TEACH Colorado, launched in 2020, serves as the tech-forward teacher recruitment infrastructure that (a) identifies "prospects" who are open to teaching; (b) cultivates their interest by showing them how teaching meets what they want in a career; and (c) converts them into applicants of an educator preparation program by providing supports and resources. In 2023-2024, TEACH Colorado partnered with 100% of the educator preparation programs in Colorado to provide support to candidates.