CPA License Renewal in Colorado (2026)

CPA license renewal in Colorado is handled by the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA), which requires Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Colorado CPA renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	All active individual CPA certificates expire on a fixed date — November 30 of odd-numbered years (a two-year biennial cycle, same date for everyone, not staggered by birth month or last name). Renewals open roughly 4-5 weeks before expiration. The CPE reporting/completion deadline is December 31 of the odd-numbered year.
CE hours required	80 hours
Renewal fee	see board (fee not fixed/published)
Online renewal	Yes
CE tracking system	Self-reported CPE; the Board does not pre-approve courses or providers and conducts audits after each renewal reporting period (no CE Broker).
Governing body	Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA)

Go to the official Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA). automated research workflow (official colorado Board of Accountancy), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for CPAs in Colorado

Active CPAs accrue 10 CPE hours for every full calendar quarter the certificate is active during the Board's two-year reporting period (January 1 of an even year through December 31 of the following odd year); a full period equals 80 hours. Of those, 4 hours must be in Ethics. Up to 2 of the ethics hours may be in Colorado Rules and Regulations (CR&R). Newly certified CPAs must complete at least 2 hours of CR&R within 6 months of initial certification, but CR&R is not separately required each renewal period thereafter. Caps: no more than 20% in personal development; no more than 50% from publishing/teaching/panel presentations. No annual minimum is imposed beyond the quarterly accrual model; hours may be completed any time within the period.

Need approved hours? Compare Colorado CPA CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your CPA license in Colorado

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) portal.
Complete the required 80 CE hours and confirm they appear in Self-reported CPE; the Board does not pre-approve courses or providers and conducts audits after each renewal reporting period (no CE Broker)..
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Licensing is state-level via the Colorado State Board of Accountancy under DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations; NASBA/AICPA standards govern CPE content but NASBA does not license. Renewal is handled through the DPO Online Services system. The specific individual CPA renewal fee and any late fee are not published on the publicly accessible board pages (the Applications/Forms page returns access-denied and fee figures live in the downloadable forms / online portal), so both are left null rather than guessed. The CPE page showed the prior reporting period as Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2025 (homepage) and the current period as Jan 1, 2026 - Dec 31, 2027 (CPE page), consistent with the biennial odd-year cycle.

CPA license renewal in Colorado: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my CPA license in Colorado?

Colorado CPA licenses renew every 24 months. All active individual CPA certificates expire on a fixed date — November 30 of odd-numbered years (a two-year biennial cycle, same date for everyone, not staggered by birth month or last name). Renewals open roughly 4-5 weeks before expiration. The CPE reporting/completion deadline is December 31 of the odd-numbered year.

How many CE hours are required to renew an CPA license in Colorado?

Approximately 80 continuing-education hours per cycle. Active CPAs accrue 10 CPE hours for every full calendar quarter the certificate is active during the Board's two-year reporting period (January 1 of an even year through December 31 of the following odd year); a full period equals 80 hours. Of those, 4 hours must be in Ethics. Up to 2 of the ethics hours may be in Colorado Rules and Regulations (CR&R). Newly certified CPAs must complete at least 2 hours of CR&R within 6 months of initial certification, but CR&R is not separately required each renewal period thereafter. Caps: no more than 20% in personal development; no more than 50% from publishing/teaching/panel presentations. No annual minimum is imposed beyond the quarterly accrual model; hours may be completed any time within the period. Confirm the current requirement with the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA).

Can I renew my Colorado CPA license online?

Yes — Colorado offers online renewal through the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA). Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Colorado CPA license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. Late or reactivation fees may apply. Contact the Colorado State Board of Accountancy (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) renewal