Colorado Administration/Principal Certification
Colorado principal certification and administrator licensing both run through the Colorado Department of Education: an Initial Principal License and an Initial Administrator License, which covers superintendent, director of special education, and director of gifted education roles. Principal candidates need a bachelor’s degree, an approved preparation program, and a passing score of 146 on Praxis 5412. Administrator candidates need the same degree and program requirements plus a passing score of 162 on Praxis 6991.
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Colorado principal certification and Colorado administrator licensing run through the same agency, the Colorado Department of Education, but they’re two separate credentials with their own exams and requirements. The Administrator License isn’t limited to superintendents either. It also covers district-level roles such as director of special education and director of gifted education. If you already hold your Colorado teacher certification requirements and are a licensed teacher or special services provider looking to move into building or district leadership, here’s what each path actually requires.
Education Requirements
Both the Initial Principal License and the Initial Administrator License start with the same baseline: a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. From there, the two paths diverge in which preparation program you need to complete.
Initial Principal License
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
- Completion of a Colorado-approved principal preparation program
Initial Administrator License
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university
- Completion of a Colorado-approved graduate program for school administration
Examination Requirements
Colorado requires a different Praxis exam for each credential, and the two aren’t interchangeable. Make sure you’re studying for the right one before you sit for a test date.
Initial Principal License
- A passing score of 146 on Praxis 5412
Initial Administrator License
- A passing score of 162 on Praxis 6991
Experience Requirements
The Initial Principal License has a clear work-experience threshold. The Initial Administrator License’s current CDE checklist does not list a general work-experience requirement, so administrator candidates should confirm the checklist for their specific role before assuming one applies.
Initial Principal License
- At least three years of full-time experience as a fully licensed teacher or special services provider in an elementary or secondary school
How to Apply
You’ll apply for both the Initial Principal License and the Initial Administrator License through COOL, Colorado’s Online Licensing system. Upload electronic copies of your transcripts and any other supporting documents directly in COOL rather than mailing them in.
Fingerprinting goes through a CBI-approved fingerprint vendor, not a local law enforcement agency. CDE is explicit that fingerprint submissions should not be mailed to CDE or the CBI. You can schedule your fingerprint appointment and submit your COOL application before your results come back. You don’t have to wait for clearance to apply. Once CDE receives your fingerprint results, you generally have 30 days to get your application submitted.
Your Praxis exam scores should already be on file with the Colorado Department of Education by the time you apply. Application fees are paid online through COOL when you submit your application.
For questions specific to administrator licensing, call the Colorado Department of Education’s Educator Licensing Unit at (720) 739-3304.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become a principal or administrator in Colorado?
You need at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university for either credential. From there, principal candidates complete a Colorado-approved principal preparation program, while administrator candidates complete a Colorado-approved graduate program in school administration.
Do I have to pass an exam to become a principal or administrator in Colorado?
Yes. Principal candidates need a passing score of 146 on Praxis 5412. Administrator candidates need a passing score of 162 on Praxis 6991. Neither exam currently has an experience-based exemption.
How much prior experience do I need before I can apply?
Principal candidates need at least three years of full-time experience as a fully licensed teacher or special services provider in an elementary or secondary school. The Administrator License’s current CDE checklist does not list a general work-experience requirement.
What’s the difference between the Initial Principal License and the Initial Administrator License?
The Initial Principal License authorizes you to lead a single school building. The Initial Administrator License authorizes district-level leadership roles, including superintendent, director of special education, and director of gifted education. Each has its own preparation program and Praxis exam, so confirm which credential matches the role you’re targeting before you start a program. See the Colorado Department of Education’s principal license requirements for the current official checklist, and check Colorado teaching salaries and benefits if pay is part of your decision.
- Principal and administrator licenses are separate credentials — a Colorado-approved principal preparation program and a Colorado-approved school administration graduate program lead to different licenses, not the same one.
- Each license has its own Praxis exam — Praxis 5412 (passing score 146) for principal candidates, Praxis 6991 (passing score 162) for administrator candidates, with no experience-based exemption for either.
- Experience requirements aren’t the same for both licenses — the principal license requires three years as a fully licensed teacher or special services provider, while the administrator license’s current checklist doesn’t list a general experience requirement.
- Apply and fingerprint through COOL and a CBI-approved vendor — you can submit your application before fingerprint results come back, but you generally have 30 days to apply once CDE receives them.
Find accredited educational leadership and principal preparation programs in Colorado, including application requirements and licensing timelines for your certification path.
