Licensing authority
Who actually issues a nursing licence in Colorado?
Colorado State Board of Nursing
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
CO
Colorado
Can I work a 13-week contract here on my multistate licence?
Multistate privilege is enoughCO · full record
Yes — multistate privilege alone covers a contract here
For eligible RN/LPN multistate license holders; verify active privilege and employer credentialing.
Supporting evidence and conditions
For eligible RN/LPN multistate license holders; verify active privilege and employer credentialing.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · verified 8 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- Yes Colorado SB 18-027, Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact
- In force
- Yes effective date not established
- Issuing multistate licences
- Yes employer can check your privilege
- Facts sourced
- 26
- No published answer
- 6
- Not yet verified
- 9
- Sources disagreeing
- 0
Requirements include source links and review dates. Expand each source quotation for the supporting text. Unverified and incomplete information is labelled alongside the relevant requirement.
Who licenses you
The board that issues the licence, and the practice act behind it.
5 of 5 answered from a source · 0 written up as absences
Authority website
Where is Colorado's Board of Nursing online?
Licensing portal
Where do I actually submit a nursing application in Colorado?
The official DPO nursing pages returned access errors in this pass; the official portal URL was not independently verified.
Contact
Who do I call or email about Colorado nursing licensure?
- Phone
- 303-894-2430
- Fax
- 303-894-2821
- Address
- Division of Professions and Occupations, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202
Source quotation
Phone 303.894.2430 Fax 303.894.2821 Location Division of Professions and Occupations 1560 Broadway Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202
ncsbn.org · NCSBN
Governing law
Which nurse practice act or rule governs licensure in Colorado?
Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 12-255-101 et seq.; 3 CCR 716-1
Source quotation
CHAPTER 1 – RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE LICENSURE OF PRACTICAL AND PROFESSIONAL NURSES
sos.state.co.us · State administrative code
What the licence is
RN, LPN, and APRN tiers, and which of them come multistate.
4 of 6 answered from a source · 2 written up as absences
Licence types
What licence types does Colorado issue — RN, LPN, APRN — and which come multistate?
RN
- State title
- Professional Nurse
- Multistate
- Yes
LPN
- State title
- Practical Nurse
- Multistate
- Yes
Source quotation
CHAPTER 1 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE LICENSURE OF PRACTICAL AND PROFESSIONAL NURSES
sos.state.co.us · State administrative code
Multistate licences issued
Does Colorado issue multistate licences at all?
Yes
NLC implementation date in NCSBN member-state table.
Licence term
How long does a Colorado nursing licence last before renewal?
- Years
- 2
- Expires on
- fixed_date
- Fixed date
- September 30 (odd or even-numbered years based on issuance date)
Current official renewal interval and date convention were not verified because DPO renewal material was inaccessible and the reviewed statute/rule extract did not establish these fields.
Source quotation
All Registered Nurse licenses expire on September 30 of odd or even-numbered years and are dependent upon the issuance date.
dpo.colorado.gov · State Board of Nursing
NCLEX required to get licensed
Do I need NCLEX to get licensed in Colorado?
Yes
Source quotation
Submit proof of having passed: A. The NCLEX examination for professional or practical nurses;
sos.state.co.us · State administrative code
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Jurisprudence exam
Does Colorado make me sit a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
Not established in the cited source
Evidence details
The reviewed initial-licensure rules do not establish a separate jurisprudence examination.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Disqualifying convictions
What criminal history bars me from nursing licensure in Colorado?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Categorical criminal-history bars were not assessed in this pass.
Compact privilege
The Nurse Licensure Compact. Enacted, in force, and multistate issuance are separate dated facts, plus what privilege covers.
7 of 10 answered from a source · 3 written up as absences
NLC law enacted
Has Colorado passed the Nurse Licensure Compact into law?
- Status
- Yes
- Enacted
- 2018-01-18
- Citation
- Colorado SB 18-027, Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact
NLC law in force
Is Colorado's NLC law actually in effect yet?
