Colorado Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years with no continuing education hours required, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Colorado nursing license
The lookup runs on Colorado's state licensing portal, which covers RNs alongside other licensed professions. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Colorado State Board of Nursing, Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Colorado
Colorado renews registered nurse licenses every two years. The board's own site states that RN licenses expire on September 30, 2026, and can be renewed through November 30, 2026, with a 60-day grace period after expiration before the license lapses. Colorado does not require any continuing education hours for renewal, and the board names no mandatory CE topics.
The material reviewed here does not state a dollar amount for either the renewal fee or the initial licensure fee, so no comparison can be given. Whatever the renewal fee turns out to be, it is separate from the cost of the NCLEX-RN exam and from the fingerprint-based background check required for licensure, both paid directly to outside vendors.
How much does a Colorado RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Colorado: endorsement and temporary permits
Colorado has belonged to the Nurse Licensure Compact since January 19, 2018. For a nurse whose primary state of residence is Colorado, this means a single multistate license that covers practice in Colorado and every other compact state, with no separate Colorado license needed. A nurse moving from a non-compact state, or changing home state to Colorado, applies through endorsement instead.
Nurses licensed elsewhere apply online through the board's Online Services for an Initial License by Endorsement or Telehealth Method. Requirements include license verification, a fingerprint-based background check with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, and proof of a valid Social Security number with no felony convictions. Colorado offers no temporary permit and sets no state jurisprudence exam, though foreign-educated nurses may need an English proficiency exam, and anyone inactive for two years must show continued competency.
Education and exam for an RN license in Colorado
Colorado requires applicants to be graduates of a nursing program approved by the Colorado board or another state's board, whether the program awards a degree, diploma, or certificate. Candidates must pass the NCLEX-RN exam; nurses licensed before 1983 could instead have passed the SBTPE. Colorado sets no separate state jurisprudence exam. Nurses educated outside the United States need a credentials evaluation and may also need to pass an English proficiency exam.
What do RNs earn in Colorado?
BLS OES May 2025 · 54,490 RNs employed in Colorado · RN salary in Colorado by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Yes | Every 2 years | None | — | Verify |
| Arizona | Yes | Every 4 years | None | $300 | Verify |
| Kansas | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $100 | Verify |
| Nebraska | Yes | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $123 | Verify |
| New Mexico | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $150 | Verify |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $85 | Verify |
| Utah | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $60 | Verify |
| Wyoming | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $130 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Colorado State Board of Nursing, Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO), Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee rulesmedium confidence
- dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/FAQ
- dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/Compact
- dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/Applications
- dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/Laws
- dpo.colorado.gov/CustomerService/Fingerprinting
- sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Colorado RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.