In June of 2021, I was contacted by a client on Fiverr asking to write the guide for becoming a librarian in the great State of Colorado. The ask was a mixture of pre-existing content and a need to do extra research. We reached an agreement for a short 1750 word piece. What follows is that delivered information.
Introduction
School librarians are integral for the education of students in all grades in the State of Colorado. More than just a curator of media, a school librarian is a specialized position that requires more experience, education, and certifications than teaching in a regular classroom. This is a multi-step process that requires more time and investment above licensure for teaching.
Librarians are educators that must be comfortable with complex technology as well as handling all the day-to-day issues that come with teaching young students. Meeting all these standards and certifications come after the basic requirements for a school librarian: the love of teaching and a deep desire to care for others.
This complex process can become confusing at best or completely overwhelming at worst. The state licensure portal has a wealth of information which can be difficult to navigate, this page lists everything you need to know to complete the process and become a School Librarian in the State of Colorado.
Initial Librarian Certification Process
The State of Colorado requires general licensing to begin the process to teach any student in any capacity for the state. Their system is tiered based on the level of education of the applicant, and each tier is dependent on the previous tier, however this article will only focus on the Initial license type. Colorado also requires endorsements to a specific grade/task, which is above the general licensing process. The requirement is specific to Librarians, is the Teacher Librarian (K-12) endorsement. With all of these hurdles a substantial investment in time and resources is required for licensure.
If at all possible, the journey to becoming a Librarian should begin at the undergraduate level in an accredited college or university which also covers the Educator Preparation Program. Those programs often cover the entire process and have streamlined it to be less complicated.
Education Requirements:
An Initial Teaching licenses is issued for 3 years, requiring renewal afterwards or movement into the next highest tier. The educational requirements break down as follows:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university which satisfies the requirements for licensure in the state, OR a Bachelor’s degree and completion of an approved preparation program leading to approval in the state the prep program was completed in. The program must meet or exceed the requirements of the State of Colorado.
- For the Teacher Librarian (K-12) endorsement, the applicant must complete 24 semester hours of coursework pertaining to their specialization. This will be confirmed from the applicant’s official transcript. OR passing the specific Colorado State Board of Education-approved exam for that content area. In Colorado, currently only 1 exam is acceptable; the PRAXIS II exam, Library Media Specialist focus. The test scores are valid for 10 years. Formerly, the Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE), specifically for Colorado residents, was acceptable, but is no longer being given.
- Student teaching/internship meeting or exceeding Colorado’s requirements. Various internships are available.
Experience Requirements:
Balancing complex information technology and the needs of the students is a difficult task, and this is a reasonable prerequisite from the state. In light of this, applicants must have an additional three or more years of full time teaching experience under a state-issued educator in a K-12 environment. This is need to ensure that the applicant has the experience needed to be an effective educator in the dynamic environment of a school librarian.
Testing Requirements:
As stated above, In Colorado, currently only one exam is acceptable; the PRAXIS II, Library Media Specialist exam which is valid for 10 years after passing. The test costs $120. A minimum qualifying score of 148 is required to pass the exam and register the credit.
Background Checks:
A full set of fingerprints must be submitted to the Colorado Board of Education (CBE) no more than 30 days after submitting your application. These prints are then submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for further checks. The information is then updated in your Colorado Online Licensing
(COOL) account. If you have not submitted within 30 days, you must submit a new set of fingerprints.
Application Process:
- Register for a COOL account
- Submit your passing scores
- Submit your fingerprints for CBE and the FBI
- Verify your completion of your Bachelor’s degree, or better, and your approved preparation program verification form
- Submitting your non-refundable application fee. Initial Teaching licenses fee is $90 in-state/$110 out-of-state.
Alternative Librarian Certification Process
The State of Colorado has an Alternative Teacher Certification for applicants who are already employed as a classroom teacher in the state school system. This certification is available for existing teachers in Colorado only and is not applicable to teachers in other states. This license takes between 1-2 years to complete and is issued for 1, 3, or 5 years before requiring renewal or advancement.
Education Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university which satisfies the requirements for licensure in the state.
- For the Teacher Librarian (K-12) endorsement, the applicant must complete 24 semester hours of coursework pertaining to that specialization. This will be confirmed from the applicant’s official transcript. OR Passing the specific Colorado State Board of Education-approved exam for that content area.
- Current enrollment in an alternative teacher preparation program, this program must be approved by the Colorado State Board of Education.
- Currently employed as a classroom teacher in the state.
Experience Requirements:
There are no specific experience requirement other than those required for your Bachelors or higher degree. Current classroom teaching is required.
Testing Requirements:
In Colorado, currently only 1 exam is acceptable; the PRAXIS II exam, Library Media Specialist focus.
Background Checks:
A full set of fingerprints must be submitted to the Colorado Board of Education (CBE) no more than 30 days after submitting your application. These prints are then submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for further checks. The information is then updated in your Colorado Online Licensing
(COOL) account. If you have not submitted within 30 days, you must submit a new set of fingerprints.
Application Process:
As a current classroom teacher, some of these steps can me taken concurrently.
- Verify your completion of your Bachelor’s degree, or better, and your approved preparation program verification form.
- Submit your fingerprints for CBE and the FBI.
- For the Teacher Librarian (K-12) endorsement, submit your completion of 24 semester hours of coursework pertaining to that specialization. OR Pass the specific Colorado State Board of Education-approved exam for that content area.
- Apply for and obtain a teaching position in the endorsement specialization that satisfies the Teacher Librarian (K-12) endorsement.
- Submit your application.