- Status
- Yes
- Delayed clause
- Yes
- Clause
- Section 1 took effect 180 days after the effective date of section 2.
The act specifies a delayed effective date for the compact repeal/adoption provision; exact compact activation date not set here.
Source quotation
This act takes effect upon passage; except that section 1 of this act takes effect 180 days after the effective date of section 2 of this act.
leg.colorado.gov · State legislature
Issuing multistate licences
Is Colorado actually issuing multistate licences yet?
- Status
- Yes
- Connected
- 2018-01-19
NCSBN implementation table identifies Colorado as operational January 19, 2018.
Conditions for privilege
What do I have to satisfy for multistate privilege to apply in Colorado?
- Eligible RN or LPN multistate license issued by the nurse’s primary state of residence; individual NLC uniform requirements apply.
Source quotation
A MULTISTATE LICENSE TO PRACTICE REGISTERED OR LICENSED PRACTICAL/VOCATIONAL NURSING ISSUED BY A HOME STATE TO A RESIDENT IN THAT STATE WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY EACH PARTY STATE AS AUTHORIZING A NURSE TO PRACTICE AS A REGISTERED NURSE (RN) OR AS A LICENSED PRACTICAL/VOCATIONAL NURSE (LPN/VN), UNDER A MULTISTATE LICENSURE PRIVILEGE, IN EACH PARTY STATE.
leg.colorado.gov · State legislature
Home-state residence rule
How does where I legally live affect my multistate privilege in Colorado?
- Keys off home-state residence
- Yes
- Detail
- Colorado is an NLC member; exact current PSOR-change timing not verified in state-specific sources.
Source quotation
"HOME STATE" MEANS THE PARTY STATE WHICH IS THE NURSE'S PRIMARY STATE OF RESIDENCE.
leg.colorado.gov · State legislature
Can I take a contract on privilege alone
Can I work a 13-week contract in Colorado on my multistate licence?
Yes — multistate privilege alone covers a contract here
For eligible RN/LPN multistate license holders; verify active privilege and employer credentialing.
Source quotation
Nurses holding a multistate license can practice in other NLC states/territories, without obtaining additional licenses, while maintaining their primary state of residence (PSOR)
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Where privilege is not enough
When do I need a Colorado single-state licence instead of privilege?
Not established in the cited source
Evidence details
The reviewed compact text defines privilege but does not state the Colorado application route for nurses without multistate privilege.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
If you hold only a single-state licence
I hold a single-state licence — does the NLC do anything for me in Colorado?
Not established in the cited source
Evidence details
The reviewed Colorado compact text does not directly establish the effect or upgrade route for an out-of-state single-state license.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Extra state requirements
Does Colorado add anything on top of the compact?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Colorado-specific privilege-holder restrictions were not reviewed.
Verify privilege
Where does an employer verify my privilege for Colorado?
Getting licensed from out of state
The route in when multistate privilege does not cover you.
5 of 9 answered from a source · 4 written up as absences
Endorsement available
Will Colorado licence me by endorsement at all?
Yes
What it is called
What does Colorado call its out-of-state pathway?
Licensure by endorsement
Where to apply
Where do I start an endorsement application for Colorado?
Official DPO application and portal pages could not be retrieved in this pass.
Source quotation
Registered Nurse - Initial License by Endorsement or Telehealth Method
dpo.colorado.gov · State Board of Nursing
What you must provide
What does Colorado require from an out-of-state nurse?
- Meet all applicant requirements, including fee, approved nursing education, and examination requirements.
- Endorsement eligibility includes recent active unencumbered practice, or defined alternative competency pathways for nurses who have not practiced in the prior two years.
- An encumbered out-of-state license requires Board review and approval.
Source quotation
Applicants are eligible for licensure as a professional or practical nurse by endorsement in Colorado if the Applicant has met the requirements of Section 2 of these Chapter 1 Rules and Regulations, and: A. Has practiced on an active, unencumbered license in another state or territory of the United States within the last two (2) years of the date of application;
sos.state.co.us · State administrative code
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Application fee
What does it cost to get licensed in Colorado from out of state?
