How many hours of pre-license education does Colorado require for real estate agents?

168 hours for real estate broker; 120 hours for real estate salesperson credential; 72 hours for real estate broker credential; 24 hours for employing real estate broker, Employing Broker, as set by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission.

Is an exam required to get licensed in Colorado?

Yes. In addition to the required education hours, Colorado requires a licensing exam for one or more license classes.

Can I complete these hours online?

Yes. Our pre-license courses are delivered entirely online and self-paced, with a certificate of completion issued as soon as you finish.

How to get a real estate broker license in Colorado

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission sets the education you must complete before it will license you. Here is the exact requirement, by license class.

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission

Required hours by license class

real estate broker

168 required hours

Who this applies to: individuals who have never held a real estate license

A licensing exam is required in addition to these hours.

We have researched this requirement and are building the course now.

Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission · verified 2026-09-03

real estate salesperson credential

120 required hours

Who this applies to: reciprocity applicants with an expired license or less than two years of active experience in another jurisdiction pursuing a salesperson credential

A licensing exam is required in addition to these hours.

We have researched this requirement and are building the course now.

Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission · verified 2026-09-03

real estate broker credential

72 required hours

Who this applies to: reciprocity applicants with an expired license or less than two years of active experience in another jurisdiction pursuing a broker credential

A licensing exam is required in addition to these hours.

We have researched this requirement and are building the course now.

Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission · verified 2026-09-03

employing real estate broker · Employing Broker

24 required hours

Who this applies to: reciprocity applicants with a non-expired license in another jurisdiction for at least two years seeking employing-level certification

An exam is required for one or more of these license classes — confirm which with the board.

We have researched this requirement and are building the course now.

Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission · verified 2026-09-02

Common questions

How many hours of pre-license education does Colorado require for real estate agents?: 168 hours for real estate broker; 120 hours for real estate salesperson credential; 72 hours for real estate broker credential; 24 hours for employing real estate broker, Employing Broker, as set by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Real Estate / Colorado Real Estate Commission.
Is an exam required to get licensed in Colorado?: Yes. In addition to the required education hours, Colorado requires a licensing exam for one or more license classes.
Can I complete these hours online?: Yes. Our pre-license courses are delivered entirely online and self-paced, with a certificate of completion issued as soon as you finish.

Already licensed? This page covers getting your first license. If you already hold one, Colorado real estate agents renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education — see Colorado real estate agents continuing education.