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How do I get a real estate license in Colorado?

A new agent in Colorado starts with a broker license. Take 168 hours of classes, unless a path below fits you. A real estate degree from an accredited college or university can stand in. Then pass the national and state exams and get a fingerprint check. Have E&O cover before it goes active.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
168 hours of classes for a broker licenseThis is for someone who has never held a license. A degree from an accredited college or university with a major in real estate can stand in for the hours.
Verified. Colorado Division of Real Estate · Broker Qualifying Education (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Cost
$83This is the state's fee to apply for a broker license.
Verified. Colorado Division of Real Estate · Broker Applications, Documents and Fees (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Exam results are good for one year from the date you pass each partThe national and state parts count on their own dates. Plan so both are still good when you apply.
Verified. Colorado Division of Real Estate · Broker License Application Requirements (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Class and exam order
Finish all required coursework before taking either part of the examAn exam part taken before the classes are done is nullified. You retake it.
Verified. Colorado Division of Real Estate · Broker Steps for Initial Licensure (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
E&O coverage
A current E&O insurance policy before an active licenseE&O means errors and omissions. A licensee can be covered under a company's umbrella policy.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Find your group on the Colorado Division of Real Estate (the Division) list for each group. The steps here cover people who have never held a license. A license from another state, an old Colorado license, a law license, or military orders plus a license from another state, put you on a different list.

  2. Step 2. Pick a school. Classes come from a nationally accredited community college or university, or from a school the Colorado Department of Private and Occupational Schools (DPOS) has approved. The Division's steps page also points to first-time exam pass rates by school.

  3. Step 3. Take the required classes. When you finish, get a certificate from the school.

  4. Step 4. Do not sit for either exam part until all your coursework is done. A part taken early is nullified, and you retake it.

  5. Step 5. The exam fee is $44.95. Book a seat with the exam vendor named on the Division's steps page. Pass both the national and state parts.

  6. Step 6. Complete the fingerprint check. The Division says a complete application can take up to 10 business days to process. A new broker's application waits on the fingerprint results and may take longer.

  7. Step 7. Have E&O coverage in place before your license goes active. Then fill out the online application and pay the application fee. It is non-refundable.

Before you pay

The Division's fee table lists $83 to apply and $44.95 for the exam. It says fees to apply are non-refundable.

We haven't confirmed a course price, a fingerprint fee, a price for E&O coverage or whether a course can be taken online.

The state and DPOS may change their lists and fees. Check them yourself on the day you sign up.

Questions

Can I take the Colorado real estate course online?

The Division's classes page says where classes must come from. Ask the school which format you are buying, and check that it is an accredited college or university, or on the state's list of approved schools.

What classes make up the 168 hours?

Six courses make up the hours: 48 hours of Real Estate Law and Practice, 48 hours of Colorado Contracts and Regulations, 8 hours of Trust Accounts and Recordkeeping, 8 hours of Current Legal Issues, 24 hours of Real Estate Closings, and 32 hours of Practical Applications.

I have a real estate license in another state. Do I start over?

Not from the beginning. If your license has not expired and you held it at least two years, you need to pass only the state part of the exam. You also give a certified license history that includes disciplinary actions and is dated within 90 days of when you apply. Colorado accepts reciprocity from all U.S. states and territories. If your license has expired, or you held it for less time, the list is different.

I'm a licensed attorney. Do I need the full classes?

Not the full set. Colorado lists a separate path for a licensed attorney, who can qualify for an associate broker credential. You give proof that you are licensed to practice law in any U.S. state or territory, and you complete 12 hours of coursework in trust accounts, closing, and recordkeeping. You also pass both parts of the exam and complete a fingerprint check. Finish that coursework before either exam part.

I'm in the military, or married to someone who is. Is there a separate path?

Yes. Colorado lists a path for an active servicemember, or a servicemember's spouse, assigned to Colorado who holds a broker license or its equivalent from another jurisdiction. You submit proof of military orders showing the move to Colorado. A spouse also submits a copy of the marriage certificate. Read the rest on the military credentialing page.

Is there an Employing Broker level?

Yes. Colorado lists an Employing Broker level license. It takes 24 hours of Brokerage Administration and the Employing Broker experience rules. Read the details on the classes page.

What to do next

Start with the list for each group. Then pick an accredited college or university, or a school from the state's list of private occupational schools. Check that it teaches broker classes.

cdhe.colorado.gov

Sources we read