License path
Colorado contractor exam prep
Colorado contractors are licensed by the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA). Use the classification list below. Some states fold business questions into the trade exam. We do not sell a standalone Law & Business paper for Colorado.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Colorado contractor license? Contractor Pathway is one of the most competitive contractor exam-prep programs anywhere — original, exam-focused study guides and four full-length practice exams with a written explanation for every answer, for every Colorado classification that requires a state board exam — currently 4 courses across Electrical and Plumbing. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169.
Who licenses contractors in Colorado
These are the Colorado classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), tested by PSI | National Electrical Code (NEC) — 2023 edition, moving to 2026 |
| Plumbing | Colorado Examining Board of Plumbers | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Colorado board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Colorado
Colorado licenses electricians and plumbers through separate boards within DORA’s Division of Professions and Occupations. Both set their requirements in hours as well as years, and the plumbing board sets a higher pass mark than most states.
- Journeyman electrician: 8,000 hours, and 2,000 of them commercial. You need four years or 8,000 hours of apprenticeship or practical experience in wiring, installing and repairing electrical apparatus — and at least two years or 4,000 hours must be commercial, industrial or substantially similar work. Residential-only hours will not qualify you on their own.
- Plus 288 hours of classroom education. The Board requires 288 hours of classroom education of all applicants — there is no grandfathering of any apprentice registration — and it must be documented with a transcript or similar statement.
- Master electrician: 2,000 hours on top. A further 2,000 hours earned over no less than one year beyond the journeyman requirements, including hours in planning and layout and in supervision, while holding a journeyman licence.
- Plumbing: 6,800 hours journeyworker, 8,500 master. The board requires a maximum of four years (6,800 hours) of practical experience for a journeyworker plumber, and five full-time years (8,500 hours) for a master plumber. Note the master paper is marked to 75%, not the 70% common elsewhere.
- Continuing education differs sharply by trade. Electricians complete 24 hours across each three-year licence period, of which at least four must be National Electrical Code Changes. Plumbers complete 8 hours every single year (1 March to 28 February) of the two-year period, with a minimum of four code-related hours in every 24 months. The electrical requirement is waived at first renewal where the licence was issued on passing the examination.
- Apprentices must register. Electrical apprentices must be directly supervised by a licensed Colorado electrician; plumbing apprentices must be registered with the State Plumbing Board by their employer within 30 days of hire.
Sources: Colorado DORA, Electrical Board and Plumbing Board, with continuing education requirements from the electrical and plumbing CE pages. Also: Colorado electrical licence applications and requirements. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with DORA.
Choose your Colorado classification
Each course includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Colorado test.
Colorado contractor licensing — FAQ
Does Colorado license general contractors?
Not at the state level. Colorado general contractors – along with roofers, HVAC, and many specialties – are licensed by individual cities and counties (for example, Denver and Larimer County), which often require ICC exams and supervisor certificates.
What does Colorado license at the state level?
Electricians and plumbers, through the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) within DORA – its Electrical and Plumbing Boards license individuals and the business-level registrations tied to a responsible master. Those state exams are administered by PSI.
What is the passing score for the Colorado state exams?
The state electrical and plumbing exams are administered by PSI; the Master Plumber exam, for example, requires 70%. Confirm the current cut score, question count, and references for your specific license in the PSI candidate information bulletin.
Which NEC edition does the Colorado electrician exam use in 2026?
Colorado electrical exams use the 2023 NEC through July 31, 2026. Effective August 1, 2026, the State Electrical Board’s adoption of the 2026 NEC takes effect and PSI bases every exam question on the 2026 code. Match your study materials to the edition in force on your test date, and confirm it on the PSI candidate information bulletin.
Which Colorado licenses do you build courses for?
We focus on the classifications that require a state board exam – primarily the statewide electrical and plumbing trades – plus foundational building content. For a local general-contractor license, also check the specific exam requirements of your city or county.
How long should I study for the Colorado exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.