Colorado Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Colorado
To become a teacher in the state of Colorado, you must be certified by the Colorado State Board of Education. The certification requirements are as follows: completion of an approved teacher preparation program, a criminal background check, and the successful completion of a criterion-based content examination such as the PLACE or Praxis II.
- I want to be a teacher in Colorado, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about Colorado’s Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctorate Education Programs and Information.
Spotlight School
Popular Programs:
- AA in Education (Non-Licensure)
- M.Ed. - Teaching and Learning
- M.Ed. - Program Specialist in Early Childhood Specialist
- M.Ed Teaching and Learning-Middle Grades
- And more...
Colorado Teacher Education Requirements
In order to fulfill the requirements for Colorado teacher certification, one must complete a program of study that leads to endorsement in Colorado. The program can be completed in or out of state at either a public or private institution, but must undergo an approval process by the Colorado State Board of Education in order for the applicant to be deemed eligible for Colorado teaching certification. In order to become a certified teacher in Colorado, one must either pursue a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, or Special Education, depending upon the area in which the applicant wishes to teach. Potential applicants may also hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in a subject area such as English or History, for instance, and go on to complete an alternative teacher education program to become eligible for licensure.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
University of Northern Colorado: The University of Northern Colorado is home to the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences that has a longstanding reputation for excellent research and scholarship. The College recently was the recipient of the prestigious Christa McAuliffe Award for Exemplary Programs in Teacher Education, which is named after teacher Christa McAuliffe who was tragically killed aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. The College is made up of three schools including the School of Psychological Sciences, Special Education and Teacher Education. The programs are accredited by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, Colorado Department of Education, Council for Exceptional Children, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. UNC faculty and administration within the three schools have recently infused the curriculum with diverse topics that are critical in providing students with an expanded worldview in order to effectively teach in a global classroom.
In January 2012, Colorado’s unemployment rate was reported at 8.4%, very close to the national average according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Occupational Supply & Demand System projects 2,809 annual job openings in fields related to education and library resources in Colorado through 2018. The National Center for Education Statistics reported 48,692 public school and 4,830 private school teachers registered in Colorado in fall 2008 and 2007, respectively. Currently, K-12 education accounts for about 40% of Colorado’s general fund budget (The Sunshine Review). Reductions in K-12 and higher education funding have been proposed and may be implemented starting in the 2013 fiscal year, but the Sunshine Review reports that Gov. Hicklenlooper is hopeful that the full funding will be restored within 2-4 years. The beginning teacher’s salary is Colorado is presently $31,285 and the average teaching salary remains 27th highest in the country at $49,288 (NEA). The Colorado Education Association, a good resource for current news and information relating to education professionals, emphasizes the deleterious effects of state budget cuts, citing a lack of resources and reduction in wages. With the projected restoration of funding in the next several years and an aging teacher population, many of the 2,809 annual job openings may benefit those pursuing teaching degrees now. If interested, please request free information from several Colorado education and teaching schools to gain a better image of teaching prospects of the next 5 years.
Colorado Teacher Testing Requirements
In addition to completing the education requirements necessary for certification, an applicant must also take a test to evaluate their competencies in the content area they wish to teach. In Colorado, prospective teachers must take and pass the Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE) examination or Praxis II in order to become eligible for certification. The PLACE test is specifically designed for Colorado educators and thus is the preferred testing method, but the Colorado State Board of Education also accepts Praxis II scores for 5 teaching areas: Elementary Education, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
Colorado Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 5,790 | $32,350 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 3,060 | $47,850 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 23,480 | $49,600 |
| Middle School Teachers | 12,410 | $49,950 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 15,410 | $51,700 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
Colorado Teacher Interviews
Interview with Meg Jacobson, President of the Colorado Association of Science Teachers
Interview with Catherine Martin, President of the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Interview with Joan Sawyer, President of the Colorado Music Teachers Association
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Colorado
Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools
Popular Programs:
- B.S. in Education / Elementary Education
- M.A. in Education/Elementary Teacher Education
- M.A. in Education/Secondary Teacher Education
- M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- MA in Education (Leadership in Early Childhood Education)
- BA in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Educational Leadership and Administration (Tier 1)
- MA in Education with Instructional Technology Emphasis
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- Master's-Education
- Graduate Certificate-Management of Education Corporation/Corporate Training Divisions
- Graduate Certificate-Education Leadership
- Graduate Certificate-Curriculum Leadership
Popular Programs:
- B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 5 Years)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Education
- Special Education (Early Childhood/Elementary)
- Educational Administration: (EDD)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. Teaching (K-8)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
- B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
- M.A. Teaching - Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- And more...
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Colorado
Adams State College
208 Edgemont Blvd
Alamosa, CO 81102
(719) 587-7011
Colorado Christian University
8787 West Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 963-3000
Colorado College
14. E Cache La Poudre St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 389-6000
www.coloradocollege.edu/admission/
Colorado State University
102 Administration Building
Fort Collins, CO 80523-0100
(970) 491-1101
admissions.colostate.edu/index.aspx
Front Range Community College
3645 W 112th Ave
Westminster, CO 80031
(303) 466-8811
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Speer Blvd and Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80217-3362
(303) 556-3876
Montessori Education Center of the Rockies
4745 Walnut Street
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 494-3002
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
1600 Pierce St
Denver, CO 80214
(303) 753-6046
www.rmcad.edu/admissions
University of Colorado at Boulder
Regent Drive at Broadway
Boulder, CO 80309-0017
(303) 492-1411
www.colorado.edu/prospective/
University of Denver
2199 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-2000
University of Northern Colorado
Carter Hall – Rm 4000
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-1890
www.unco.edu/admissions/index.html
Page edited by Charles Sipe.
