Registered Nurse Certification in How to Become an RN in Colorado: Nursing License Application and Renewal Guide


Registered Nurse Certification in Colorado

The Registered nurse certification in Colorado is issued by the Colorado Board of Nursing, which aids in preventing diseases and enhancing the skills, knowledge and abilities of the nurses. RN licensure provides authority to the candidates to practice nursing in the state.

Requirements to Obtain RN License

The Colorado Board of Nursing provides license either by examination or endorsement.

1. By Examination

For obtaining license by examination in Colorado, the applicants must fulfil the following requirements:

  • The candidate should have finished their graduation in any of the three state recognized nursing programs- diploma, associate or bachelor.
  • You do not hold an active license in any other United State’s state or territory.
  • Crack the licensing exam, i.e., the NCLEX-RN (The National Council Licensure Examination).
  • Payment of application fee (non-refundable) of $88 by electronic check or credit card.
  • If your name has been changed, you need to submit proof of your name change (i.e. marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order).
  • Attest details regarding your lawful presence in the United States or eligibility to carry out your work here.
  • Provide a social security number.
  • Depending on the screening questions, you may be asked to present court documents relating to your criminal history or pending complaints filed against you in other U.S. territories or states.
  • Provide information of any other healthcare license previously held in any other territory or state of the U.S.

2. By Endorsement

For acquiring license by endorsement in this state, the applicants must meet the below given eligibility criteria:

  • The candidate must hold a current active certificate in another state or territory of the United States.
  • You may also obtain registered nurse license by endorsement as a retired volunteer nurse if you are 55 years old.
  • Provide social security number.
  • Submit all the supporting documents with the application.

Procedure to Gain RN License

Registered nurse certification can be acquired online.

1. By Examination : Here’s the process to get a license by examination.

  • The applicant must meet all the requirements to qualify for obtaining an RN license. The Online Application Checklist can be viewed using the following link: http://1.usa.gov/1tDSEOG
  • Register yourself with the Colorado Board of Nursing by creating an account. View the instructions or the video for how to create a new account using the below mentioned link: http://1.usa.gov/1wZCiEH
  • Create a Healthcare Professions Profile using the following link: www.dora.colorado.gov/professions/hppp

Note: If you declare any compact state other than Colorado as your primary state of residence, you shouldn’t apply for certification in Colorado.

2. By Endorsement : The step-by-step procedure to obtain an RN certification by endorsement is:

  • Download the application form from the below mentioned link and fill it completely. http://1.usa.gov/1oRbDrg
  • Enclose the application fee of $43 if you want to endorse your certificate with full active status, and $20 if you wish to endorse it with for Retired Volunteer Nurse status. The fees must be deposited in the form of a cheque or money order made payable to the State of Colorado.
  • Provide a copy of the legal documents if your name has changed since the last issued license.
  • Fill the details mentioned in the Affidavit of Eligibility form provided with the application form.
  • Provide verification of your original license by contacting the state in which, the license was originally received. Determine the type of license verification and pay the appropriate fees.
    • For Nursys participating states, apply for verification using the following link: https://www.nursys.com/
    • For Nursys non-participating states, submit a Request for Verification of Original Nursing License form, attached with the endorsement application form.
  • Submit proof of an active RN certificate in another state. You can provide either printout or copy of your current license.
  • Create Healthcare Professions Profile using the following link: www.dora.colorado.gov/professions/hpppNote: The application is considered incomplete unless a profile is created, and the license will not be issued.
  • After completing all the required details in the application, send it along with the supporting documents to the following mailing address:Division of Professions and Occupations
    Office of Licensing- Nursing
    1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
    Denver, Colorado- 80202

License Verification

The applicants applying for RN certification in Colorado are required to submit license verification to the Colorado State Board of Nursing. There are 2 options to verify your license, which are:

  • Nursys’ Verification
    Another way is online verification, which can be done by clicking the below given link:
    https://www.nursys.com/

Renewal of RN License in CO

Registered nurse license expires in every two years on September 30 of either odd-numbered years or even-numbered years depending on the date; the license was issued. No continuing education is required for renewing the RN certificate in this state.

How to renew your license?

The stepwise procedure to renew your license online is:

  • Read the complete information provided on the renewal page, and then click on the “Online Services” link at the bottom of the page.
  • Click “Log In” if you have already created your online account since July 1, 2012, else register yourself by clicking on the “Register” link.
  • Log in by providing your User ID and password.
  • Once logged in, a complete list of licenses that you hold will be shown. Click on “Complete License Renewal” link on the left side of the page (under Renewal Activities).
  • Select “Start” link present next to the license that you wish to renew. This will result in a number of prompts on the screen. Complete all the information as prompted.
  • After entering all the information as requested, click the “Proceed to Payment” button.
  • An invoice will be displayed on the screen. If you have more than 1 license to be renewed, click on “Complete License Renewal” on the left and follow the same steps. If you wish to pay, click on “Pay Invoice” in the upper right-hand side corner.
  • By clicking on “Pay Invoice” link, you will be taken to the Colorado Payment Portal where you have to decide the mode of payment, either by electronic check or credit card.
  • An approval screen will get displayed once you submit the payment. You can view the updated expiration date by clicking on “Current Information” on the left side. For keeping a hard copy of the receipt, click on “Print Receipt”.

