NCLEX in Colorado: apply to the Board first, then register with Pearson VUE
In Colorado you apply to the Board of Nursing through DORA’s licensing portal for authorization to take the NCLEX, complete fingerprinting and a criminal background check, and register with Pearson VUE once the Board has processed your application.
Last checked October 2026. Based on third-party summaries of the Colorado Board of Nursing’s process. Reported application fees conflict, from $88 to $135, so verify the current amount on DORA’s nursing page before you pay.
The path for a new graduate
Submit the application for authorization to take the NCLEX-RN through DORA's portal, including official transcripts, and pay the fee.
RN applicants submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check. A guide lists IdentoGO as the fingerprint provider.
Guidance says to register for the NCLEX-RN through the NCSBN portal after the Board has processed your application, and pay $200.
Once the Board authorizes you to test, Pearson VUE emails your ATT.
Temporary license and renewal
A travel-nursing guide says Colorado’s temporary license takes about four to five weeks and has its own fee. The same guide says renewal is every two years, and a licensing guide says Colorado does not require continuing education units to renew an RN license. Confirm all of this with DORA.
Common questions
Is Colorado a compact state?
Reports say Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact member. Confirm with DORA how your primary state of residence affects whether you receive a multistate license.
Where do I find the application?
A licensing guide says to download the application from the Board’s applications page, with official transcripts, and to check the current fee on DORA before submitting.