CO real estate licensing guide

Colorado

Colorado does not issue a salesperson license. Entry is associate broker after a minimum of 168 named hours on the live DRE Qualifying Education page (fetched 2026-09-02) — Real Estate Law and Practice 48, Colorado Contracts and Regulations 48, Trust Accounts and Record-Keeping 8, Current Legal Issues 8, Real Estate Closings 24, Practical Applications 32 — from a nationally accredited college or a DPOS-approved school (REC-33), or a degree with a major in real estate, then PSI $49 first / $48 retake on bulletin 649 (Updated 10/1/2023): national 80 items / 60 correct / 120 minutes and Colorado 74 items / 53 correct / 110 minutes, then live Broker Application $83 (the Division fee table still lists a $44.95 exam row this hub will not merge with the PSI cart), CABS fingerprints before the application, individual E&O under Rule 3.9, and an employing-broker hang. Independent broker is two years of active Colorado associate-broker experience; employing broker adds twenty-four (24) hours of Brokerage Administration and two years of active Colorado broker experience — out-of-state salesperson years do not count. CE is 24 hours / three years with three different 4-hour Annual Commission Update courses. Designated broker, water-rights disclosure, Colorado Fair Housing Act, and the Contracts to Buy and Sell are scored Colorado items — this paper cannot be renamed to Kansas's PL-number 30+30 or Utah's 120-hour sales agent.

Verified 2026-09-02

The Colorado Division of Real Estate sits inside DORA at 1560 Broadway, Suite 925, Denver, CO 80202. Phone (303) 894-2166. Fax (303) 894-2683. dre.colorado.gov. Statute: C.R.S. Title 12, Article 10 and Commission Rules 2.1, 2.2, 2.5.C, 3.9, 4.2. PSI delivers the exam under Candidate Information Bulletin 649 (test-takers.psiexams.com/core; (855) 744-0313; Updated 10/1/2023; fetched 2026-09-02). The live Qualifying Education page fetched 2026-09-02 is the hour bible: a minimum of 168 hours in named courses, or a real-estate major. Colorado abolished the salesperson title — searching for that form is wasted time.

PSI seats 80 national items in 120 minutes (60 correct) and 74 Colorado items in 110 minutes (53 correct). Rule 2.2.D voids a sitting before the 168 hours. Apply within one year of passing the entire examination. Live Fees page: $83 application, $252 base-rate renewal, $44.95 exam row that is not the PSI $49/$48 cart. CABS fingerprints before the application. Individual E&O is how Colorado actually lets people practice.

Independent broker is two years of Colorado associate-broker time. Employing broker adds 24-hour Brokerage Administration. Kansas's 30+30, Utah's sales agent, Wyoming salesperson, and New Mexico associate/qualifying broker are neighbor comparisons, not Colorado's thesis. This paper cannot be renamed to another state: there is no salesperson license, the cut is 60 and 53 raw, and water rights are scored.

Licensing authority

Colorado Division of Real Estate

DRE / DORA

A DORA division that licenses real estate brokers only — Colorado does not issue a salesperson license. Live Qualifying Education page (fetched 2026-09-02): minimum of 168 hours of qualifying education through a nationally accredited community college or university OR a DPOS-approved school, in named courses (Law and Practice 48, Colorado Contracts and Regulations 48, Trust Accounts 8, Current Legal Issues 8, Closings 24, Practical Applications 32). Employing broker adds 24-hour Brokerage Administration. Live Fees page: Broker Application $83; Base Rate Renewal $252; Broker Examination Fee $44.95 (the live PSI bulletin lists $49 first / $48 retake — pay the cart in front of you). PSI delivers national 80 at 60 correct / 120 minutes and Colorado 74 at 53 correct / 110 minutes. Fingerprints run through CBI/CABS. Active brokers must carry individual E&O (Rule 3.9). Recovery Fund under Article 10.

C.R.S. Title 12, Article 10 (including §§ 12-10-203 qualifying education, 12-10-217 recovery fund); Commission Rules 2.1 (168 named hours), 2.2 (exam, Rule 2.2.D finish education before PSI), 2.5.C (employing broker), 3.9 (individual E&O), 4.2 (CE). Live DRE Broker Qualifying Education page, Broker Applications/Documents/Fees page, Broker Continuing Education page, and Broker License Application Requirements page fetched 2026-09-02. PSI Colorado Real Estate Candidate Information Bulletin at test-takers.psiexams.com/core, Updated 10/1/2023, bulletin 649, fetched 2026-09-02. PSI (855) 744-0313. 1560 Broadway, Suite 925, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 894-2166

Official commission site

License types in Colorado

Next steps

Budget

Verified state fees

Application, exam, and fingerprint fees we could confirm. School tuition is not estimated.

Mobility

Reciprocity, endorsement, recognition

Mutual recognition, endorsement, Act 41, and the states that waive nothing.

Testing

National vs state portions

Pearson VUE, PSI, DRE, and DOS — and what actually fails people.