Alternative License (CAGS)

Colorado Christian University offers an Alternative Teacher License program as authorized by the Colorado Department of Education. This is a one-year program designed for non-licensed teachers who are teaching in a Colorado public or private school. The candidates in the program receive supervised coaching in the classroom, as well as 15 credit hours of graduate coursework which is a part of the program program. The combination of classroom teaching and graduate coursework may lead to an institutional recommendation for an initial teaching license, the standard entry-level license for Colorado Educators. 

The Colorado Department of Education requires that students pursuing teaching licensure in Colorado earn a degree from a regionally accredited college or university and complete an approved educator preparation program.

Requirements for Entrance into the Alternative Licensing Program

• Candidates must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

• Candidates must pass the Colorado State Board of Education approved elementary content exam (Praxis-5901) to teach at the elementary level. Candidates for K-12 or secondary (7-12) endorsements must take and pass the state-approved content exam in the area(s) designated or by transcript verification indicating completion of 24 semester hours of college-level coursework meeting the minimum requirements as outlined in the content evaluation worksheets.

• Candidates must obtain a teaching position in a Colorado private or public school.

• Click here for CDE’s Alternative licensing application requirements.

Master’s Degree

Upon successful completion of the Alternative Licensing Program, candidates may elect to apply 15 graduate education credits towards a program degree by submitting a Change of Program form.