The Colorado Educator Licensing Act of 1991

The Colorado Educator Licensing Act of 1991 took the place of the 1975 Teacher Certification Act. The 1991 law, which went into effect on July 1, 1994, covers all teachers in Colorado – current, new, and future teachers.

Educators who hold certificates (types A, B, C, and E) which expire after July 1, 1994 must apply for Professional Licenses upon expiration of their current certificates. Instead of the old Type A, B, C, and E certificates for teachers and special services providers, there is now a Provisional Teacher License, a Professional Teacher License, and a Professional Teacher License with Master Certification:

1. The Provisional License is for beginning teachers. It is valid for three years and renewable only once.
2. The Professional License is for both teachers who earn the Provisional License first and for teachers who are/were certificated under the 1975 law. The Professional License is renewable every five years.
3. The Professional License with Master Certification is for teachers who first earn Professional Licenses under the new law and then meet criteria specified by the Professional Standards Board. This license is renewable every seven years. Of the three licensure tiers, this is the only voluntary tier.

Letters of authorization, intern licenses, and emergency licenses are available under the 1991 law as they were under the 1975 law. Principals and other administrators who hold Type D certificates are licensed under the 1991 law in a manner similar to, but separately from, teachers.

Two Professional Standards Boards were created by the 1991 law for each group of licensees: one board for teachers and special services providers, and the other board for principals and administrators. The boards' jobs are to develop recommendations for the State Board of Education regarding the criteria under which all licenses are granted; criteria for endorsements; standards for assessing professional competency; procedures for evaluating approved preparation programs; guidelines for professional development plans; and criteria for the suspension and revocation of licenses.

Three-tier Licensing System
Professional License Renewal
Induction Programs
Standards for Professional Educators