Real estate license requirements in Colorado
Colorado has no salesperson tier at all — everyone licensed to sell real estate starts as a “Broker,” after 168 hours of pre-licensing education. Colorado’s own fee page and its exam vendor’s bulletin disagree on the exam fee, so we’re showing you both rather than guessing.
Education
The Colorado Division of Real Estate (DORA) requires 168 hours of pre-licensing education to become a Broker — there’s no lower-tier salesperson license to work toward first.
| Requirement | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Broker pre-licensing education | 168 | The only entry-level licensing tier in Colorado |
Because Colorado skips a separate salesperson tier, this 168-hour requirement is what every new licensee in the state completes, not a reduced “salesperson” track.
What Colorado calls your first license
Colorado’s entry-level license is called “Broker” — there’s no “salesperson” tier at all in this state, which is unusual; most states use “salesperson” for the entry-level license and reserve “broker” for a higher tier reached after experience. In Colorado, you’re a Broker from day one.
The licensing exam
Colorado’s exam has an unresolved fee discrepancy that’s still live as of this writing. PSI’s own current candidate bulletin (stamped “Updated 10/1/2023,” though it remains the live document) lists $49.00 for a first attempt and $48.00 for a retake. DORA’s own live fee page, separately, lists $44.95. We couldn’t determine which figure you’ll actually be charged at checkout — we’re showing you both rather than picking one, and recommend confirming the current price with DORA or PSI directly before you schedule.
| Portion | Items | Time | To pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 80 items | 120 min | 60 correct |
| Colorado state law | 74 items | 110 min | 53 correct |
Both portions must be passed within 1 year of each other. On the fee: PSI’s bulletin says $49 first-time / $48 retake; DORA’s fee page says $44.95. Confirm the current price directly before you pay.
PSI's bulletin and DORA's own fee page list different numbers for the exam ($49/$48 vs. $44.95). Rather than pick one for you, we're flagging it — call DORA or check at checkout so you're not surprised.
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $44.95 (DORA) or $49 first-time / $48 retake (PSI) | Sources disagree — confirm current price before paying |
| Application & license fee | $83 | DORA |
| Background check | ~$39.50+ (CBI portion) | CBI/FBI fingerprint check; total vendor fee not fully published |
The $83 application fee is confirmed directly from DORA. The background-check figure of roughly $39.50 covers the CBI portion; there’s an additional, unpublished vendor fee on top of that we couldn’t confirm this pass.
How to apply, step by step
Colorado’s steps follow the standard shape, with the caveat that you should double-check the exam fee before you pay.
From a DORA-approved provider.
Confirm the current total fee, since the vendor portion isn't fully published.
National (80 items/120 min, pass 60) and Colorado state law (74 items/110 min, pass 53), both within 1 year of each other. Confirm the fee — sources disagree between $44.95 and $49/$48.
With the $83 application and license fee.
Needed to activate your Broker license and begin practicing.
After you’re licensed: staying current
We didn’t find a distinct post-licensing course requirement for Colorado — new Brokers move directly into the state’s standard ongoing continuing education cycle, with no separate first-year tier.
Reciprocity
Colorado states plainly that it “accepts reciprocity from all U.S. states and territories” — but that’s conditional, not automatic. You’ll still need to pass the Colorado state-law portion of the exam, complete a fingerprint-based background check, and (if you’ve been actively licensed elsewhere for 2+ years) provide a certified license history less than 90 days old.
Common questions
Why doesn't Colorado have a "salesperson" license?
Colorado’s entry-level license has always been called “Broker” — there’s no lower salesperson tier the way most other states structure it.
What's the real exam fee — $44.95 or $49?
We genuinely couldn’t resolve this. PSI’s own current bulletin says $49 first-time/$48 retake; DORA’s own fee page says $44.95. Confirm directly with DORA or at checkout before you pay.
Do I still need to take Colorado's exam if I'm licensed elsewhere?
Yes — Colorado’s broad reciprocity still requires you to pass the Colorado state-law exam portion, even though the national portion and education requirement may be waived depending on your situation.
How much is the background check?
The confirmed CBI portion is about $39.50; there’s an additional vendor fee that wasn’t published anywhere we could find this pass. Budget a bit more than $39.50 to be safe.
Is there a separate salesperson exam or just the Broker exam?
Just the Broker exam — since Colorado has no separate salesperson tier, the 168-hour education and the exam described above are what every new licensee completes.
Next step
Colorado Division of Real Estate (DORA) — https://dre.colorado.gov
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