To obtain a Colorado real estate license, most first-time applicants must complete 168 hours of approved broker education, pass the national and Colorado portions of the broker licensing examination, submit fingerprints for a state and federal background check, obtain qualifying errors-and-omissions insurance, and apply through the Colorado Division of Real Estate.

A person who intends to practice real estate must also associate with a licensed Colorado brokerage firm. Because Colorado licenses real estate professionals as brokers, the entry-level license is generally called an associate broker license, rather than a real estate agent or salesperson license. Requirements may differ for licensed attorneys, applicants who currently hold a license in another jurisdiction, and people who previously held a real estate license. Review the Colorado Division of Real Estate’s application requirements before applying.

Most first-time Colorado applicants must complete 168 hours of qualifying real estate education through an approved education provider. The required education is divided into six subject areas:

Real Estate Law and Practice — 48 hours
Colorado Contracts and Regulations — 48 hours
Real Estate Closings — 24 hours
Recordkeeping and Trust Accounts — 8 hours
Current Legal Issues — 8 hours
Practical Applications — 32 hours

Students must complete the required coursework and pass the applicable course examinations before receiving their completion certificates. Different education requirements may apply to licensed attorneys, applicants with qualifying college education, currently licensed out-of-state professionals and previously licensed individuals. The Colorado Division of Real Estate publishes the official qualifying-education requirements.

The time required to obtain a Colorado real estate license depends primarily on the course format, the student’s schedule and how quickly the remaining application steps are completed. There is no single required completion timetable that applies to every applicant.

The state of Colorado requires 168 hours of education. At Bowen Real Estate School, our in-person and live online Zoom classes comprise 22 sessions and roughly 81 hours. Students are then responsible to complete the remaining 87 hours on their own through reading, watching videos, taking quizzes and completing finals in our online student portal. Our completely online self-study program has students completing the 168 hours in their student portal. Our in-person classes (day or night) are held three days a week for 3.5 hours each. You complete your in-class portion with us in basically 7 weeks. Our live online Zoom class runs two days a week and completes in 11 weeks. 

After finishing your education, applicants must still schedule and pass both portions of the state's timed licensing examination, submit fingerprints, arrange for errors-and-omissions insurance and complete the Division’s application process.

A motivated student may complete the overall process within a few months, while someone studying around work and family obligations may take longer. Students should allow additional time for examination availability, background-check processing and application review.

An applicant for a Colorado real estate broker license must be at least 18 years old and must satisfy the state’s education, examination, background-check and application requirements.

Colorado does not generally require an applicant to hold a high school diploma or college degree when the applicant completes the prescribed 168 hours of approved broker education.

Applicants must submit fingerprints for a state and national criminal-history check and answer the application’s background questions accurately. A criminal conviction, prior professional discipline or other reported event does not necessarily result in an automatic denial, but it may require additional documentation and individual review by the Colorado Real Estate Commission.

Applicants with concerns about their background should consult the Division before assuming that they are either eligible or ineligible. Special requirements may apply to attorneys and previously or currently licensed applicants.

After completing the required education and passing the course examinations, the school provides documentation showing that the qualifying courses were successfully completed. The applicant can then proceed with the Colorado broker licensing examination administered through the state’s examination provider, PSI. The state licensing exam is separate from your 168 hours of education.

The licensing examination contains a national portion and a Colorado-specific portion. After passing the required examination portions, the applicant must complete the remaining licensing steps, including fingerprinting and the background check, obtaining qualifying errors-and-omissions insurance, selecting a licensed brokerage firm if seeking an active license, and submitting the online license application and supporting documents to the Colorado Division of Real Estate. Completing school does not itself issue or activate a real estate license; education is one part of the state licensing process.

No. Receiving a Colorado real estate license does not automatically make someone a REALTOR®. Colorado issues real estate broker licenses, while REALTOR® is a membership designation belonging to the National Association of REALTORS®.

After becoming licensed and associating with a brokerage firm, a broker may be eligible to join a local association of REALTORS®, the Colorado Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. Membership generally includes dues, an agreement to follow the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and other association requirements.

All REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals, but not every licensed real estate professional is a REALTOR®. Bowen Real Estate School provides the qualifying education required for licensure; it does not grant REALTOR® membership. The National Association of REALTORS® explains the distinction

Depending on the Bowen Real Estate School course format selected, the total estimated cost to complete the education and obtain a Colorado real estate license is approximately $743–$1,708. This estimate includes our school tuition of $395–$1,200, the $44.95 PSI examination fee, approximately $32–$55 for fingerprints, the $83 Colorado broker-license application fee and approximately $188–$325 for a full year of basic individual errors-and-omissions insurance. The estimate assumes the applicant passes both portions of the licensing examination on the first attempt. E&O insurance may cost less when coverage is purchased later in the calendar year, and some brokerage firms provide or arrange coverage for their associate brokers.

