Teacher Education Guide to Approval,
Accreditation and Licensing

Approving and accrediting teacher preparation programs and the licensing of educational personnel are three interrelated but very distinct processes. It is easy to confuse the functions that come under these three areas, particularly when some states use the terms interchangeably. This digest seeks to clarify these three important processes and identify the primary organizations involved in these areas.

DEFINING THE PROCESSES

Approval is an evaluation process that determines if a degree program seeking teacher or principal preparation authorization meets state standards defined in statute and policy. It is carried out in a collaborative effort by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and includes initial approval and review not more than once every 5 years. Initial approval and review are required for any institution offering teacher and principal preparation programs including public, private and out-of-state institutions that have physical presence in Colorado. The CDE makes a recommendation to the State Board of Education (SBE), which then makes a recommendation to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE). SBE and CCHE are the agencies designated to review and approve teacher and principal preparation programs. See C.R.S. 23-1-121 and C.R.S. 22-2-109.

Accreditation is an evaluation process that determines the quality of an institution or program using predetermined standards. Accreditation is normally carried out on a peer review basis by nongovernmental agencies such as national, regional, and/or local associations. It is, in essence, a collegial activity conducted by institutions that have voluntarily organized to form and to support an accrediting association. These accrediting agencies or associations prepare standards for education institutions and apply these standards when evaluating institutions seeking accreditation. The benefit of accreditation is that other states recognize that the graduates of an accredited teacher preparation program meets standards, which helps ensures licensure reciprocity for graduates who choose to practice in another state. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) are two of the largest accrediting societies for teacher preparation.

Licensing is the process by which a governmental agency grants a license - or permission - to an individual who has met specified requirements. The Colorado Department of Education licenses all teachers, educational support personnel, and administrators working in Colorado public elementary and secondary schools. For information on licensing, please go to http://www.cde.state.co.us/index_license.htm.

Comments/Questions: ian.macgillivray@dhe.state.co.us or Goetz_J@cde.state.co.us

Last Updated: July 2008