How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Colorado

If you’re thinking about launching your real estate career in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Aspen, Fort Collins, or anywhere else in the Centennial State, the first step is earning your Colorado real estate license. In Colorado, all real estate agents are licensed as associate brokers rather than salespersons, and the state has specific education and licensing requirements you must follow.

While the overall process is similar to other states, Colorado’s licensing requirements are unique. Below are the key steps to becoming a licensed associate broker in Colorado:

• Must be at least 18 years old. 
• Complete 168 hours of Colorado-approved real estate education
• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check
• Pass the Colorado Real Estate Broker Exam
• Find a licensed Colorado employing broker to sponsor you
• Apply for your license and activate it through the Colorado Division of Real Estate

Table of Contents

• Steps to Getting Your Colorado Real Estate License
• Colorado Real Estate Continuing Education and License Renewal Requirements
• Colorado Real Estate License Reciprocity

Steps to Getting Your Colorado Real Estate License

To earn your Colorado real estate license, you’ll need to complete specific education requirements, pass the licensing exam, and submit a formal application. Below is a step-by-step breakdown of what it takes to become a licensed associate broker in Colorado:

Step 1: Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirement

To apply for a Colorado real estate license, you must be at least 18 years old. No prior experience is required to begin the licensing process.

Step 2: Complete 168 Hours of Pre-Licensing Education

Colorado requires all prospective associate brokers to complete 168 hours of state-approved coursework through an accredited education provider. The required courses include:

• Colorado Contracts and Regulations - 48 credit hours
• Colorado Law and Practice - 48 credit hours
• Colorado Practical Applications - 32 credit hours
• Colorado Real Estate Closings - 24 credit hours
• Colorado Current Legal Issues - 8 credit hours
• Colorado Trust Accounts and Record Keeping - 8 credit hours

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Step 3: Pass the Colorado Real Estate Broker Exam

After completing your education, you must pass both the national and Colorado state portions of the PSI Colorado Broker Licensing Exam. Kaplan offers exam prep tools and practice tests to help you feel confident on test day.

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Step 4: Submit Your Broker License Application

Once you’ve passed the exam, you have one year to submit your Colorado Broker License Application to the Colorado Division of Real Estate. The application must include:

• Proof of completed pre-licensing education
• Fingerprint-based background check
• Signed sponsorship from a Colorado Employing Broker
• Proof of Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance
• Payment of all required licensing fees

Once approved, your license will be issued, and you’ll be ready to start your real estate career in Colorado. 

Colorado Real Estate Continuing Education and License Renewal Requirements

Colorado associate brokers must complete continuing education (CE) requirements to maintain an active license, but the requirements vary depending on whether it’s your first license renewal or a subsequent renewal.

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First-Time License Renewal

Newly licensed associate brokers are not required to complete any CE during the initial licensing period. Instead, your first license will expire on December 31 of the year it was issued, regardless of the month you received it. No CE is required during this time, but it is encouraged to begin familiarizing yourself with available courses.

Subsequent License Renewals

After the first renewal, licensed associate brokers enter a standard three-year license cycle and must complete 24 credit hours of CE to renew an active license. The required CE includes:

• 12 hours from three different versions of the 4-hour Annual Commission Update (ACU) Course
• 12 hours of elective courses in approved real estate topics

Missed Annual Commission Update Courses

If you miss one or more versions of the ACU course during your three-year cycle, you must complete one of the following to meet the renewal requirements:

• Pass the state portion of the Colorado Broker Licensing Exam
• Complete the 24-hour Broker Reactivation Course
• Complete 72 hours of education, including 48 hours of Colorado Contracts and Regulations and 24 hours in Broker Administration

If your license has been inactive for more than three years, contact the Colorado Division of Real Estate to determine the specific steps needed to reinstate your license. 

Colorado Real Estate License Reciprocity

Colorado offers full license reciprocity to real estate agents licensed in other U.S. states and territories. If you hold an active real estate license in good standing from another jurisdiction, you may qualify for a Colorado real estate broker license without completing the full 168-hour education requirement.

To obtain a Colorado real estate license through reciprocity, you must:

• Pass the Colorado state portion of the broker licensing exam
• Submit a fingerprint-based background check
• Provide a certified license history from each state where you’ve held a license (dated within 90 days of your application)

Your level of real estate experience may determine which type of Colorado broker license you qualify for:

• Two or More Years of Active Experience: You may apply for an independent broker or employing broker license
• Less Than Two Years of Experience: You may apply for an associate broker license and must work under a supervising Employing Broker

Colorado’s reciprocity process allows experienced agents to transition their careers with minimal barriers. Be sure to review the latest requirements from the Colorado Division of Real Estate before applying.