Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Colorado
- Training hours
- —
- Upfront cost
- $288
- Exam
- NCLEX-PN
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Colorado Board of Nursing, Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO/DORA)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. No Colorado Board of Nursing source reviewed states a minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null. As a Nurse Licensure Compact member (since Jan. 18, 2018, under SB 18-027), the Colorado Board of Nursing requires ALL applicants — not just multistate/compact applicants — to obtain a fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check before a nursing license can be issued. A criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant; the Board reviews on a case-by-case basis via screening questions on the application. [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete training at a state-approved program. Colorado requires graduation from a Board-approved practical nursing education program. No specific clock-hour minimum for LPN programs was found on the Colorado Board of Nursing's site; the Board's FAQ instead states a credit-based rule for foreign-educated applicants ('If you have five semester hours of fundamentals of nursing, or its equivalent on your English-translated transcript, you meet the educational requirements'), which does not translate to a fixed program-length figure, so left null rather than guessed. [1]
- 3
NCLEX-PN
Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computerized adaptive test (CAT) delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. National exam-registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from Colorado's own application and background-check fees. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Colorado Board of Nursing, Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO/DORA) with the $88 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Colorado Board of Nursing, Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO/DORA) issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Colorado.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $88 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $108 |
| NCLEX-PN [2] | $200 |
| State/federal criminal background check (CABS fingerprint fee) [1] | $39.5 |
| NCLEX-PN registration (Pearson VUE, national) [1] | $200 |
Colorado's LPN application fee is set annually each July and was $88 at last check, with no separate license-issuance fee; the Board's own FAQ cautions that fees 'can change and may differ for new graduates, endorsement applicants, and renewals' and directs applicants to the current fee on the specific application form. Renewal fee is $108. A separate $39.50 Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI/CABS) fingerprint-based background-check fee applies to all applicants.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Colorado does NOT currently require continuing-education hours to renew a Registered Nurse, Practical Nurse, Nurse Aide Certification, or Psychiatric Technician license — confirmed on the Board's own FAQ. Practical Nurse licenses expire August 31 of even-numbered years. Applicants who have not held an active license in the prior two years must instead demonstrate continued competency (e.g., a Board-recognized refresher course) to reinstate or reactivate.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
Colorado joined the (enhanced) Nurse Licensure Compact on Jan. 19, 2018, per the compact commission's official implementation-date table (NurseCompact.com / NCSBN NLC_Map.pdf) and confirmed on the Colorado Board's own Compact page, which also notes Colorado's original NLC membership dissolved July 18, 2018 as the compact transitioned fully to the enhanced NLC.
5 state-approved training providers in Colorado — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $88
- $200
Frequently asked questions
What license does Colorado issue to practical nurses?
Colorado issues the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license — also referred to as Practical Nurse (PN) — through the Colorado Board of Nursing.
Is Colorado part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes. Colorado joined the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact effective January 19, 2018, so LPNs with a multistate compact license from another NLC state may practice in Colorado without a separate Colorado license.
Does Colorado require continuing education to renew an LPN license?
No. Colorado does not currently require continuing-education hours to renew a Practical Nurse license. Licenses expire August 31 of even-numbered years and renew for a $108 fee.
Does Colorado require a background check for LPN licensure?
Yes. As part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, the Colorado Board of Nursing requires all applicants to complete a fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check ($39.50 CBI/CABS fee) before a license can be issued.
How much does an LPN application cost in Colorado?
The application fee is set annually each July (recently $88), plus the separate $39.50 background-check fee and the $200 national NCLEX-PN registration fee paid to Pearson VUE.
Sources
- [1] dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/FAQ — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] dpo.colorado.gov/Nursing/Compact — accessed 2026-07-10