Alternative Licensure Program Requirements

The Metropolitan State University of Denver's Alternative Licensure Program (ALP) began training teachers on August 7, 2000. The program is a cooperative effort between many metropolitan school districts and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver). MSU Denver ALP includes the ALP 1, ALP 2, ALP SED and ALP SED MAT programs.

All MSU Denver ALP candidates must meet the following requirements prior to enrollment:

1. Obtain a Statement of Eligibility (SOE) from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

To be eligible for a SOE, you must:

  • Submit to and pass a CBI background check.
  • Have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Meet the following requirements:

* If you are unsure if you meet the 24 semester hours of college credit, or if the coursework you have taken does not meet the 2.6 G.PA. requirement, take the PLACE or Praxis II exam. MSU Denver employees cannot verify the 24 semester hours of college credit. Only the CDE can verify credits and they will only verify credits when they evaluate your application and transcripts.

 Once you have submitted your fingerprints and verified that you have either the required 24 semester hours (make sure to check the specific worksheet for the specific classes for each content) or have passed either the PLACE or Praxis II specific content test (both elementary education and special education must past the elementary test), you need to: 

  • Submit the Application for an ALT:Statement of Eligibility to the CDE. To submit the Application for an ALT: Statement of Eligibility, you will need to create a log in to access the application. Once in the CDE system, you will find a list of available applications. Please make sure to select the ALT: Statement of Eligibility. (Do not complete the Alternative License application at this time. After you have entered ALP, you will receive directions for completing the Alternative License application.)
    • When you apply, you will need to state that you have submitted your fingerprints, either upload the worksheet documenting your 24 hours or state that you have passed the test and you will need to upload your official transcripts, showing you have a baccalaureate degree.
        • You will also need to mail the hard copies of your official transcripts to the CDE. The mailing address is given in the application.

Important: Once the CDE reviews your application, they will only hold it for 90 days. This means, if you submit an incomplete application, or if you do not pass the test and the CDE says that your credits do not meet the requirements, you will have 90 days to complete the application and /or pass the test.

2. Obtain a full time teaching contract as the teacher of record with a Denver-area school district, charter school or accredited private school, teaching in the same content area as your SOE.

  • Please note: MSU Denver does not place candidates in teaching positions, and does not have any input in the hiring process. All candidates must apply for jobs through the district's web site. All questions regarding employment must be directed to the school district.
    • When hired by a member district, the district will notify MSU Denver to enroll the candidate in ALP. For ALP candidates hired with any school other than a member district, the candidate must contact MSU Denver and provide proof of employment to enroll.

Candidates who are teaching special education and would like to take graduate courses must meet the ALP requirements above AND the ALP SED MAT graduate admissions requirements.  Candidates who are teaching special ed, but do not want to take graduate courses and candidates not teaching special education (not eligible for graduate courses) only need to meet the ALP requirements above.