How to Register for the NCLEX in Colorado (Colorado SBN): Steps, Fees, Documents

To work as an RN in Colorado you license with the State Board of Nursing (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) through DPO Online Services. Licensure by examination is a two-part process: the RN Exam Approval application first, for the Authorization to Test, and the Registered Nurse licence application only after you pass. Every applicant has a CBI fingerprint background check, and the compact (multistate) licence is the default for Colorado residents. Graduates may not work as nurses until the licence is issued.

At a glance

BoardColorado State Board of Nursing (DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations)

ExamNCLEX-RN, through Pearson VUE (US$200)

Applicationtwo parts: RN Exam Approval, then Registered Nurse licence after the pass; fees shown on each application

FingerprintsCBI fingerprint background check, US$39.50 (US$10 of it to the FBI), required of every applicant

Graduate permitnone: a graduate may not work as a nurse until licensed

CompactYes, since January 19, 2018; the multistate licence is Colorado's default

The steps, in order (graduates of a Colorado program)

8 steps

Part 1: submit the RN Exam Approval application in DPO Online ServicesCreate an account, choose Registered Nurse, Initial License by Examination, and complete the RN Exam Approval application to be approved for the Authorization to Test (or a score transfer). Fees differ by application type and are shown on the application itself.Colorado DPO: Nursing applications and forms →
Upload the official transcriptGraduates of Board-approved programs upload an official transcript showing the graduation date and the degree conferred.
Complete the CBI fingerprint background checkColorado requires every nursing applicant to submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; the fee is US$39.50, of which US$10 goes to the FBI. Follow the Division's Fingerprinting & Background Check Information.Colorado DPO: Nurse Licensure Compact (background check) →
Declare your primary state of residenceThe compact licence is Colorado's default and every application is processed against the compact requirements; proof of Colorado residence is a driver's licence, voter registration or W-2. If you do not qualify, the Board may issue a single-state licence at the same cost.
Register with Pearson VUE (US$200); ATT after exam approvalOnce the Board approves the exam application, Pearson VUE emails the Authorization to Test.Pearson VUE: NCLEX →
Write the NCLEX-RN; no work as a nurse until licensedThe Board's FAQ is explicit: a graduate who is no longer in clinical education may not work as a nurse until a Colorado licence is issued. Pearson VUE requires 45 days between attempts.Colorado DPO: Nursing FAQs →
Part 2: submit the Registered Nurse licence application after the passComplete the Registered Nurse application only after you pass (or transfer scores). Program review takes a minimum of three weeks; if a file needs Board review, the Board meets monthly and staff send the decision within 14 days of the meeting.
Licence issued; expires September 30RN licences expire on September 30 of odd or even years depending on the issue date; a licence issued within 120 days of a renewal date gets the next expiration date.Colorado DPO: Nursing applications and forms (renewal dates) →

If you were educated outside the United States

The exam is the same; the path to being allowed to write it is longer. These are the extra steps.

2 steps

Education evaluation and English proficiencyThe Board's compact requirements list graduation from a qualifying program and a passed English proficiency exam for foreign graduates; see the Division's 'Training Outside US' FAQ section for the accepted evaluation route before you apply.Colorado DPO: Nursing FAQs (Training Outside US) →
Two-part application, CBI fingerprints, Pearson VUESame RN Exam Approval, fingerprint and licence steps as Colorado graduates. Pearson VUE: US$200, plus US$150 to test outside the US. A valid US Social Security number is required for the multistate licence.Colorado DPO: Nursing applications and forms →

Documents to have ready

Fees

How long it takes

Mistakes that cost people time or money

Two applications, not one: do not file the Registered Nurse licence application until your pass result is in.
Keep your Colorado driver's licence and voter registration current; they are the proof of primary state of residence for the multistate licence.
Colorado has no graduate permit, so set your start date after the licence issues, not after the exam.
The Division communicates only by email; use an address you check daily.

Questions people ask about Colorado

How do I register for the NCLEX in Colorado?

Submit the RN Exam Approval application in DPO Online Services with your official transcript, complete the CBI fingerprint background check (US$39.50) and register with Pearson VUE (US$200). When the Board approves you, Pearson VUE emails the Authorization to Test. After you pass, submit the separate Registered Nurse licence application.

How much does a Colorado RN licence cost?

The Division lists fees on each application rather than on a fixed schedule; add US$39.50 for the CBI fingerprint check and US$200 to Pearson VUE. Multistate and single-state licences cost the same.

Can I work in Colorado before I pass the NCLEX-RN?

No. The Board's FAQ states that once you have graduated you must obtain a licence to practise; a graduate may not work as a nurse until a Colorado licence is issued.

Is Colorado a compact state?

Yes, since January 19, 2018. The multistate licence is the default: every application is processed against the compact requirements, and only applicants who do not qualify receive a single-state licence.

How long does the Colorado Board take?

Program review takes a minimum of three weeks; files that need Board review wait for the monthly meeting, with the decision emailed within 14 days afterwards.

When does a Colorado RN licence expire?

September 30 of odd or even-numbered years depending on when it was issued; a licence issued within 120 days of a renewal date carries the next expiration date.

Official links and sources

Rules and fees change. Everything on this page was read on Colorado SBN's and NCSBN's own pages on October 7, 2026; when a detail matters to you, confirm it there:

This guide explains the process; it is not legal or immigration advice. Decisions about your eligibility are made by Colorado State Board of Nursing.

RN Exam Approval and Registered Nurse licence applicationsthe Division says fees change and differ for new graduates, endorsement and renewal	shown on each application
CBI fingerprint background checkUS$10 forwarded to the FBI	US$39.50
NCLEX-RN registration (Pearson VUE)per attempt, non-refundable. US$350 from Feb 1, 2027.	US$200
Multistate vs single-state licence	same cost

How to register for the NCLEX in Colorado