Want to belong to CEA-NEA?
Click on the link that best describes your Membership Category. Membership is open to public school employees and retirees and to anyone preparing to be a teacher. Private school employees are not eligible to belong.
Membership is unified; members belong to their Local Association, CEA, and NEA and pay dues to three organizations through monthly dues deductions or payments. Some members also pay dues to their UniServ Unit, the regional level of our Association. Our membership year is September 1-August 31. The CEA Membership Form may be downloaded and printed (Spanish version).
- Active K-12 Teacher (Full or Part-Time) and Active K-12 Substitute Teacher (Full or Part-Time)
A professional employed by a public school district or BOCES with at least a B.A. degree and the appropriate teaching license including Initial (Provisional), Professional, and emergency authorizations; includes counselors, special educators, school psychologists, social workers, school nurses, vocational teachers and other professionals - Active K-12 School Principal (Full or Part-Time) A public school principal who works at the school level (membership is not open to principals in private schools or to public school superintendents or central administrators)
- Active K-12 Classified Employee (Full or Part-Time) A public school classified or school support staff employee (Education Support Professional); includes paraeducators, bus drivers, food service workers, maintenance and operations employees, custodians, secretaries, administrative assistants
- Active K-12 Charter School Employee (Full or Part-Time) A teacher or support staff employee in a charter school
- Active College/University Faculty (Full or Part-Time) A teaching professional who is employed by a public college or university
- Active College/University Classified Employee (Full or Part-Time) A classified or school support staff member at a public college or university
- Retired Education Employee Anyone at least 45 years old, eligible to receive PERA or PERA-Denver retirement, and who was employed at least five years in a public school position that qualifies for Active membership
- College Student - Pre-Professional A student enrolled in a teacher preparation course in a Colorado accredited public or private college or university and who does not have a teaching contract, including anyone in an alternative license program
On leave from a job in public education?
We have a special category for members who go on leave. Please call Kallie Benjamin in the CEA Membership Department to arrange to pay dues as a Reserve member while on leave: 303-837-1500 or 800-332-5939, extension 121.
Association Dues and Your Income Tax
For All Tax Years: Association members can deduct the total of your unified dues (Local-UniServ-CEA-NEA) as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on your federal income taxes, but not as a charitable contribution. Dues are one sum for January-August plus a different sum for September-December because the calendar year overlaps two Association membership years. Use your paycheck stub to determine the deduction amounts for your annual income tax filing.
Educator Expense Deduction: NEA has repeatedly helped Association members get tax relief in Congress by securing extensions of the deduction for instructional materials and classroom supplies. Teachers and paraeducators can deduct up to $250 for out-of-pocket classroom expenses as the "educator expense deduction" if you worked at least 900 hours in a single tax (calendar) year. Your qualified expenses are subtracted when figuring your adjusted gross income. You must file IRS Form 1040 to take the deduction (claim the $250 on line 23); it cannot be claimed on Form 1040A. For more information, go to the IRS Tax Topic #458, Educator Expense Deduction.
Update Your Membership Information
Use this link to update your basic membership information, such as a change in surname, home address, school or work site, or email address.