Become a Nurse in Colorado – Licensure & Requirements

Master's-degree requirements shown above reflect Colorado's APRN education rule, 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.14.

Colorado Nursing Salaries

^{Nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Colorado, May 2025.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in Colorado. The path you take will mostly depend upon the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The higher your level of education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in Colorado, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of Colorado nursing licensure. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in the healthcare sphere it’s difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in Colorado, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

As of September 2026, Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, according to the Colorado Board of Nursing.

A nurse whose primary state of residence is an NLC member state may hold one active multistate license valid for practice in every NLC member state; a nurse who changes their primary state of residence to a different NLC state must apply for licensure in that new state within 60 days, per the Nurse Licensure Compact Commission.

Prescriptive Authority in Colorado

According to the Colorado Board of Nursing's prescriptive authority rules, to obtain prescriptive authority in Colorado, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must first obtain Provisional Prescriptive Authority. The provisional requirements are: an appropriate graduate or post-graduate degree or certificate in the APRN's role and population focus, educational coursework in the use of controlled substances and prescription drugs, national certification (unless the Board grants an exception), and three years of combined clinical work experience as a professional nurse or APRN.

This provisional authority covers the prescription of schedules II-V controlled substances appropriate to the APRN's role and population focus and requires a valid DEA registration. Full Prescriptive Authority additionally requires an active professional nurse/APRN license, inclusion on the Advanced Practice Registry, professional liability insurance, a qualified mentor, and the required application and fee.

Within three years after being granted provisional prescriptive authority, APRNs must complete 750 hours of mentorship with a physician or advanced practice registered nurse who holds full prescriptive authority and experience in prescribing medications. Before the mentorship begins, the APRN must submit documentation to the Board describing the proposed mentorship, and a written Mentorship Agreement is required and retained, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.15.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in Colorado

Education: A graduate or post-graduate nursing degree in the applicable role and population focus (Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Certified Nurse-Midwife, or Clinical Nurse Specialist), or a Board-determined equivalent, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.14

Examination: Varies for Different Certifications

Certification Required: Current national certification in the applicable role (NP, CRNA, CNM, or CNS) is required for inclusion on Colorado's Advanced Practice Registry, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.14

Fees:

• Application Fee — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.
• Fingerprinting Fee — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.

Renewal: Advanced Practice Registry registration and Colorado prescriptive authority renew at the same time as the APRN's Colorado professional nurse license. An APRN practicing on a multistate compact license renews each every two years, with a specific expiration date, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rules 1.14(H) and 1.15(L).

Additional Information: An active Colorado or multistate compact professional nurse license is required for application, per the Colorado Board of Nursing

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in Colorado

Education: Completed a state-approved professional nursing educational program, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.1.

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Fees:

• Application Fee — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.
• $200 Examination Fee
• Endorsement Fee (if applicable) — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.

Renewal: Registered nurse licenses reach their scheduled expiration or renewal date of September 30 of odd- or even-numbered years, dependent upon issuance date, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications and renewal page. Renewal opens approximately 4–6 weeks before that date through the Division of Professions and Occupations' online licensing portal. A 60-day grace period follows the scheduled date; a license not renewed within that period becomes expired, and the nurse must apply for reinstatement and may not practice until reinstated, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.1(G).

Additional Information: Registered nurses who hold an active multistate license issued by another NLC state need not apply for licensure in Colorado, unless they change their primary state of residence to Colorado, in which case Colorado licensure is required within 60 days, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's compact page.

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a registered nurse in another state may apply for Colorado licensure through the Board's Registered Nurse - Initial License by Endorsement or Telehealth Method online application, subject to board approval. Colorado participates in Nursys license verification for RN/PN licenses; applicants from non-Nursys-participating jurisdictions submit a separate primary-source verification form instead, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page and Nursys verification-jurisdictions page.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Colorado

Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.1.

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Fees:

• Application Fee — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.
• $200 Examination Fee
• IV Authority Application Fee (if applicable) — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.
• Endorsement Fee (if applicable) — the current amount is shown on the applicable application or online transaction, linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page.

Renewal: Licensed practical nurse licenses reach their scheduled expiration or renewal date of August 31 of even-numbered years, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications and renewal page. Renewal opens approximately 4–6 weeks before that date through the Division of Professions and Occupations' online licensing portal. A 60-day grace period follows the scheduled date; a license not renewed within that period becomes expired, and the nurse must apply for reinstatement and may not practice until reinstated, per 3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.1(G).

Additional Information: Licensed practical nurses who hold an active multistate license issued by another NLC state need not apply for licensure in Colorado, unless they change their primary state of residence to Colorado, in which case Colorado licensure is required within 60 days, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's compact page.

Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a licensed practical nurse in another state may apply for Colorado licensure through the Board's Licensed Practical Nurse - Initial License by Endorsement or Telehealth Method online application, subject to board approval. Colorado participates in Nursys license verification for RN/PN licenses; applicants from non-Nursys-participating jurisdictions submit a separate primary-source verification form instead, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page and Nursys verification-jurisdictions page.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colorado a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, which means a nurse whose primary state of residence is another NLC state can practice in Colorado on that state's multistate license, without applying for a separate Colorado license, per the Colorado Board of Nursing.

Do I need to apply for a Colorado license if I already hold a multistate license from another compact state?

Generally, no. Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold an active multistate license issued by another NLC state do not need to apply for licensure in Colorado, unless they change their primary state of residence to Colorado, in which case Colorado licensure is required within 60 days, per the Colorado Board of Nursing's compact page.

Information Disclosures:

Information for the nursing careers above: advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse and licensed practical nurse licensure requirements were retrieved from the Colorado Board of Nursing – Laws, Rules and Policies and the current Colorado nursing rules, 3 CCR 716-1. Compact status, the prescriptive-authority mentorship-hours requirement, and RN/LPN renewal-cycle dates were verified as current via the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications and renewal page as of September 2026. The $200 examination fee is independently confirmed current as of September 2026 via the official NCLEX fee schedule, which is scheduled to increase to $350 on February 1, 2027. Application, fingerprinting, endorsement, and IV Authority fee amounts change periodically and are not restated as fixed figures on this page; current amounts are shown on the applicable application, form, or online transaction linked from the Colorado Board of Nursing's applications page throughout the Fees sections above.