Getting a Colorado real estate license takes six steps: the classes, the exam, a background check, insurance, an application, and an employing broker. In Colorado the license is called a broker license, even for brand-new agents. I got mine in 2003, and the steps have changed since then, so I always send new people to the source. Here's how I explain the path, in order, with a link to the state at every step. The Division of Real Estate makes the rules. Check its current requirements before you pay for anything.
The short answer
Finish the state's qualifying education, pass both parts of the broker exam, get your fingerprints done, buy errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, apply to the Division of Real Estate, and connect your license to an employing broker. Then keep it current with continuing education. The official pages are at dre.colorado.gov. Hours, fees and deadlines change, so check the current numbers there.
Step by step
- Take the qualifying education. Colorado requires a set number of classroom hours from an approved school or an accredited college. When I checked the Division's site in October 2026, it listed 168 hours. They covered law and practice, Colorado contracts and rules, trust accounts, current legal issues, closings, and practical applications. Confirm the current hours and course list on the Division's broker qualifying education page. Attorneys and people with a real estate degree have a different path.
- Pass the exam. The broker exam has a national part and a state part. You must pass both. The Division's exam vendor schedules it; when I checked, that was PSI. Passing scores only last a limited time, so don't wait too long to apply. Check the current rules on the Division's site.
- Get your fingerprints done. You submit fingerprints for a state and national background check. The Division won't process your application until the results come in. Do this early so it doesn't hold you up.
- Get E&O insurance. You need proof of errors and omissions coverage for an active license. If you're approved without it, the license can be issued as inactive. An inactive license can't do business.
- Apply for your license. Apply online with the Division. Have your class certificates, exam results and background check ready. The Broker Steps for Initial Licensure page lists what to send.
- Choose an employing broker. A new Colorado broker works under an employing broker. The Division describes a new broker's status as "associate broker" until they have enough active experience. Picking the right place matters a lot. See choosing a brokerage or team.
- Activate your license. Your employing broker connects you to the firm in the state's system. Until that's done, you can't represent clients or get paid on a deal.
- Join the MLS and take its class. If you join your local Realtor association and MLS, take the new-member class right away. New agents get fined for MLS rule mistakes in their first month more often than you'd think.
- Keep up with continuing education. Colorado brokers complete continuing education each license cycle, including the Annual Commission Update course. Check the current hours and deadlines on the Division's continuing education page. Watch for rule changes. The Division has proposed moving deadlines.
Checklist (keep this in your phone)
| Step | Proof you'll need | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Course completion certificates | dre.colorado.gov |
| Exam | Passing score report, both parts | Exam vendor and the Division |
| Background check | Fingerprint results on file | The Division's application page |
| E&O insurance | Certificate of coverage | Your insurer |
| Application | Submitted and approved | The Division's online system |
| Employing broker | License tied to a firm | Your managing broker |
| MLS | New-member class finished | Your local MLS |
How to explain it to a friend who's thinking about it
"In Colorado you take the state's classes, pass a national and a state test, get fingerprinted, buy a professional insurance policy, and apply online. Then you need a brokerage to hang your license with. The state's website has the current hours and fees. Look there first, not on a school's ad. The test is the easy part. Picking where you work is the big decision."
Watch-outs
- Don't trust old blog posts. Hours, fees and deadlines change. Go to dre.colorado.gov.
- Use an approved school. Credit only counts from a school the state accepts.
- Don't let exam scores expire. Apply soon after you pass.
- Disclose your history honestly. If you have something on your record, read the Division's guidance and answer every question truthfully. Leaving it off is worse.
- No active license, no deals. Don't show homes or write offers for pay until your license is active with your employing broker.
- Track your CE yourself. Keep your certificates. The state can ask for them.
Further reading
- Real Estate Careers in Denver on kennarealestate.com
- Brian Lee Burke's profile on kennarealestate.com
This is training for real estate agents. It isn't legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your managing broker.
Questions
How many hours of classes do I need for a Colorado broker license?
The Division listed 168 hours when I checked in October 2026. Confirm the current number at dre.colorado.gov.
Who gives the Colorado real estate exam?
The Division's contracted exam vendor. When I checked, that was PSI. The Division's site links to it.
Can I get licensed without E&O insurance?
Your license can be approved but placed on inactive status. You need E&O to be active.
Can I work on my own right away?
No. A new broker works under an employing broker. Check the Division's current rules on experience levels.
Do I need continuing education?
Yes. Colorado brokers complete continuing education each cycle, including the Annual Commission Update. Check current hours and deadlines with the Division.
Brian Lee Burke is the founder of PadLeaders, a Colorado real estate broker licensed since 2003, team leader of The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC (formerly Kenna Real Estate Group) and the author of Mastering Real Estate and The Real Estate Playbook. More about Brian.
- Agent training by Brian Lee Burke, The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC
- Colorado Division of Real Estate (https://dre.colorado.gov)
- dre.colorado.gov
- broker qualifying education page
- Broker Steps for Initial Licensure
- continuing education page
- Real Estate Careers in Denver on kennarealestate.com
- Brian Lee Burke's profile on kennarealestate.com