Colorado’s 3 types of substitute teacher licenses
The Colorado substitute teacher license is also known as an authorization.
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) issues three types of substitute authorizations – the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year – depending on your educational background and experience.
The substitute authorization allows you to work as a substitute teacher in any Colorado public school district, BOXES, charter school, or CDE-approved facility school for grades K-12.
Here’s a comparison of each authorization type:
1) The Substitute Teacher License for Current Students
1-Year Substitute Authorization
This authorization allows you to be a substitute teacher for a year and is perfect for those who don’t have a bachelor’s degree or are just interested in teaching for a short time.
Requirements to Apply
A high school diploma or its equivalent
Proof of successful experience working with children
$50 application fee
2) The Classic Substitute Teacher License
3-Year Substitute Authorization
The 3-year authorization allows you to substitute teach in Colorado for three years and is ideal for recent college grads and career changers.
Requirements to Apply
A bachelor’s degree or higher earned in any content area at a regionally accredited college or university
Copy of official transcript for every college/university attended
$90 application fee
3) The Experienced Substitute Teacher License
5-Year Substitute Authorization
The five-year authorization allows you to substitute teach for five years. It’s ideal for people who already have full-time teaching experience and are now interested in subbing.
Requirements to Apply
An active or expired Colorado teacher license (not special services, principal or administrator) OR an active out-of-state teacher license
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university
$90 application fee
Additional documents to submit in your application
You’ll also need to submit these documents for your online application regardless of your type of Colorado substitute teacher license:
Fingerprint-based background check on file with the CDE
Valid form of government ID
Previous work experience
Self-disclosure documentation of any:
Criminal history
Disciplinary actions
Issues related to licensure or employment
Where and how do I apply?
Set up your COOL (elicensing) account
Once you’ve gathered all necessary documents, log onto COOL (Colorado Online Licensing) to create your licensure account.
Create your lifetime COOL account under your complete legal name
You must have an assigned Social Security number
Include a personal email address that you check often
Your COOL account is where you will virtually apply for your authorization by submitting the required documents for approval. It will include the status of your application and background check.
Get a background check
To get your fingerprint-based background check, schedule a fingerprinting appointment with one of these approved vendors:
IdentoGo
American Bioidentity Inc./Colorado Fingerprinting
After your appointment, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will forward the submitted fingerprints to the FBI. Do NOT mail fingerprint submissions to the CDE or the CBI. They will be destroyed for security purposes.
You have 30 days from the time the CDE receives your background check to submit a complete authorization application. If you do not submit a completed application within these 30 days, you will need to submit another set of fingerprints.