The Colorado Application for CPA Certificate – Initial Applicant is the form you submit to the Colorado State Board of Accountancy, housed inside the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), to turn your passed CPA Exam into an active license to practice public accounting in Colorado. You file it through NASBA’s online licensing portal, and it asks for your education, your experience, your ethics exam score, and a long list of yes-or-no character questions.
Getting this form right matters because one missing transcript or one wrong answer can push your license back a full month, since the Board only approves applications at its monthly meetings. Plan ahead, because NASBA asks for up to six weeks of processing time after your file is complete, and that clock does not even start until every document arrives. Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the form asks, line by line, and how to answer each box without guessing.
- 🎓 Which education and experience rules apply to you under the current 150-hour path and the new bachelor’s-plus-experience path.
- 💵 The exact fees, where to pay them, and how long the Board takes to act.
- ⚠️ The field-level mistakes that trigger holds, denials, and lost months.
- 🙋 Answers to the questions real applicants ask about residency, ethics scores, and the Certificate of Experience.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Colorado Application for CPA Certificate – Initial Applicant is the official request that asks the State Board of Accountancy to grant you a Certified Public Accountant certificate for the first time. You file it after you pass the Uniform CPA Exam, finish the AICPA ethics course, and meet the education and experience rules. The form is the legal bridge between “I passed the exam” and “I am a licensed CPA who can sign reports in Colorado.”
The agency that receives the form is the Colorado State Board of Accountancy, a board inside the Department of Regulatory Agencies. The statute that gives the Board its power is the Colorado Accountancy Act, found at C.R.S. Title 12, Article 100. The Board’s day-to-day rules live in the Rules of the State Board of Accountancy, known as 3 CCR 705-1. Each piece connects: the Act sets the broad duty, the Rules spell out the details, and the form proves you meet them.
You must file this form if you intend to use the CPA title and practice in Colorado and you have never held a Colorado certificate before. There is no annual deadline like a tax form, but your AICPA ethics exam must be passed within two years before the Board receives your application, so timing still controls you. If you skip the form and hold yourself out as a CPA anyway, that is unlicensed practice, which the Board can fine and refer for prosecution. The form you want is the Initial Applicant version; transfer, reciprocal, and firm applicants use different forms covered later.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the portal, because a half-finished application sits as “incomplete” and the six-week processing clock never starts. Below is your pre-filing checklist, and each item exists for a reason.
- Social Security Number. Colorado law at C.R.S. 24-34-107 makes your SSN mandatory; without it the application is incomplete and stalls.
- Official transcripts from every school. The Board counts your 150 hours and your accounting and business courses from these, so a missing transcript means an unverified education section.
- Proof you passed the Uniform CPA Exam (or IQEX). NASBA matches your scores to your record; a mismatch in name or jurisdiction triggers a hold.
- AICPA ethics exam score report (90% or better). The score must be earned within two years of filing, so an old certificate forces a retake.
- Certificate of Experience signed by an active CPA. This verifies your 1,800 qualifying hours; without a qualified verifier, the experience section fails.
- Your verifier’s CPA license number and jurisdiction. The Board confirms the verifier was active and in good standing for the whole period.
- Residence and business addresses. These set your contact of record and where official notices go, so an error means missed Board mail.
- Dates of residency and degree completion. The form asks when you became a Colorado resident and when you earned each degree, in MM/DD/YYYY format.
- Payment method for the $160 fee. The portal will not submit your file until the fee is paid.
- Explanations for any “yes” answers to the character questions. Questions 11 through 19 require a separate sheet and documents if you answer yes.
If any item is missing, the practical result is the same: your file shows as incomplete, the Board never sees it, and you wait another month. Spend a week collecting these before you log in, and the form itself takes under an hour.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Colorado runs CPA licensure through NASBA, so you do not download a paper form and mail it to a Denver office in most cases. You start at the NASBA Colorado licensing page and click APPLY ONLINE – Individual License. On your first visit you create a user account, which lets you upload documents, pay the fee, and track your status in one place.
If you prefer to see the questions before you start, NASBA also posts the Application for CPA Certificate Initial Applicant PDF, which mirrors the online questions box for box. The PDF carries a revision date of Revised 12/2016, so confirm the live online version reflects the Board’s current rules before you rely on the printed copy. The education rules changed on December 15, 2024, and the Colorado Laws, Rules and Policies page holds the current text.