The cost of Colorado real estate school depends on the course provider, learning format and materials included. As of September 2026, Bowen Real Estate School’s 168-hour pre-licensing programs range from $395 to $1,200. Our online self-study program is $395. The Live Online Weekend Zoom Series is $750, or $650 when paid upfront. Live in-person classes in Colorado Springs are $1,200, or $1,100 when paid upfront. The live programs cost more because they include scheduled instruction and real-time interaction with experienced instructors at our physical location.
View the individual course page for current pricing before enrolling.

Course materials are included with every Bowen Real Estate School pre-licensing program, but the format of those materials depends on the program selected. Students enrolled in a live in-person class receive the required course materials in both physical textbook and digital eBook formats. Students enrolled in the Live Online Weekend Zoom Series receive digital eBook materials that can be accessed through the online learning platform. The online self-study program also includes digital eBooks, with printed textbooks available as an optional additional purchase. All course formats cover the required Colorado prelicensing subject areas. Students should review the applicable course description before enrolling to confirm which materials are included and whether printed textbooks will be provided, available for purchase or unnecessary for their preferred way of studying.

Yes. Comprehensive exam preparation is included with Bowen Real Estate School’s live in-person, Live Online Weekend Zoom and online self-study prelicensing programs. The exam-preparation resources are designed to help students review material tested on both the national and Colorado portions of the broker licensing examination. They include detailed subject reviews, true-or-false drills, exam-style practice questions and licensing-exam simulations. Students can use these resources to identify areas that require additional study and become more comfortable with the wording and structure of licensing questions. Exam preparation is an important part of the program, but no school can guarantee that every student will pass. Success still depends on completing the required education, understanding the material and devoting adequate time to review and practice.

Yes. Payment plans are available for Bowen Real Estate School’s scheduled live in-person and Live Online Weekend Zoom programs. The installment plan divides tuition into three payments, with the first payment due when the student enrolls. The two subsequent payments are spaced out in 2-week intervals. Because prices, schedules and promotional offers may change, students should review all payment terms before completing enrollment. Choosing a payment plan does not change the program’s academic, attendance or completion requirements. Students remain responsible for the complete tuition amount according to the enrollment agreement.

The online self-study program does not have a payment plan option.

Yes. Bowen Real Estate School offers a 25% military discount for active military, retired military and military spouses as part of its commitment to members of the military community. The school does not currently accept VA education benefits, including GI Bill® benefits, or participate in federal financial-aid programs. Because eligibility, documentation and discounted pricing may depend on the course selected and the student’s military status, prospective students should contact the school before enrolling. The school can confirm whether the discount applies, explain any required documentation and provide the appropriate enrollment instructions. Military students and spouses who already hold a real estate license in another jurisdiction may also have different Colorado licensing requirements under state or federal law. Those applicants should not automatically enroll in the full 168-hour program without first determining which education and examination requirements apply to their circumstances. Contact Bowen Real Estate School at (719) 356-4535 or info@bowenrealestateschool.com for assistance.

Yes. Instructor support is included with every Bowen Real Estate School pre-licensing program. Students attending live in-person or Live Online Weekend Zoom classes can ask questions during scheduled class sessions and receive explanations in real time. Self-study students may contact an instructor by telephone or email, with most questions answered within 24 hours during normal business days. Our instructors are active, licensed real estate professionals and industry leaders who can help students understand course concepts, Colorado contracts, licensing terminology and exam-related material. Instructor support is intended to help students learn the curriculum rather than simply memorize answers. Although instructors can explain laws and real estate practices for educational purposes, course support should not be treated as legal advice or advice concerning a student’s personal transaction or licensing-background issue.

Yes. Colorado’s 168-hour broker pre-licensing program consists of six required modules, and students must successfully complete the coursework and final examination associated with each one. The subjects are Real Estate Law and Practice, Colorado Contracts and Regulations, Real Estate Closings, Recordkeeping and Trust Accounts, Current Legal Issues, and Practical Applications. These school-administered final examinations are separate from the licensing examination administered after the education is completed. Passing the course finals demonstrates completion of the education requirement and allows Bowen Real Estate School to issue the appropriate course-completion documentation. Students must complete all six required courses before they can satisfy Colorado’s standard 168-hour education requirement.

Bowen Real Estate School students must earn at least 75% on each required module final examination to pass that module. All six modules in the 168-hour program must be successfully completed before the student receives documentation showing completion of the full education requirement. Students can take chapter quizzes and module final exams as often as they'd like even after earning a passing grade of 75% or better.

