How to Renew Your Teaching License in Colorado (2026 Guide)

Last updated March 2026

Renewing your Colorado teaching license can feel overwhelming — especially with several new requirements that kicked in during the 2025-2026 cycle. Between the ELL training mandate, the special education and behavioral health hours, and the ongoing READ Act requirements, there's more to track than ever before.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about how to renew your teaching license in Colorado in 2026: how many contact hours you need, what the new mandates mean for you, how to submit through the CDE system, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

The Basics: Colorado Teaching License Renewal at a Glance

• Renewal cycle: Every 7 years
• Hours required: 90 contact hours (or 6 semester hours of coursework)
• Governing body: Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
• Where to renew: CDE Educator Licensing system at cde.state.co.us
• Renewal fee: $90 (non-refundable)

Your renewal date is tied to your license's expiration date. Check your status in the CDE Educator Licensing system if you're not sure when yours expires.

Understanding the 90-Hour Requirement

Colorado requires 90 contact hours of professional learning per 7-year renewal cycle. That's an average of about 13 hours per year — one of the more manageable requirements in the country.

Alternatively, you can complete 6 semester hours of university or college coursework instead of 90 contact hours (1 semester hour equals 15 contact hours). You can also mix and match — for example, 3 semester hours (45 contact hours) plus 45 contact hours of workshops.

Your professional learning must align with at least one of the following:

• Your endorsement areas
• Colorado academic standards
• Colorado educator quality standards

What Counts as Contact Hours in Colorado?

Colorado accepts a variety of professional learning activities toward your 90 contact hours:

• Contact hours of professional learning from approved providers
• University or college coursework (1 semester hour = 15 contact hours)
• District-sponsored professional development activities
• State-approved workshops, conferences, and seminars
• National Board Certification maintenance activities

New Requirements You Need to Know About

Colorado has added several new mandates in recent years. Depending on your endorsement areas, you may need to complete specific types of PD in addition to your general 90 contact hours.

ELL Professional Learning (Effective September 1, 2025)

This is a big one. Starting September 1, 2025, educators renewing with any of the following endorsements must complete 45 contact hours of English Language Learner (ELL) professional learning:

• Elementary Education
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Middle-level endorsements

These 45 ELL hours count toward your total 90 contact hours — they're not in addition to it. But they must specifically address strategies for teaching English Language Learners. If you hold one of these endorsements, plan now to make sure half of your PD covers ELL topics.

Special Education and Behavioral Health Training (Effective June 30, 2025)

For all Colorado educator licenses expiring on or after June 30, 2025, you must complete a minimum of 10 contact hours of training in special education and behavioral health. This applies to every teacher, not just special education specialists.

These 10 hours also count toward your total 90 — but they must specifically cover special education practices and/or behavioral health topics.

READ Act: K-3 Teachers

If you're a K-3 classroom teacher, Colorado's READ Act requires you to demonstrate competency in science-based reading instruction. You can satisfy this by either showing competency through an approved assessment or completing 45 hours of PD in science-based reading.

This requirement has been in place for several years, but it's worth highlighting because it significantly shapes how K-3 teachers should plan their renewal PD.

The 7-Year Renewal Cycle Explained

Colorado's Professional Teacher License is valid for 7 years from the date of issuance — one of the longest renewal cycles in the country. That gives you plenty of time to accumulate your hours, but it can also lead to procrastination.

Example: If your license was issued on July 1, 2019, it expires on July 1, 2026. You need 90 contact hours logged and your renewal submitted before that date.

Pro tip: A 7-year cycle can create a false sense of security. Set yourself a yearly target of about 13 contact hours so you don't end up scrambling in year six or seven. Some districts build PD into their calendar that counts toward renewal — check with your district to see what's already covered.

How to Submit Your Renewal: The CDE Educator Licensing System

Colorado uses the CDE Educator Licensing system for all certification actions, including renewal. Here's how the process works:

1. Log in to the CDE Educator Licensing system at ed.cde.state.co.us. Create an account if you don't already have one.
2. Check your license status and expiration date. Verify which endorsements are on your license, since different endorsements trigger different requirements.
3. Gather your documentation. You'll need certificates of completion, transcripts, or other proof for each professional learning activity. Keep everything organized — Colorado may audit your records.
4. Verify you meet all applicable requirements: 90 total contact hours, plus any endorsement-specific mandates (ELL hours, special education/behavioral health hours, READ Act compliance).
5. Submit your renewal application and pay the $90 non-refundable fee.
6. Receive your renewed license. Processing times vary. Submit well in advance of your expiration date.

What Happens If You Miss Your Renewal Deadline?

If your Colorado teaching license expires, you cannot legally teach in a Colorado public school. Your district will be notified, and your employment status could be affected.

Colorado does allow expired licenses to be reinstated, but the process depends on how long your license has been expired and whether requirements have changed since your last renewal. New mandates — like the ELL and special education hours — will apply to your reinstatement even if they weren't in effect when you last renewed.

Colorado does not charge a separate late fee, but the disruption to your career and the complexity of reinstatement are strong reasons to stay on schedule.

Fees at a Glance

Action	Fee
Standard renewal (Professional Teacher License)	$90
Standard renewal (Professional Administrator License)	$90
Late fee	None

The $90 fee is non-refundable, so make sure you've met all requirements before submitting your application.

Your Renewal Checklist

1. Log in to the CDE Educator Licensing system and find your license expiration date
2. Set a calendar reminder 12 months before your expiration
3. Identify which endorsements are on your license and check for endorsement-specific requirements (ELL hours, READ Act, etc.)
4. Review your current contact hour count
5. Plan professional learning to reach 90 contact hours, including at least 10 hours in special education/behavioral health
6. If you hold elementary, English, math, science, social studies, or middle-level endorsements: plan 45 hours of ELL professional learning
7. If you're a K-3 teacher: confirm READ Act compliance
8. Gather all documentation (certificates, transcripts, proof of completion)
9. Submit your renewal through the CDE system before your expiration date
10. Pay the $90 fee and save your confirmation

Stay on Top of Your Renewal

Colorado has added more requirements in the past two years than in the previous decade. Between ELL mandates, behavioral health training, and READ Act compliance, it's more important than ever to plan your PD strategically rather than just chasing hours.

For a full breakdown of Colorado teaching license types, fees, and accepted PD activities, visit the ChalkReady Colorado page.