Get your Colorado Real Estate license for Just $199 — 100% online at your own pace

First-time applicants must be at least 18 years old, complete 168 hours of qualifying education (or hold a degree with a major in real estate from an accredited college or university), pass both the national and state portions of the Colorado Real Estate Broker's Exam, complete a fingerprint-based background check, and obtain Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance. Applicants must also submit an online application to the Colorado Division of Real Estate with a non-refundable $83 broker application fee. A sponsoring or employing broker is required to receive an active license.

The typical timeline to obtain a Colorado real estate broker license is 2 to 4 months from starting the pre-licensing education through license issuance. The Colorado Division of Real Estate does not publish an end-to-end estimate, but it states that application processing takes up to 10 business days from receipt of a complete application, and new broker applications may take longer because they depend on fingerprint background check results. The 168-hour education requirement is the most time-consuming step, with completion times ranging from 3 to 4 weeks for fast-paced students to 4 months at a more relaxed pace.

The Colorado Division of Real Estate charges an $83 broker application fee and a $44.95 broker examination fee for the first attempt, with retakes at $42.50 each; all application fees are non-refundable. Applicants must also complete a fingerprint-based background check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and maintain errors and omissions insurance before receiving an active license, both of which add to the total cost. Pre-licensing education costs vary by provider for the required 168 hours of qualifying education. Including all components, total out-of-pocket costs to become licensed typically range from approximately $1,000 to $1,800 depending on the education provider and insurance selections.

Can convicted felons get real estate license in Colorado?

Colorado home requires all applicants to undergo fingerprinting in a background check as part of the application process. If you are concerned about a prior conviction serving as grounds for license denial, you can request the Commission issue a preliminary advisory opinion regarding any past criminal convictions or professional conduct judgments.

Colorado has the right to deny a broker license if you have been convicted of any acts that bring into question the individual’s ability to act in good moral character, as per Colorado Revised Statutes Title 12. Professions and Occupations § 12-61-103.

You will disclose any prior criminal activity through your fingerprinting and background check, plus on the broker license application. If you answer “yes” to any of the background questions, you will be asked to submit additional documentation to help the Commissions assess your character.Depending on your answers, this could include a court case disposition, case action summary, arrest report, a signed statement about the violation’s circumstances, a signed statement from your Colorado employing broker, and letters of recommendation.

Do you need high school diploma for real estate in Colorado?

Colorado does not have any high diploma or general education diploma (GED) requirements for a real estate broker license.

A sponsoring broker, called an employing broker in Colorado, is a licensed broker who supervises new agents, reviews contracts, and ensures compliance with state laws. Colorado does not require an employing broker to sit for the licensing exam, but a license cannot become active until an employing broker submits approval to the state. A newly licensed broker's license remains inactive until this sponsorship is established, meaning the broker cannot legally practice real estate without an employing broker.

Can you get a real estate license in Colorado if you dont live in the state?

Yes, you are not required to be a Colorado resident to get a Colorado broker’s license. You will have to meet the same requirements as Colorado residents, such as providing proof of education through a major course of study or taking the 168-hour ColoradoPre-license Broker course, passing the state exam, getting errors & omissions insurance,completing a fingerprint background check, and submitting a broker license application.

Where to get fingerprinted for real estate license in Colorado?

Start by visiting the Colorado Applicant Background Services (CABS) program. State residents can schedule their fingerprints with approved vendor IdentiGo or with Colorado Fingerprinting. Out-of-state residents will need to pre-register with one of these systems and then request a hard copy card.

Colorado requires real estate brokers to be fingerprinted for a background check. You must submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The state offers three options and approved vendors for completing your fingerprints and criminal history check. Visit the site to find the best option for you.

It can take up to ten weeks to process fingerprints and run a background check. The Colorado Division of Real Estate will not notify applicants they have received their background check. They will match the check to your license application.