Renewal of a Colorado Professional License

A valid professional license may be renewed every seven years with an equivalent of six semester hours of credit from an accepted, regionally accredited college or university, which may include up to 90 clock hours of professional development (in-services, workshops, being on a committee, etc.) earned during the validity (from the issuance date to the expiration date) of your professional license.

An expired professional license or an expired certificate may be renewed with an equivalent of six semester hours of credit from an accepted, regionally accredited college or university, which may include up to 90 clock hours of professional development (in-services, workshops, being on a committee, etc.) earned during the seven-year period preceding submission of your renewal application.

Accepted Renewal Activities

I. In-service Education

12.02(1)(a)* In-service Education: A Colorado school district, non-public schools accredited by an agency recognized by the State Board of Education, or BOCES sponsored in-service education program. One semester hour of credit may be accepted for each 15 clock hours of participation. In-service certificates issued by the sponsoring school district or BOCES shall be submitted as evidence of completion of in-service education.

• Completion and submission of related section in Renewal Summary Sheet, and attestation in the online application.
• Certificate with participant’s name, name/title of in-service, name of agency providing in-service, location, dates and contact hours, signature of provider verifying participant attendance and completion of workshop. District “transcripts” are also accepted. Credit by contact hours.

II. College or University Coursework

12.02(1)(b)* College or University Credit: Credits earned from four-year or graduate accepted institutions of higher education, or an accepted community, technical or junior college. Courses must be directly related to the standards for professional development as provided in section 12.02 of these rules. Official transcripts must be submitted as evidence of completion of college credit.

• Completion and submission of related section in Renewal Summary Sheet, and attestation in the online application.
• Submission of official transcript (showing a passing grade for the course), either official paper copy or official electronic copy, from college/university.

III. Involvement in School Reform

12.02 (1)(d)* Involvement in School Reform: One semester hour of credit may be accepted for each 15 clock hours of participation. Verified by the licensee's supervisor, activities may include, but are not limited to:

12.02(1)(d)(i) Membership on school site or district accountability or improvement committee(s);

12.02(1)(d)(ii) Curriculum, standards of assessment development or implementation, in the licensee's endorsement content area;

12.02(1)(d)(iii) Implementation of standards;

12.02(1)(d)(iv) Development or implementation of a literacy or numeracy improvement program(s).

• Completion and submission of related section in Renewal Summary Sheet, and attestation in the online application.
• Submission of documentation that includes a written log of meeting times and signed letter from committee chair verifying participation and number of meeting hours attended. Credit by meeting hours.

12.02(1)(e)* Internships: advanced field experiences offered as part of graduate study or other professional training designed to acquire knowledge or enhance the skills of the educator. The internship must be directly related to the standards for professional development as provided in section 12.02 of these Rules. One semester hour of credit may be accepted for each 15 clock hours of participation. Official transcripts or supervisor verification must be submitted as evidence of completion.

• Completion and submission of related section in Renewal Summary Sheet, and attestation in the online application.
• Official transcripts or supervisor verification must be submitted as evidence of completion.

12.02(1)(c)* Educational Travel: To be accepted as a professional development activity, educational travel shall be directly applicable to the endorsement area of the licensee, as documented by the licensee, and accompanied by supervisor verification. One semester hour of credit may be accepted for each 15 clock hours of involvement. Travel time to and from the intended destination shall not be included in the clock hours accumulated.

Example: Accepted travel experiences would include experiences such as the field hours a science teacher spends completing an environmental study program in Kenya or hours that a teacher spends in immersion classes during a summer in Guadalajara. Time spent in transit to and from a site cannot be accepted.

• Completion and submission of related section in Renewal Summary Sheet, and attestation in the online application.
• Submission of documentation that verifies actual travel to a site and participation in specific activities (e.g. plane or train tickets, museum tickets). Includes a written log of specific activities and relation to subject or students that you teach.

VI. Ongoing Professional Development

12.02(1)(f)* Ongoing Professional Development and Training Experiences must occur within the license holder's present or future endorsement content area(s) or in the areas of literacy or numeracy, and may include, but are not limited to: attendance or presentation at professional conferences; service on state-wide or national educational task forces or boards; professional research and publication; supervision of student teachers; or interns; mentorships; and pursuit of national educator certification.

• Completion and submission of related section in Renewal Summary Sheet, and attestation in the online application.
• Submission of documentation of activity and contacts hours.
  1. Workshops or Academies: Certificate with participant’s name, name of workshop/Academy, name of agency providing workshop, location, dates and contact hours, signature of provider verifying participant attendance and completion of workshop. Credit by contact hours.
  2. Conference Attendance: Copy of conference registration and listing of conference sections attended (for each session include date, time session met, title of session, and names of the presenters). Credit by contact hours.
  3. Research: Written log and description of educational research or investigation of educational innovations accompanied by a signed letter from supervisor verifying project and contact hours.
  4. National or State Conference Presentation: Copy of conference registration and copy of session description from conference program. Include description of time spent in preparation of presentation. (45 professional development hours for presenter in a 5 year cycle)
  5. Publication: Citation of published work and copy of first page of publication. Include description of time spent in preparation of publication. For dissertation or thesis you must also provide transcripts.
     1. Completed Doctoral Dissertation (90 hours - Courses cannot be older than 5 years)
     2. Completed Master’s thesis (45 hours - Courses cannot be older than 5 years)
     3. Book with ISBN number (90 hours)
     4. Chapters or professional journal articles (45 hours)
     5. Published results of action research in a professional journal (45 hours)
  6. Service on national and state educational taskforces or boards: Letter from taskforce or board chair verifying participation and number of meeting hours attended. Credit by meeting hours.
  7. Supervision of a student teacher or mentorship of an Alternative Teacher candidate: A log of hours completed in conference with and in formal observation of student teacher or alternative candidate that is verified by a signed letter from the school of education or alternative designated agency. Credit by scheduled conference and formal observation hours. (45 hours maximum per 5 years)

*Please note: Rules promulgated by the Colorado State Board of Education are subject to revision and change. While we do our best to keep this Web site current, please consult the Colorado Secretary of State's Web site (http://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/AlphabeticalList.do) for the official rule as it is filed.

Ready to Apply?

Applications for renewal must be submitted within 6 months of license expiration date. Applications submitted earlier than 6 months prior to expiration date will not be processed and submission of a new application, including another application fee, will be required once you are eligible for renewal. Applications for licenses that have already expired may be submitted at any point provided requirements for renewal have been met.