Colorado State Board of Nursing

The agency that licenses and disciplines nurses in Colorado — how to reach it, what it charges, and what it requires to keep a licence active.

NLC Compact State

Contact the board

Website dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing

Phone (303) 894-7800

Email dora_nursingboard@state.co.us

Verify a Colorado licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in Colorado, with what it costs to get and what it takes to keep. Initial cost totals application, examination, and fingerprinting fees.

Credential	Initial cost	Renewal	CE hours
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant	$175	— every 2 yrs	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$285	$35 every 2 yrs	None
RN Registered Nurse	$283	$108 every 2 yrs	None
NP Nurse Practitioner	$75	$108 every 2 yrs	2
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	$75	$108 every 2 yrs	None
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	$75	$108 every 2 yrs	2
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$75	$108 every 2 yrs	None

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Colorado nurse aide registry, run by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Nurse Aide Registry — a separate agency from the nursing board.

Multistate practice

Colorado is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate licence issued by this board lets you practise in other NLC member states without a separate application in each one.

Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state. With a multistate license issued by Colorado, you can practice in all other NLC member states without obtaining additional licenses.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the Colorado State Board of Nursing?

Phone: (303) 894-7800. Email: dora_nursingboard@state.co.us. Website: https://dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing. The board is the authoritative source for licence status, disciplinary records, and application questions. Contact it directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, including this one.

What licences does the Colorado State Board of Nursing issue?

It handles Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Colorado nurse aide registry, run by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Nurse Aide Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is Colorado a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Colorado is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence issued here lets you practise in other NLC member states without applying separately in each one.

How do I verify a Colorado nursing licence?

Use the board's public verification tool, which is free and does not require an account. It shows current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary action. Nursys also carries Colorado data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do Colorado nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 2 years, LPN/LVN every 2 years, RN every 2 years, NP every 2 years, CNM every 2 years, CNS every 2 years, CRNA every 2 years. Continuing education requirements are set per credential and are listed in the table above.

Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team

Based on 4 official sources • Last verified: July 2026

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