1.2 Colorado License Requirements

Colorado sets specific education, examination, and character requirements for its broker license. These logistics appear directly on the state portion, so know the numbers cold.

Basic Eligibility

To become a Colorado real estate broker you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Provide truthful disclosure of any criminal history (a felony or specified offense does not automatically bar licensure, but undisclosed history can).
• Complete a fingerprint-based background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and FBI.
• Demonstrate the honesty, competency, and good moral character the Commission requires under C.R.S. 12-10-203.

Colorado does not impose a U.S.-citizenship requirement, and there is no formal residency requirement to hold a Colorado license.

Education Requirement — 168 Hours

Complete 168 hours of qualifying education from a provider approved by the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) or an accredited college:

Note: The exact split varies by school, but the total must equal 168 hours, and the Colorado-specific Contracts, Closings, and Trust Account content is mandatory.

The Examination

The broker exam is delivered by PSI at test centers and via approved online proctoring. The two portions are scored separately.

The full appointment runs about 3 hours 50 minutes including both portions, and each portion contains a few unscored pretest questions mixed in. If you pass only one portion, you re-register and retake only the failed portion within the one-year window — you do not start over.

Exam Tip: Don't memorize "75% on both." The National cut is 60/80, but the Colorado cut is 53/74 (~71.6%). Historically the state portion has the lower first-time pass rate, so weight your studying toward Colorado law, Rule E, and Rule F.

Background Check and E&O Insurance

Fingerprint Background Check

Every applicant submits fingerprints for a CBI/FBI criminal history check. Use an approved fingerprint vendor; results are sent directly to the Division. Disclose all criminal history on the application — non-disclosure is itself grounds for denial or discipline, often more damaging than the underlying offense.

Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

Colorado requires every active broker to carry E&O insurance that meets minimum standards set by the Commission. You may buy the Commission's group policy through its designated carrier or an independent policy that meets the minimums and names the required coverage.

Exam Tip: E&O insurance protects brokers and consumers against claims of negligence, errors, or omissions. A license cannot be active without it, and it must be maintained continuously, not just at issuance.

Application, Fees, and Retakes

After passing both portions, file the broker license application with the Division within one year and pay the fee. Fees change periodically, so verify current amounts at dre.colorado.gov.

Application Sequence

1. Complete 168 hours of qualifying education.
2. Submit fingerprints to CBI for the background check.
3. Register with PSI and pass both portions (60/80 and 53/74).
4. Apply for the license with the Division within one year of passing.
5. Obtain E&O insurance.
6. Affiliate with an employing broker to activate (associate brokers).

Retake Policy

Exam Tip: The one-year clock runs from each portion's passing date. If you pass National in March and State in May, the National score expires first — apply for the license before either portion lapses.

Out-of-State Applicants and Endorsement

Colorado has no formal reciprocity that waives its exam. A licensee from another state applies by endorsement and must still pass the Colorado state portion, complete the CBI/FBI fingerprint check, and carry E&O insurance. The Division may grant credit for equivalent pre-license education and for the national exam content, but the Colorado-specific law portion can never be skipped.

Exam Tip: There is no shortcut around the Colorado law portion. "A broker from another state may skip the state exam" is a false statement on the exam.