Note one timing rule that catches people. NASBA sends licensure-eligible files to the Board three weeks before the monthly meeting, and the Board only approves applications at that meeting. So even a perfect application filed the day after a meeting waits nearly a full month for the next one. Check the Board’s meeting schedule on its website and file early in the cycle to avoid an avoidable delay.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Colorado CPA Initial Application Line by Line
Work through the form in the order it appears. Below, each field gets its own walkthrough so you know what it asks, how to answer, what a correct entry looks like, the edge cases, the mistake to avoid, and the myth to drop.
Personal Identification: Name Fields (First, Middle, Last)
These boxes ask for your full legal name, split into First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name. Type or print in blue or black ink if you use the PDF, and enter the name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. Maria writes Maria in First Name, Elena in Middle Name, and Vasquez in Last Name.
If you have no middle name, leave the Middle Name box blank rather than typing “N/A,” which can confuse data matching. The most common mistake is entering a nickname or a married name that does not match your transcripts and exam record, which makes NASBA unable to match your file and freezes it. A common misconception is that the Board wants your “professional” name; it wants your legal name, because it cross-checks against Social Security and exam records, not your business card.
Date of Birth
This field asks for the day you were born, and the form requires the MM/DD/YYYY format. Enter all four digits of the year so there is no doubt about the century. James, born March 9, 1998, writes 03/09/1998.
The edge case here is a birth date that differs across your documents because of a typo on an old transcript; fix the source document before you file, not after. The common mistake is writing the date as DD/MM/YYYY out of habit if you studied abroad, which can flag your age or identity check. The misconception is that date of birth is just a formality; the Board uses it as a second identity key alongside your SSN, so accuracy matters.
U.S. Social Security Number
This box asks for your nine-digit Social Security Number, and Colorado law makes it mandatory, not optional. Enter it as nine digits, and double-check each digit against your card. Aisha enters 123-45-6789 exactly as printed.
If you are a non-citizen without an SSN, you must resolve that before filing, because Section 24-34-107 C.R.S. treats a missing SSN as an incomplete application. The most common mistake is a single transposed digit, which breaks the child-support and identity cross-checks the law requires and stalls the file. The misconception is that you can withhold your SSN for privacy; the disclosure notice on the form explains it is mandatory for licensure and used only for purposes set by law.
Email and Telephone Number
These fields ask for the email address and phone number where the Board and NASBA can reach you. Use an address you check often, because status updates and document requests arrive here. Marcus enters marcus.lee@email.com and 720-555-0148.
The edge case is a school or work email you may lose access to soon; use a permanent personal email instead. The common mistake is a typo in the email, which means you never see a request for a missing transcript and your file silently sits incomplete. The misconception is that the Board mails everything on paper; most contact now runs through the email you list, so a dead inbox costs you weeks.
Residence Address and Business Address
This section asks for your home Residence Address and your Business Address, each with Address, City, State, and Zip lines. Enter your current physical home address, then your employer’s address, using standard postal formatting. Janet lists her home as 482 Pine St, Boulder, CO 80302 and her firm as 1700 Broadway, Denver, CO 80290.
If you use a P.O. Box, list it for mail but be ready to give a physical residence address, since the Board may need to confirm where you actually live. The common mistake is leaving the Business Address blank when you are employed, which can raise questions during the experience review. The misconception is that you must live in Colorado to hold a license; Colorado does not require residency, so an out-of-state address is fine.
Question 1: Are You a Resident of Colorado?
This question asks a simple yes or no about whether you currently live in Colorado. Check Yes or No based on your real living situation. David, who just moved from Texas for a Denver job, checks Yes.
The edge case is a recent move where you split time between states; answer based on where you primarily live and intend to stay. The common mistake is assuming you must answer Yes to qualify, then giving a false answer, which is a perjury risk under the form’s sworn statement. The misconception is that residency is required for a Colorado CPA; it is not, so answering No does not disqualify you.
Question 2: When Did You Become a Resident of Colorado?
This field asks for the date you became a Colorado resident, in MM/DD/YYYY format. If you answered Yes to Question 1, enter the date you established residency; if No, leave it blank. David writes 01/15/2026 for the date he moved and started his Denver job.
The edge case is a fuzzy move date spread over weeks; use the date you began living here with intent to stay, such as a lease start date. The common mistake is guessing a date that conflicts with your lease or driver’s license, which can look inconsistent. The misconception is that this date affects your fee or eligibility; it is informational and does not change your $160 fee.
Question 3: Did You Pass the Uniform CPA Exam or IQEX?
This question asks whether you passed the Uniform CPA Exam or the International Qualifications Examination, and it wants the jurisdiction and date. Check Yes, then list the jurisdiction where you sat and the date you completed all sections. Priya checks Yes, lists Colorado, and dates it 11/20/2025.