Duplicate License

In case of destroyed/stolen/lost certificate, the Colorado Board of Nursing issues a new duplicate license. The licensees are required to pay $5 by money order or cheque made payable to the State of Colorado.

The procedure to obtain a duplicate license is:

  • Download the application form via the below provided link: http://1.usa.gov/T9D9mD
  • Complete the details of the application.
  • Attach all the requisite documents, like if your name has changed since the last issued license, provide a photocopy of the legal documents (i.e. passport, immigration records, divorce decree, court order, or marriage certificate).
  • Fax or mail the completed application with the appropriate fee to the address written at the top of the form.

How to check the application status?

Follow the below mentioned instructions in order to check the status of your application.

  • Register yourself with the Colorado State Board of Nursing using the following link: https://www.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Click “Register” on the top-right of the above link.You can view the instructions, which may prove out to be helpful in creating a new account, by using the below mentioned link: http://1.usa.gov/1oBAmhF
  • Once you logged in, the list of license(s) will get displayed in the table format.
    • Until and unless the initial review of the Licensing Specialist, the status of your application will be shown as “Pending”. If the status is shown as “Internal Control Approval (ICA)”, “Pending Exam” or “Application Incomplete”, it means the initial review of your application has been completed. If there is a requirement of Board review, the status will be displayed as “Referred to Board”.
    • The specialist will contact you in case; your application is put in an “incomplete status”.
  • You can view the status of your application in more detail by using “Check the Status of a Pending Application”, the fourth link down on the left-hand side.
  • License number and expiration date will be issued once your application is approved in Quality Assurance. The information can be seen using “My Account” in the upper right-hand side.Note: Check the status of the application 10 days after mailing a paper application to the Department.

Reinstatement of the Registered Nurse Certificate

The applicants can reinstate an expired Colorado RN license by fulfilling the below given requirements:

  • Enclose appropriate fees of $128 for an active status and $20 for Retired Volunteer Nurse status. The fees can be paid either by money order or cheque made payable to the State of Colorado.
  • Fill and return the Affidavit of Eligibility form attached with the reinstatement application form
  • Provide legal documents, in case, your name has changed since the last issued license.
  • Create a Healthcare Professions Profile after submitting the application by going on the below provided link: www.dora.colorado.gov/professions/hpppNote: The application will be deemed as incomplete until and unless you don’t create and submit the online profile and the license will not be issued.
  • Return the duly filled application form with the required documents to the following address:Division of Professions and Occupations
    Office of Licensing- Nursing
    1560 Broadway, Suite- 1350
    Denver, Colorado- 80202

Temporary License

The applicants can apply for a temporary license valid for 4 months with no extension. They must meet the following requirements to obtain a temporary license:

  • Possess an active license in another state or territory of the U.S.
  • Not committed any crime on the grounds of discipline.
  • Do not answer “YES” to any of the screening questions mentioned in the endorsement application form.

Change License Status from Active to Inactive

The applicants, who no longer wish to continue their practice of nursing, can change their active license status to an inactive one. No fee is charged to inactivate an active certificate. The form can be downloaded by clicking the link:http://1.usa.gov/1kErtxG

After downloading the form, print it, fill and submit it to the below mentioned address with the required documents:

Division of Professions and Occupations
Office of Licensing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, Colorado- 80202

Reactivate an Inactive License

It takes approximately fourteen days to process all the completed applications. In order to reactivate an inactive license, the applicants are required to complete the following requirements:

  • Submit the reactivation application.
  • Reactivation fee of $103, which can be paid either by money order or by cheque made payable to the State of Colorado.
  • Display your competency to practice if the license has been inactive for two years or longer.
  • Provide your social security number.
  • Submit supporting documents (marriage certificate, court order or divorce decree) if your name has changed since the last issued license.
  • Create an online Healthcare Professionals Profile after your application is entered into the database of Division of Professions and Occupations. Use this link for this purpose. http://1.usa.gov/1ksRrc9

Download the reactivation form using the following link:http://1.usa.gov/1nKcpXu

Submit the completed application and the required documents to the below mentioned mailing address:

Division of Professions and Occupations
Office of Licensing- Nursing
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, Colorado- 80202

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