Nursing requirements change rapidly. Make sure to confirm licensing requirements with the Colorado Board of Nursing before applying for licensure. Last updated: 1/6/2020
Become a Nurse in Colorado – Licensure & Requirements
| Nursing Licenses in Colorado | Master’s Required? |
|---|---|
Certified Nurse-Midwife | Yes |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | Yes |
Clinical Nurse Specialist | Yes |
Nurse Practitioner | Yes |
Registered Nurse (RN) | No |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | No |
Certified Nurse Aide | No |
Colorado Nursing Salaries
| CO Nurse Career | State-Wide Annual Mean Wage | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Annual Mean Wage | Colorado Springs Annual Mean Wage | East and South Non-Metro Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Licensed Practical Nurse | $51,210 | $54,270 | $49,370 | $42,460 |
Registered Nurse | $74,240 | $75,340 | $73,510 | $63,630 |
Nurse Practitioner | $111,210 | $109,140 | Not Available | $101,160 |
Nurse Anesthetist | $172,700 | $178,490 | Not Available | Not Available |
Nurse Midwife | $107,100 | $105,090 | Not Available | Not Available |
Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Colorado in January 2020.
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!
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Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
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Georgetown University
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months.
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Compact State Status
Colorado is a Nursing Licensure Compact state.
Prescriptive Authority in Colorado
According to the Rules and Regulations for the Licensure of Practice And Professional Nurses, to obtain prescriptive authority in Colorado, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must obtain a Provisional Prescriptive Authority first. The provisional authority requires: graduate degree completion, educational coursework in use of controlled substances and prescription drugs, national certification, 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.
Within three years after being granted provisional prescriptive authority, APRNs must complete 1,000 hours of mentorship with a physician or advanced practice nurse with full prescriptive authority and experience in prescribing medications and develop an Articulated Plan for safe prescribing.
Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) in Colorado
Education: Master’s degree or higher from an approved nurse practitioner program
Examination: Varies for Different Certifications
Certification Required: National certification is required for licensure as an APN in Colorado dependent on the type of nursing career: certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist.
Fees:
- $75 Application Fee
- $51 Fingerprinting Fee
- Certification Examination Fee (Varies for Different Certifications)
Renewal: Nurse practitioners authorities experience on September 30th of odd- or even-numbered years; these are renewed separately from nursing licenses.
Additional Information: An active Colorado registered nurse (RN) license or compact-multi state RN license is required for application
Learn more on how to become an advanced practice nurse.
Registered Nurse (RN) in Colorado
Education: Completed a state-approved professional nursing educational program.
Examination: NCLEX-RN
Fees:
- $88 Application Fee
- $200 Examination Fee
- $43 Endorsement Fee [if applicable]
Renewal: Registered nurse licenses expire on September 30 of odd- or even-numbered years and are dependent upon issuance date.
Additional Information: Registered nurses who hold an active license in another compact state need not apply for licensure in Colorado, unless they plan to change their permanent residency to Colorado
Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a registered nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval.
Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Colorado
Education: Completion of an Approved Licensed Practical Nurse Program
Examination: NCLEX-PN
Fees:
- $88 Application Fee
- $200 Examination Fee
- $45 IV Authority Application Fee [if applicable]
- $43 Endorsement Fee [if applicable]
Renewal: Licensed practical nurse license expires on August 31 of even-numbered years.
Additional Information: Licensed practical nurses who hold an active license in another compact state need not apply for licensure in Colorado, unless they plan to change their permanent residency to Colorado
Endorsement: Individuals licensed as a licensed practical nurse in another state may apply for licensure through endorsement, subject to board approval.
Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.
Information for the nursing careers above: advanced practice nurses, registered nurse and licensed practical nurse was retrieved from the Colorado Board of Nursing – Laws, Rules and Policies, as of January 2020.
Sponsored online nursing programs
Simmons University
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Earn an MSN online from Simmons University. Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP — and prepare to raise the standard of patient care.
- Choose from two program options — FNP or PMHNP
- Complete in as few as 24 months
- Full-time and part-time tracks available
Georgetown University
Master of Science in Nursing
Nursing@Georgetown delivers Georgetown University’s MS in Nursing program online, preparing RNs with a BSN to pursue certification in an APRN specialty. Students can earn their degree in as few as 23 months.
- Earn your MS in Nursing in as few as 23 months
- Choose from one of four APRN specialty areas: AG-ACNP, FNP, NM/WHNP, or WHNP
- Gain hands-on clinical experience in evidence-based practice
SPONSORED