Licensed jobs in Colorado
Colorado: 11 occupations, 8 licensing agencies, and no state license for security guards and general contractors. For each one: the board, the main credential, its training, application fee and renewal cycle, from the boards' own pages.
On this page
Occupations we cover in Colorado
Colorado licenses 9 of the 11 occupations below at the state level; security guards and general contractors are licensed only by cities or counties, if at all. Insurance agents have the most levels here (5 credentials); each occupation page covers every level.
| Occupation | Main license | Board | Training or experience | Application fee | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | Cosmetologist | Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure | Training 1,500 clock hours1 | – | Every 2 years2 |
| Notary public | Notary Public 2 credentials in all | Colorado Secretary of State | – | $104 | Every 4 years5 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | Registered Nurse 2 credentials in all | State Board of Nursing | – | – | Every 2 years2 |
| Insurance agent | Insurance producer license, life line of authority 5 credentials in all | DOI | Training 50 clock hours9 | $479 | Every 2 years9 |
| Plumber | Journeyworker Plumber 5 credentials in all | State Plumbing Board | Experience 6,800 hours11 | – | – |
| Certified nursing assistant (CNA) | Certified Nurse Aide 2 credentials in all | State Board of Nursing | – | – | – |
| Electrician | Journeyman Electrician 5 credentials in all | State Electrical Board | Training 288 classroom hours12 Experience 8,000 hours12 | – | Every 3 years12 |
| Security guard | No state license13 | – | – | – | – |
| Massage therapist | Massage Therapist 2 credentials in all | Office of Massage Therapy Licensure | Training 650 clock hours14 | – | Every 2 years2 |
| Real estate agent | Associate Broker 3 credentials in all | Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Real Estate | – | – | Every 3 years15 |
| General contractor | No state license16 | – | – | – | – |
Licensing boards
8 agencies issue the Colorado licenses we cover:
- Division of Insurance (DOI): insurance agents
- State Plumbing Board: plumbers
- State Electrical Board: electricians
- State Board of Nursing: registered nurses and nursing assistants
- Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Real Estate: real estate agents
- Colorado Secretary of State: notaries
- Office of Massage Therapy Licensure: massage therapists
- Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure: cosmetologists
Moving to Colorado with a license
No Colorado board we cover publishes a list of accepted states for the main license. The boards for notaries publish no transfer route, so you apply as a new applicant. Conditions, fees and forms are on each occupation page.
| Occupation | Routes the board publishes |
|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | License by endorsement, Military service members and spouses and Multistate license (interstate compact)31 |
| Notary public | No reciprocity route6 |
| Registered nurse (RN) | Interstate compact privilege, Multistate license (interstate compact), License by endorsement and Military service members and spouses78 |
| Insurance agent | Reciprocity agreements10 |
| Plumber | License by endorsement and Military service members and spouses32 |
| Certified nursing assistant (CNA) | License by endorsement and Military service members and spouses8 |
| Electrician | License by endorsement and Reciprocity agreements12 |
| Massage therapist | License by endorsement14 |
| Real estate agent | Military service members and spouses15 |
Check a license
Every board above runs its own license search. The Colorado license lookup page lists them in one place, with the links to report an unlicensed or problem provider.
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- 4 CCR 731-1 Barber and Cosmetology Licensure Rules and RegulationsColorado Secretary of State (Code of Colorado Regulations)Dated October 30, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Professional and Occupational License Types in ColoradoState of Colorado, Colorado Information MarketplaceDated January 8, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
- Notary fee scheduleColorado Secretary of StateDated January 16, 2021Checked November 6, 2026
- Notary FAQs: Applying and renewingColorado Secretary of StateChecked November 6, 2026
- Notary statutes - Title 24 Article 21 Part 5, C.R.S. (SOS reprint)Colorado Secretary of StateChecked November 6, 2026
- Colorado Nurse Licensure CompactColorado Division of Professions and Occupations - State Board of NursingChecked November 7, 2026
- 3 CCR 716-1 Nursing Rules and Regulations (effective 03/17/2026)Colorado Secretary of State (Code of Colorado Regulations); rule of the State Board of NursingDated March 17, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- 3 CCR 702-1 Administrative Procedures (Division of Insurance), current version effective 05/15/2026Colorado Secretary of State (Code of Colorado Regulations)Dated May 15, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 10 (excerpt: article 2, parts 1-5)Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal ServicesChecked November 8, 2026
- 3 CCR 720-1 Plumbing Rules and Regulations (current version eff. 08/14/2026)Colorado Secretary of StateDated August 14, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- 3 CCR 710-1 State Electrical Board Rules and RegulationsColorado Secretary of State (Code of Colorado Regulations)Dated September 22, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- HB 25-1262 Final Fiscal Note (July 29, 2025)Colorado General Assembly, Legislative Council StaffDated July 29, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- 3 CCR 722-1 Massage Therapy Licensure Rules and Regulations (eff. 09/30/2025)Colorado Secretary of State, Code of Colorado Regulations (Office of Massage Therapy Licensure)Dated September 30, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- 4 CCR 725-1 Real Estate Brokers (version effective 09/30/2026)Colorado Secretary of State, Code of Colorado Regulations (Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Real Estate)Dated September 30, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
- Home & Repair | Department of Regulatory AgenciesColorado Department of Regulatory AgenciesChecked November 5, 2026