Colorado Veterinary License Guide

• Examination Licensing Fee: $201.00
• Endorsement Licensing Fee: $184.00

Make payments to the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine. There's a small credit card fee for online payments.

Proof of Graduation:

Upload your official transcript from an AVMA accredited veterinary school showing your degree as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the conferral date.

• Foreign Veterinary Graduates: Vets educated outside the US will need to complete the certificate program offered by the ECFVG OR PAVE. 

‍

Exam Requirements:

NAVLE: Vets applying for a license in Colorado will need to pass the NAVLE examination and have their results submitted directly to the Colorado Board.

• Exam applicants must have passed the NAVLE within the last year. 

‍

Colorado does not require a jurisprudence exam. However, 2 hours of jurisprudence CE on the Colorado Veterinary Practice Act are required every 2-year licensing period.

Veterinarians who are licensed in good standing in another state and practicing for at least 3 of the last 5 years can apply via the Endorsement process, which has a lower licensing fee. 

You must submit letters of good standing for any licenses currently or previously held, including any disciplinary action taken against any of your licenses by a state veterinary board.

AAVSB Vault Service: You can have the AAVSB transfer your NAVLE test results and letters of good standing for a fee of $99.

The Colorado Board does not specify how long it takes to process license applications. Ensure your application is not missing any documents to avoid delays.   

Use the link above to apply for a Colorado veterinary license online.

Pay $180.00 to the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine. 

• If you are licensed for 12 months or less before your first renewal, you are not required to complete CE for your first license renewal.
• If you are licensed for longer than 12 months but less than 2 years before your first renewal, you are only required to complete 16 hours of CE for your first license renewal.

32 Hours of CE are required every 2-year renewal period.

‍

What forms of CE qualify in Colorado?

The list of approved CE providers for Colorado can be found here.

Requirements each renewal period:

• 2 hours of jurisprudence CE  covering the Colorado Veterinary Practice Act.
• 1 hour of CE on Substance Use Prevention Training.
• Up to 16 of the 32 required hours may be in courses in nonbiomedical topics, such as client communication, management, leadership, etc.
• There is no maximum number of hours of CE that may be performed remotely or online. 

‍

Continuing Education Verification & Documentation

Colorado does not verify your CE annually, but it is recommended you keep a record of your CE for 3 years as the Colorado Board of Veterinary Medicine may randomly audit you.

You can quickly change your personal info, including address, online by clicking this link.

‍

To change your name, fill out this application. Send the completed application with legal documentation to dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us.

‍

Unfortunately, Colorado does not offer temporary veterinary licenses that allow relief veterinarians to practice in-state for a limited duration. 

Colorado Board of Veterinary Medicine

Phone: (303) 894-7800

Email: dora_veterinarymedicineboard@state.co.us

‍

Mailing Address

State Board of Veterinary Medicine

1560 Broadway, Suite 1350

Denver, CO 80202