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Add a Designation
Preparing to Apply
This checklist is for ...
Colorado teacher, special services, principals and administrator license-holders wishing to add a designation to their active initial or professional license. May be added to authorizations as well.
Designations available (need only to be fulfilled once/not recurring requirements):
- English Learner Professional Development
- required of all teachers renewing a professional license that expires on or after Sept. 1, 2025 with one or more of the following endorsements: elementary, English language arts, math, middle school math (and any previously issued middle-level endorsements), science and social studies
- READ Act - Teacher
- required every year by Aug. 1 of all individuals responsible for literacy instruction in a K, 1, 2 or 3 classroom
- READ Act - Administrator
- required by Aug. 1 of all principals and administrators
- Educator Effectiveness Evaluator Training
- required of all evaluators of teachers, SSPs and principals/APs
- required of anyone applying to reactivate, obtain a new or renew a principal or administrator license that expires on or after Aug. 1, 2024.
Not in the right place? Review the other checklists.
Qualifications:
- For the English Learner Professional Development designation:
- a completed matrix or
- a certificate of completion from a CDE-approved EL program or
- an ELPD waiver certificate (visit this webpage for more information)
- For the READ Act - Teacher designation:
- A reading specialist endorsement (the READ Act - Teacher designation automatically will be added certificate; you do not need to submit a separate application to add the designation); or
- Appropriate coursework and a passing score on the PRAXIS 5205 exam; or
- A CDE-approved university course in reading ; or
- A certificate of completion from a CDE-approved READ Act program (see Options 5, 6 and 7);
- For the READ Act - Administrator designation:
- A principal or administrator license or authorization; and
- A certificate of completion of an approved 5-hour administrator training & the READ Act - Teacher designation; or
- A certificate of completion of an approved 20-hour administrator training
- A principal or administrator license or authorization; and
- For the Educator Effectiveness Evaluator Training designation:
- A certificate of completion of a CDE-Approved, -Authorized or -Provided E-Train program.
Plan Ahead
- You will need electronic copies of all documentation. (PDFs and JPEGs work well. We do not accept HEIC documents.)
- Allow ample time to request any third-party transcripts or other documentation.
- Be sure also to review the application process.
Application Fee:
none
Gather the Necessary Information/Documentation
In the application you will need to include the following:
- For ELPD:
- A certificate of completion from a CDE-approved ELPL program; or
- A completed matrix documenting a total of 45 contact hours of completed coursework and/or professional development activities that addresses each of the standards and elements (and supporting documentation for the coursework/PD)
- More information about this requirement can be found on the English Learner PD Requirements webpage.
- For READ Act - Teacher:
- Your official PRAXIS 5205 score report (you will also need to attest to your completed coursework in the application);
- A copy of your official university transcript reflecting completion of a CDE-approved course(s);
- A certificate of completion from CDE; or
- A certificate of completion from a CDE-approved READ Act program
- For READ Act - Administrator:
- A certificate of completion of an approved 5-hour training (you must already hold the READ Act-Teacher designation); or
- A certificate of completion of an approved 20-hour training
- For Educator Effectiveness Evaluator Training:
- A certificate of completion of a CDE-Approved, -Authorized or -Provided E-Train program; or
- A Colorado approved program verification form (APV) completed by your principal or administrator program officer verifying completion of this training in your recently completed Colorado-approved program.
Then ...
- Log in to COOL
- Select the button in the "+ designation" button in the credential details section of your dashboard.
- Complete and submit the brief application. (If you hold multiple credentials, you need only to apply for each designation once. Upon approval, it will apply to all credentials held.)
- Upon approval, you will be notified that an updated certificate is available for you to view or print.
Final Reminders
At the risk of repeating ourselves, we again reiterate these important reminders:
- Within 45 business days of receipt, CDE will evaluate the application.
- Upon determination of qualification, CDE will notify the applicant and the corresponding certificate will be available for view or print in the individual's COOL account.
- If for some reason CDE is not able to access all documentation in the application, the application will be deemed "incomplete" and CDE will notify the applicant via email -- and in their COOL account -- and specify the information needed to complete it.
- An applicant has 60 days from the date of this notification to cure the deficiency (i.e., provide the necessary information) or submit to the department a written request for reconsideration stating the basis for the request.
- CDE will provide a written response within 30 days of any request for reconsideration.
- An applicant who fails to cure the deficiency or request reconsideration within these 60 days will be deemed as having withdrawn the application, and such withdrawal shall not be subject to appeal or review.
- Once you have submitted an application, it is your responsibility to check your COOL account regularly for notifications on its status and/or to print a copy of your certificate.