Colorado DORA / CREC — 2026 Licensing Guide
Colorado Real Estate Exam: Format, Requirements & How to Pass
154 questions. Two independently scored sections. 168 hours of required pre-license education — the highest in the United States. Here is everything you need to know before exam day.
Last updated: June 30, 2026
Exam format
Source: PSI Colorado Candidate Handbook — verify at candidate.psiexams.com
| Section | Questions | Time | Passing score |
|---|---|---|---|
| National (AMP/uniform topics) | 80 | 120 min | 60 / 80 (75%) |
| Colorado state (CREC / DORA) | 74 | 120 min | 53 / 74 (~71.6%) |
| Total | 154 | 240 min (4 hrs) | Both sections independently |
Testing provider
PSI Exams — in-person at authorized PSI testing centers across Colorado.
Schedule at psiexams.comColorado state section topics
CREC Commission Rules, Trust Account compliance, broker-direct license law, Colorado Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate, closing procedures, and disclosure requirements.
Licensing requirements
Source: DORA Division of Real Estate — dora.colorado.gov
Complete 168 hours of DORA-approved pre-license education
Colorado requires 168 credit hours — the highest in the U.S. — split across five required modules: Real Estate Law, Real Estate Practice, Real Estate Contracts, Trust Accounts, and Closings. Online and classroom delivery are both available.
Submit fingerprints for a background check
Colorado requires a fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGO. Budget approximately $38.50. Submit fingerprints early — processing can take several weeks and must be complete before DORA issues a license.
Pass the PSI broker exam (both sections)
Schedule and pass both the national (80 questions, 75% to pass) and Colorado state (74 questions, ~71.6% to pass) sections. Both sections must be passed to receive an exam completion certificate.
Submit your DORA license application
Apply online through MyLicense Office at dora.colorado.gov. The Broker Associate application fee is $485. You will need your PSI exam certificate, background check clearance, and proof of completed pre-license education.
Affiliate with an Employing Broker
New Colorado Broker Associates must work under an Employing Broker for the first two years. Your Employing Broker completes the affiliation in MyLicense Office before your license activates.
Fees at a glance
Study plan
A phased approach for the Colorado PSI exam — typical timeline: 3–5 weeks of dedicated exam prep after completing pre-license.
Phase 1 — National topics (Week 1–2)
- Property ownership, rights, and land-use controls
- Contracts — formation, breach, remedies (high-frequency category)
- Agency relationships, fiduciary duties, disclosure obligations
- Finance — mortgages, loan types, settlement procedures
- Federal fair housing law (Fair Housing Act, ADA, ECOA)
- Property valuation and appraisal methods
Phase 2 — Colorado state topics (Week 2–3)
- Colorado Commission Rules (Rule F, Rule G, Rule E) — heavily tested
- Trust account compliance: earnest money, commingling, disbursement rules
- Broker-direct license law: Broker Associate vs. Independent vs. Employing Broker
- Colorado Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate — every deadline, contingency, and blank
- Disclosure requirements: Seller's Property Disclosure, Lead-Based Paint, Megan's Law
- Colorado water law basics (item appears on state section)
Phase 3 — Practice and mock exams (Week 3–5)
- Take full 154-question timed mock exams — both sections, back-to-back
- Track weak categories; revisit those Commission Rules and Trust Account scenarios
- Focus on any question types where you score below 75%
- Colorado's 74-question state section is unusually large — spend proportionally more time on it
- In final week: two full timed practice exams per day, review every wrong answer
Retake procedures
Source: PSI candidate policies — verify current wait periods at candidate.psiexams.com
Section-by-section retaking
Colorado allows you to retake only the section you failed. If you pass the national but fail the Colorado state section, you schedule and pay for only the state section retake ($44.95). Your passing section score is banked for a rolling period — confirm the current banking window in the PSI candidate handbook before your second attempt.
Retake fees
$44.95 per attempt, per section. There is no reduced retake fee — each attempt costs the same as the original. Schedule through PSI as soon as your score report is available; testing center availability varies by location.
What to focus on between attempts
Your PSI score report identifies performance by content category. Focus your retake prep on the specific categories where you fell below passing. For the Colorado state section, Commission Rules (Rule E, F, G) and Trust Account scenarios are the most commonly failed categories — drill those first.
Colorado real estate exam — frequently asked questions
How many pre-license hours does Colorado require?
Colorado requires 168 hours of DORA-approved pre-license education — the highest pre-license requirement in the United States. The hours are split across required modules covering Real Estate Law, Real Estate Practice, Trust Accounts, Closings, and Colorado Contracts.
Why does Colorado have the highest pre-license requirement?
Colorado is a "broker-direct" state — there is no salesperson license tier. Every newly licensed agent in Colorado is a Broker from day one and is held to broker-level standards on contracts, trust accounts, and disclosures. The 168-hour curriculum reflects that broker-level scope.
What does "broker-direct" mean for me as a new licensee?
It means you skip the salesperson tier that other states use. Your first license is a Broker Associate license — you can hold transactions, manage trust accounts, and (after 2 years of experience) upgrade to Independent Broker or Employing Broker. This is unique among U.S. states.
What is the format of the Colorado real estate exam?
The Colorado Broker exam is administered by PSI and contains 154 multiple-choice questions: 80 national questions and 74 Colorado-specific questions. The two sections are scored independently — you must pass both to pass the exam. The Colorado section is one of the largest state-specific sections in the country.
What is the passing score on the Colorado real estate exam?
You need to score at least 60 of 80 (75%) on the national section AND at least 53 of 74 (about 71.6%) on the Colorado section. Failing either section means you fail the exam, even if your combined score would otherwise be sufficient.
What happens if I fail only one section of the Colorado exam?
Colorado uses section-by-section retaking. If you fail only the national or only the Colorado section, you retake only the failed section — not the entire exam. Each retake costs $44.95. Your passing section score is banked for a limited period, so check current PSI policies for the exact banking window.
How much does the Colorado real estate exam and license cost?
The PSI exam fee is $44.95 per attempt. The DORA Broker Associate license application fee is $485 — one of the higher application fees in the country. Fingerprinting is also required and typically costs $38.50 through IdentoGO. Budget $570+ for exam and licensing fees alone before pre-license education costs.
How long does it take to get a Colorado real estate license?
Most candidates take 5–7 months due to the 168-hour education requirement. Full-time learners can finish coursework in 6–8 weeks; part-time learners typically take 4–5 months. Add 4–6 weeks for fingerprinting, DORA application processing, and exam scheduling.
Do I need an Employing Broker before my license activates in Colorado?
Yes. New Broker Associates in Colorado must work under an Employing Broker for the first two years before they can apply for an Independent Broker or Employing Broker license. You can pass the exam first, but the license does not activate until your Employing Broker submits the affiliation through DORA.
How does Colorado continuing education work?
Active Colorado Brokers must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 3 years to renew, including the Annual Commission Update (ACU) — 4 hours per year. CE must be completed through a school approved by the Colorado Division of Real Estate (DORA).
Official sources — verify all requirements directly
DORA Division of Real Estate
License applications, regulation updates, renewal, and education provider lists.
Colorado Real Estate Commission (CREC)
Commission rules, enforcement actions, and official policy statements.
PSI Exams — Colorado Candidate Handbook
Official exam content outline, scheduling, testing center locations, and retake policies.
IdentoGO — Fingerprinting
Schedule your Colorado real estate fingerprinting appointment online.
Last updated: June 30, 2026
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