Becoming Certified to Teach 

Corps members are required to meet the Colorado state teaching requirements in order to maintain their position as a teacher, and they will continue to learn and grow through required professional development throughout their two years as a corps member. While teaching, corps members must attend all required courses and complete all required assignments in order to maintain their license as a teacher. 

Prior to Entering the Classroom

All corps members will need to:

• Pass a Colorado state background check
• Pass the Praxis (certification exam) in your content area ($170 per test taken)
• Submit degree-conferred transcripts
• Apply for a Colorado state teaching license ($90-$110)

Colorado Certification and University Partners 

All corps members in Colorado are required to hold a valid Colorado state teaching license in their placement area in order to be hired by schools in their placement community. Corps members are required to meet the Colorado state teaching requirements in order to maintain their position as a teacher in the corps, and they will continue to learn and grow through required professional development throughout their two years as a corps member. While teaching, corps members must attend all required courses and complete all required assignments in order to maintain their license as a teacher. 

ASPIRE to Teach and the University of Colorado – Denver 

Corps members that receive certification through the University of Colorado – Denver’s ASPIRE to Teach program will pay $6,750 for professional development and licensing coursework over the course of their first year in the corps. Corps members will pay a $250 deposit when they enroll, and the remaining balance of $6,500 will be due in October of their first year in the corps. AmeriCorps education awards cannot be applied towards this cost. 

Corps members can then enroll in an optional Master’s program in their second year of the corps through the University of Colorado - Denver. This program is fully online, and corps members will earn their Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction: Critical Pedagogy. 

Relay Graduate School of Education 

Through the Relay Graduate School of Education, corps members can choose to enroll in a 4-term alternative licensure program or a 2-year Master's of Arts in Teaching program.  After application of AmeriCorps education award each year, total out of pocket cost will be between $5,000 and $5,300 each year for these programs.

TFA Training

Before corps members begin teaching in their own classroom, they attend a multi-week, hands-on summer training. This training is an intensive program where corps members dedicate at least five weeks to learning the fundamentals of lesson planning and building a productive learning environment. Get more information about Teach For America's summer training. 

Teach for America-Colorado's dates and locations for 2023 Pre-Service training have not yet been confirmed.

Moving to the Colorado Region

• Room and Board for the summer
• Transportation to and from school site
• Living expenses until first paycheck in August/September

Note: Teach For America offers financial assistance to help with moving and training costs. The baseline transitional stipend for all 2023 corps members is a $5,000 grant and a $10,000 grant for those who are Pell Grant or DACA/qualifying immigration status recipients or who would have otherwise qualified for Pell. Read more here.