The edge case is passing in another state then applying in Colorado; list the original jurisdiction, and NASBA will match your scores. The common mistake is leaving the jurisdiction blank, which keeps NASBA from confirming your passing scores and holds the file. The misconception is that the Board re-grades your exam; it only confirms you passed, so the jurisdiction and date are the keys it needs.
Question 4: Education Questions (Parts A and B)
This question asks you to list your education hours, with Part A for the hours completed for your bachelor’s degree and Part B for any master’s or higher degree. Enter the semester-hour totals that appear on your transcripts. Priya lists 120 in Part A for her bachelor’s and 36 in Part B for her master’s, totaling 156 hours.
The Board needs 150 total non-duplicative semester hours, including 33 accounting hours and 27 business hours, so make sure your transcripts support the numbers you write. The edge case is quarter-hour credits, which must convert to semester hours before you enter them. The common mistake is counting introductory accounting courses toward the 27 core accounting hours; the Board excludes principles and basic courses, so doing this overstates your qualifying hours and triggers a deficiency letter. The misconception is that any 150 hours qualify; the hours must hit specific subject areas, including a three-hour U.S. GAAS auditing course.
Question 5: AICPA Ethics Course and Examination
This question asks whether you completed and passed the 8-hour course Professional Ethics: AICPA’s Comprehensive Course with a score of 90 percent or better within the two years before the Board receives your application. Check Yes only if both the score and the timing are true. Marcus, who scored 92% in March 2026, checks Yes.
The edge case is an ethics certificate older than two years; it no longer counts, so you must retake the course. The common mistake is checking Yes with a passing-but-below-90 score, since 85% does not meet the standard and the Board rejects it. The misconception is that the CPA Exam’s ethics content covers this; it does not, because Colorado requires the separate AICPA ethics exam.
Question 6: Colorado Rules and Regulations Course
This item is an attestation that you will complete a Colorado Rules and Regulations Course of at least two hours within six months after licensure, or that you already did so within the six months before the Board grants your certificate. Check the box to acknowledge the duty. Aisha checks the box, planning to take the two-hour course right after she is licensed.
The edge case is taking the course early; if you finish it within six months before approval, it satisfies the requirement and you have nothing left to do. The common mistake is ignoring this after licensure, which can put your new license out of compliance. The misconception is that this is the same as your CPA Exam ethics or the AICPA course; it is a separate, Colorado-specific rules course.
Question 7: Continuing Professional Education Acknowledgment
This item is an acknowledgment that you must complete 10 hours of CPE for every full quarter of every reporting period in which you are actively licensed, including the partial period when you first get your license. Check the box to confirm you understand. David checks it, noting he will track CPE from his license date forward.
The edge case is getting licensed mid-quarter; the rule counts full quarters remaining in the reporting period, so your first-year load is prorated. The common mistake is treating CPE as a “later” problem and missing hours in your first reporting period, which risks a renewal denial. The misconception is that CPE starts the next full year; it starts in the period you are licensed, so plan early.
Question 8: Accountancy Act and Board Rules Acknowledgment
This question asks whether you have read and fully understand the Colorado Accountancy Act and the Rules of the State Board of Accountancy, 3 CCR 705-1. Check Yes after you actually read them. Janet checks Yes after reviewing the rules on the Board’s Laws and Rules page.
The edge case is the December 2024 rule update; read the current version, since older summaries online may be stale. The common mistake is checking Yes without reading, then violating a rule you never saw, because ignorance is not a defense once you are licensed. The misconception is that the Act and the Rules are the same document; the Act is the statute and the Rules are the Board’s detailed regulations.
Question 9: Do You Now Hold an Active CPA License?
This question asks whether you currently hold an active CPA license to practice anywhere, and if so, to list the jurisdiction, license number, and expiration date. Check Yes or No, and fill the details if Yes. A first-time applicant like Priya checks No and leaves the detail lines blank.
The edge case is holding an active license in another state while applying here; you may be better served by the Reciprocal application, covered later. The common mistake is leaving this blank rather than checking No, which reads as an unanswered question and can hold the file. The misconception is that holding another license speeds Colorado approval; as an initial applicant you still must meet Colorado’s rules.
Question 10: Active Certificate Under an MRA
This question asks whether you hold an active certificate or equivalent designation, such as a Chartered Accountant, from an organization with a Mutual Recognition Agreement with NASBA/AICPA’s International Qualifications Appraisal Board. Check Yes or No, with details if Yes. A typical U.S. graduate checks No.
