Colorado Independent or Employing Broker License requirements

Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.

1. 1

   Hold an active Colorado associate-broker license for two years

   Out-of-state salesperson years do not substitute.

2. 2

   Independent: file the upgrade. Employing: complete 24-hour Brokerage Administration first

   This is a named Colorado course. BASS and BMC do not count.

3. 3

   Individual E&O (and entity E&O if you will employ others)

   Under Rule 3.9, the brokerage's licenses go inactive if the individual policy is missing.

4. 4

   Track the same 24-hour / three-ACU CE cycle

   Employing status does not reduce the ACU requirement.

Minimum age

18 years old

Identification

The source materials do not mark an SSN as required. An ITIN is accepted.

Residency and identification

Same SB 21-077 identification rule as for original licensure. Two years of Colorado associate-broker (independent) or Colorado broker (employing) experience, as the Division currently defines active engagement.

Qualifying education

Independent: the original 168-hour path plus two years as an active associate broker. Employing: two years as an active broker plus the Commission-approved 24-hour Brokerage Administration course. BASS, BMC, and a Washington 30-hour law course will not count as Brokerage Administration.

Character review

Same Commission character review. You can request a new PAO if your criminal history has changed since original licensure.

Background process

CABS fingerprints if the current upgrade application requires them.

Experience

two years of active Colorado associate-broker experience for independent; two years of active Colorado broker experience plus 24-hour Brokerage Administration for employing. Out-of-state salesperson experience does not count.

Broker affiliation

Employing brokers supervise associate brokers and must carry individual E&O (and entity E&O once they employ others, per Rule 3.9). Independent brokers do not hire salespersons because the title does not exist.

PSI (same bulletin). There is no second exam for the upgrade unless you use the state portion as a CE alternative. · Fee: $49

Upgrade applicants who already passed both portions at original licensure do not take the 80/74 exam again unless the Division or a CE-alternative path requires it. Confirm on the current employing-broker page.

These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.

Some upgrades are charged the $5 transfer/upgrade/activation fee on the Division table rather than a second $83. Entity $120. Confirm the current fee for the exact upgrade you are filing.

• !

  Counting out-of-state salesperson years

  The Division does not count out-of-state salesperson experience toward independent or employing broker.

• !

  Skipping Brokerage Administration

  The Qualifying Education page requires twenty-four (24) hours of Brokerage Administration for employing broker, plus Rule 2.5.C and the Experience Affidavit. BASS and BMC do not count.

• !

  Entity-only E&O

  Responsible brokers still need an individual policy (Rule 3.9). Without it, the brokerage's licenses go inactive.

• !

  Treating independent broker as an upgrade from another state's salesperson license

  There is no salesperson license to upgrade from. Independent broker requires two years of Colorado associate-broker time.

• !

  Booking Broker State as CE

  The bulletin states in capitals that you must select the Continuing Education examination. Do NOT register for the Broker State examination.

• !

  Assuming the $5 upgrade fee always applies

  The DRE Fees page lists $5 Transfer/Upgrade/Activation and $83 Broker Application. Confirm the current fee for the exact upgrade you are filing.

Reciprocal Licensure is a PSI state-only exam plus whatever education the Division currently waives. It does not convert an out-of-state salesperson license into Colorado employing-broker status.

Colorado vs neighboring states

Hours are the pre-license total printed in each guide; states that count credits or named courses show “See guide.” Published state fees add the application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts the guide can cite — tuition is not included.

Does Colorado issue a salesperson license?

No. This guide covers the independent / employing upgrade from an associate-broker license. There is no salesperson title to convert.

Will my Texas sales-agent years count?

No. Out-of-state salesperson experience does not count toward independent or employing broker. The employing-broker path requires two years of Colorado broker experience plus 24-hour Brokerage Administration.

Is Brokerage Administration the same as Oregon BASS?

No. The DRE Qualifying Education page requires twenty-four (24) hours of instruction in Brokerage Administration, plus meeting Employing Broker Qualifications Rule 2.5.C and filing the Employing Broker Experience Affidavit. BASS, Arizona BMC #1–#3, and a Washington 30-hour law course will not count.

Do I take the PSI exam again?

Not for a routine upgrade if you already passed both portions at original licensure. To use the state portion as a CE alternative, book the Continuing Education exam (74/53/110), not the ordinary Broker State exam. Reciprocal Licensure is a different exam for out-of-state brokers.

What does the upgrade cost?

The DRE Fees page lists Broker Transfer / Upgrade / Activation at $5 for some upgrades, and Broker Application at $83 if you are filing for a new credential. Entity $120. Confirm the current fee for your exact upgrade. Most Colorado associates paid the PSI $49 years earlier.

Independent vs employing?

Independent: two years of active Colorado associate-broker experience; you can practice without an employing broker, but you are still not a salesperson. Employing: two years of active Colorado broker experience plus 24-hour Brokerage Administration; this credential lets you supervise associate brokers.