PSI is the current examination provider for the Colorado Division of Real Estate. After completing the qualifying education and receiving a completion certificate (REC33), applicants schedule their broker examination directly through PSI. The examination is timed and presented in two sections: a national portion covering general real estate principles and a Colorado portion covering state-specific laws, contracts, brokerage relationships, regulations and practices. PSI manages examination reservations, testing locations, remote-testing availability, candidate identification requirements, fees and score reports. The Colorado Division of Real Estate establishes the licensing requirements and processes license applications, but it does not administer the examination itself. Applicants should use the official PSI information provided by the Division rather than relying on unofficial scheduling websites. The Division’s initial-licensure steps contain current examination-provider and scheduling information.

A passing score on the timed Colorado real estate exam is good for one year. Another way to look at this is that once you have a passing score on the state exam, you have one year to activate it. If more than one year has passed, you may need to retake the exam. The completion certificate you earn with Bowen Real Estate School has no expiration date.

Yes. Every initial Colorado real estate broker applicant must submit fingerprints for a state and national criminal-history background check. The fingerprints are submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which processes the background information required by the Colorado Real Estate Commission. Applicants should use a fingerprint provider approved for Colorado licensing purposes and follow the Division’s instructions carefully. Timing is important: the Division advises applicants not to submit fingerprints more than two or three weeks before submitting the license application. If the application is received too long after the fingerprint results, the applicant may be required to complete and pay for another background check. Applicants should review the Division’s current fingerprint and background-check instructions before scheduling an appointment.

No. An applicant can generally apply for and receive a Colorado broker license on inactive status without first associating with an employing broker or brokerage firm. An inactive license confirms that the person is licensed, but it does not authorize the person to perform real estate brokerage services. Before practicing real estate, an associate broker must activate the license through a properly licensed Colorado brokerage firm and work under the supervision required by Colorado law for at least two years. Errors-and-omissions insurance must also be in place for active practice. Because Colorado’s brokerage-firm and supervision terminology changed in 2026, applicants may see older materials that simply refer to “finding an employing broker.” The practical point remains the same: you may complete the education, examination and initial application before selecting a firm, but you cannot conduct licensed real estate activity until your license is properly activated.

Yes. Bowen Real Estate School offers two online formats to complete Colorado’s required 168-hour broker education: an instructor-led Live Online Weekend Zoom Series and a fully online self-study program. The live Zoom option allows students anywhere in Colorado to attend scheduled weekend classes, interact with instructors, ask questions in real time and learn alongside other students without traveling to Colorado Springs. The self-study option allows students to log in and complete the material on their own schedule. Both formats include digital course materials, instructor support and comprehensive preparation for the national and Colorado portions of the licensing examination. Students who prefer an in-person learning environment may instead attend Bowen’s scheduled classes in Colorado Springs.

The main difference is whether you want a scheduled, instructor-led class or the freedom to study independently. Bowen Real Estate School’s Live Online Weekend Zoom Series meets at scheduled times on Saturdays and Sundays. An instructor teaches the material live, students can ask questions in real time, and the regular schedule provides structure and accountability. The online self-study program does not require attendance at scheduled class meetings. Students work through the lessons whenever their schedules allow and progress at their own pace. Instructor assistance is still available by telephone and email, with most questions answered within 24 hours. Both formats include digital course materials and comprehensive exam preparation. Live Zoom is generally best for students who benefit from deadlines and interaction, while self-study is best for independent learners who need maximum flexibility.

For many full-time employees, our weekend live Zoom program or online self-study program will be the most convenient choice. The best option depends on whether you need flexibility or structure. The Live Online Weekend Zoom Series is a strong choice if you can reserve scheduled weekend hours and benefit from live instruction, real-time questions and regular deadlines. The self-study program may be better if your work hours change, you travel frequently or you need to study early in the morning, late at night or in shorter sessions. Students who work nontraditional hours may also find that a scheduled daytime or evening classroom program fits their availability. Before enrolling, compare the current class calendar with your work and family obligations and choose a format you can attend or complete consistently.

Switching course formats may be possible, but it is not automatic and should be arranged directly with Bowen Real Estate School. Available options depend on the student’s current progress, the format originally purchased, the tuition already paid, available space and the schedule of the class the student wants to join. A tuition difference or other conditions may apply when moving from self-study into a live classroom or Zoom program because the live programs include scheduled instructor-led sessions and may include different materials. Students should contact the school before enrolling in a second program or attempting to make the change through their online account. We will review the individual situation, explain any applicable cost or credit, and help determine the most practical way for the student to continue.

Bowen Real Estate School’s pre-licensing programs include one year of access to the online course materials and exam-preparation resources. This gives students time to review lessons, revisit difficult subjects and continue preparing for the licensing examination after completing scheduled classroom or Zoom sessions. Self-study students may progress on their own schedule during their enrollment period but should avoid waiting until the end of the year to complete the 168-hour requirement. Students should review their enrollment agreement for the exact access and expiration dates that apply to their registration.