Not established in the cited source
Evidence details
Current application-specific fee is not stated on the FAQ; the official online application system is linked from DPO and exposes application-specific pricing.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
How long it takes
How long will Colorado take to process my application?
Conflicting or incomplete source information
Evidence details
The FAQ says the Board review process typically takes at least three weeks, but this describes program review generally rather than an endorsement-specific complete-application processing estimate.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Background check
What background check does Colorado require, and how do I do it from out of state?
Conflicting or incomplete source information
Evidence details
The Board states fingerprints apply to some applicants; these sources do not establish that every RN endorsement applicant must submit them.
Temporary licence
Can I start working in Colorado before full approval?
- Available
- Yes
- Type
- Temporary license
- Duration months
- 4
- Eligibility
- May be granted to an endorsement applicant who meets rules and supplies proof of an active, unencumbered out-of-state license; expires earlier upon application approval/denial or four months from issue.
The cited rule continues with proof-of-license conditions and a separate expiration subsection: earlier application disposition or four months from issue.
Source quotation
A temporary license may be granted to an endorsement Applicant if the Applicant meets the requirements of these Chapter 1 Rules and Regulations
sos.state.co.us · State administrative code
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Nursys verification
Do I have to route verification through Nursys for Colorado?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Whether Colorado requires Nursys or accepts direct verification was not confirmed from the board application instructions.
Keeping it
The renewal clock and what it costs in hours.
3 of 5 answered from a source · 2 written up as absences
Renewal cycle
How often do I renew in Colorado?
2
The official DPO renewal page was inaccessible; the reviewed rule PDF does not state RN renewal cycle/date.
Source quotation
All Registered Nurse licenses expire on September 30 of odd or even-numbered years and are dependent upon the issuance date.
dpo.colorado.gov · State Board of Nursing
CE hours required
How many CE hours does Colorado want, and which topics are mandated?
RN
- Hours
- 0
- Mandated topics
None
- Any category
- 0
The Board FAQ states CE hours are not currently required for RN renewal; competency conditions may separately apply to nurses who have not worked on an active license in two years.
Source quotation
Continuing education hours are not currently required in order to renew a Registered Nurse
dpo.colorado.gov · State Board of Nursing
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
State-specific requirements
What does Colorado require at renewal that other states do not?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Current renewal-specific Colorado topics/exemptions were not confirmed.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Approved CE providers
Where do I find CE that Colorado will accept?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Approved CE provider directory not researched.
If your licence lapses
My Colorado licence expired — can I still get it back?
A professional or practical nursing license expired for more than two years requires demonstrated competency.
Source quotation
An individual whose professional or practical nursing license has been inactive or expired for more than two years must demonstrate competency.
sos.state.co.us · State administrative code
Looking a licence up
Where employers check status and discipline history.
2 of 2 answered from a source · 0 written up as absences
Licence lookup
Where do I look up a Colorado licence and its discipline history?
Colorado official license lookup URL not verified in this pass.
Source quotation
Yes, licenses can be verified along with any disciplinary records and documents on the DPO Online Service System
dpo.colorado.gov · State Board of Nursing
What the lookup shows
What does Colorado's lookup actually disclose?
License verification, disciplinary records, and documents.
Colorado lookup return fields not verified.
Source quotation
Yes, licenses can be verified along with any disciplinary records and documents on the DPO Online Service System
dpo.colorado.gov · State Board of Nursing
Military and spouse routes
Where a service record shortens the path.
0 of 4 answered from a source · 4 written up as absences
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Military pathway
Does Colorado have a faster route for military training or veterans?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-specific licensure pathway not researched in this pass.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
How it works
What does Colorado's military pathway actually get me?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-specific licensure pathway not researched in this pass.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Where to read it
Where does Colorado document its military pathway?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-specific licensure pathway not researched in this pass.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Military spouses
Does Colorado extend its military pathway to spouses?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-spouse provisions not researched in this pass.