Secondary School Teacher / Colorado
2026 data Colorado board official source

Colorado Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the Colorado data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Colorado's path to secondary school teacher licensure runs through board-approved instruction and a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Colorado folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

Budget $218 to get started, plus $133 at each renewal on a 5-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
46/100
Secondary School Teacher · Colorado

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$218
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B+
$27/yr
$133 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Colorado

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$218
Renewal Fee
$133
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher All Colorado licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Colorado licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Secondary School Teacher in Colorado? ▼
In Colorado, the license path calls for, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), and a $218 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in Colorado? ▼
To become a licensed secondary school teacher in Colorado, you must meet the state's requirements. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Colorado licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to Colorado from another state? ▼
Secondary School Teacher licenses generally reciprocate as follows: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Colorado licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Colorado require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the secondary school teacher licensing process in Colorado. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in Colorado? ▼
To stay licensed as a secondary school teacher in Colorado, plan on 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $133.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in Colorado, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Colorado's secondary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Secondary School Teacher in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state secondary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Colorado's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Colorado overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Colorado licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.