Already in the classroom. Now earn your Colorado teaching license.

Small group of adults gathered around a classroom table collaborating on a discussion, with laptops, notebooks, water bottles, and printed materials spread across the table, while one person stands nearby facilitating.

Fort Lewis College's Teacher Apprenticeship Program is designed for paraprofessionals and educational assistants who are ready to earn a bachelor's degree and a Colorado elementary teaching license without leaving the school where they already belong.

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This program was built for you

There's no separate student teaching placement while you're working. The time you're already putting in as a paraprofessional or educational assistant counts toward the program's field experience requirements, so you move forward without stepping back.

The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is for school employees who are ready to go all the way. You'll earn a full bachelor's degree and Colorado elementary teaching license through hybrid evening coursework built around your school-day schedule, while staying in the role you already hold.

Program highlights

What you'll earn and how

120

total credits toward your bachelor's degree

3

years of licensure coursework: Fall 2026 to Spring 2029

9+

credits per term (Fall, Summer, Spring)

  • Graduate with a bachelor's degree and a Colorado elementary teaching license
  • Your current work hours count as field experience—no separate student teaching placement required while you're employed
  • Hybrid evening coursework built around your school-day schedule
  • Transfer up to 46 credits of general education and content coursework from another institution
  • Classes offered every term: fall, spring, and summer, keeping you on pace to finish in Spring 2029

How the program works

Your path from paraprofessional to licensed teacher

Colorado requires a minimum of 120 credits and a bachelor's degree for all teaching licenses. The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is structured around that requirement, and your life as a working educator.

46

general education and elementary content credits completed at FLC or transferred in.

74

licensure coursework credits completed through FLC between Fall 2026 and Spring 2029

Coursework is delivered in a hybrid format with synchronous evening sessions offered every term. You'll take at least 9 credits, three courses, each fall, spring, and summer. Some courses may include in-person intensive sessions.

Timeline

  • Fall 2026: Licensure coursework begins. General education credits finalized or transferred 
  • Fall 2026 – Spring 2029: Complete 74 credits of licensure coursework across fall, spring, and summer terms
  • Spring 2029: Graduate with a bachelor's degree and Colorado elementary teaching license

Eligibility

What you'll need to participate

  1. Current employment as a paraprofessional, educational assistant, or comparable instructional role in a school setting
  2. Maintain at least .65 FTE, roughly 26 hours per week, in that role for the duration of the program
  3. 46 credits of general education and elementary content coursework completed at FLC or transferred from another accredited institution

Ready to take the next step?

Your years in the classroom are already working for you. Let's make them count toward your teaching license.

Contact TED

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