The edge case is an international designation like a Canadian CA; if it falls under an MRA, your path and verifier options differ. The common mistake is checking Yes for a foreign credential that is not under an MRA, which misroutes your file. The misconception is that any foreign accounting credential qualifies; only those under a recognized MRA count, and Chartered Accountant coursework is treated as professional training, not academic credit.
Questions 11–19: License History and Conduct Questions
This block asks a series of yes-or-no questions about whether you ever held a CPA license, represented yourself as a CPA, performed audits or attest work in Colorado, were convicted of a felony or a crime of dishonesty, supervised experience candidates, or had a license or right-to-practice suspended or revoked. Answer each honestly, and if you answer Yes to any of Questions 11 through 19, attach a separate sheet explaining it with supporting documents. A clean first-time applicant like Aisha checks No to each.
The edge case is a long-ago misdemeanor or a dismissed charge; question 15 targets felonies and crimes of dishonesty or fraud, so read it carefully and disclose when in doubt. The common mistake is hiding a past conviction, because the form is sworn under penalty of perjury and a false answer is grounds for denial or later revocation. The misconception is that a yes answer automatically disqualifies you; the Board reviews the facts, and full disclosure with documents is the safe path.
Questions 20–22: Substance Use, Cooperation, and Military Status
These final questions ask whether you currently or recently abused habit-forming drugs or alcohol (Question 20), whether you agree to appear before the Board or furnish more information if asked (Question 21), and whether you are a member of the U.S. military with a branch and duty station (Question 22). Answer each truthfully, checking Yes or No and adding branch and duty station if you serve. David, an Army reservist, checks Yes on 21, and on 22 lists Army and Fort Carson.
The edge case for Question 20 is past treatment that is resolved; answer honestly, since the question covers the last five years. The common mistake is refusing Question 21, which signals you will not cooperate and can stall review. The misconception is that military status changes the fee; it is informational and does not alter the $160 cost.
Signature and Date Block
The final block asks for your signature and the date, made under penalty of perjury in the second degree under C.R.S. 18-8-503. Sign your legal name and enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format. Marcus signs Marcus A. Lee and dates it 04/02/2026.
The edge case is the online portal’s e-signature, which carries the same legal weight as ink. The common mistake is leaving the form unsigned, which voids the whole application no matter how perfect the rest is. The misconception is that the signature is a formality; it is a sworn legal statement, and false information is punishable by law and grounds for denial or revocation.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common applicants walked through the form from start to finish. Use them as patterns, not as legal advice.
Scenario 1: Recent CSU Grad With 150 Hours and One Year of Audit Experience
Priya is a Colorado State University accounting graduate who passed the exam, scored 93% on the AICPA ethics exam, and finished a year of audit work verified by her CPA manager.
| Form Section | What Priya Enters |
|---|---|
| Name (First/Middle/Last) | Priya / Anjali / Sharma |
| Date of Birth | 05/22/1999 |
| Social Security Number | Her nine-digit SSN, exactly as on her card |
| Q1 Resident of Colorado | Yes |
| Q3 Passed CPA Exam | Yes; Jurisdiction: Colorado; Date: 11/20/2025 |
| Q4 Education Hours | Part A: 120; Part B: 36 (master’s) |
| Q5 AICPA Ethics 90%+ | Yes (scored 93%, March 2026) |
| Q9 Hold Active License | No |
| Signature and Date | Priya A. Sharma / 04/10/2026 |
Scenario 2: Out-of-State CPA Seeking Colorado Licensure
Marcus is an active Texas CPA moving to Denver. As an active license holder, he uses the Reciprocal route, but the core questions look like this.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Name (First/Middle/Last) | Marcus / Allen / Lee |
| Q1 Resident of Colorado | Yes; became resident 01/15/2026 |
| Q3 Passed CPA Exam | Yes; Jurisdiction: Texas; Date: 06/2019 |
| Q5 AICPA Ethics 90%+ | Yes (scored 92%) |
| Q9 Hold Active License | Yes; Texas; License #XXXXX; Exp. 12/2026 |
| CPE Attestation | Confirms all Texas CPE completed as of filing |
| Q15 Felony/Dishonesty Crime | No |
| Signature and Date | Marcus A. Lee / 04/02/2026 |
Scenario 3: Career-Changer With a Non-Accounting Bachelor’s Plus Extra Credits
David earned a bachelor’s in marketing, then took extra accounting and business courses to reach 150 hours and the subject requirements.
| Form Section | What David Enters |
|---|---|
| Name (First/Middle/Last) | David / Ray / Okafor |
| Q1 Resident of Colorado | Yes; became resident 01/15/2026 |
| Q4 Education Hours | Part A: 132; Part B: 24 (post-bacc accounting) |
| Q5 AICPA Ethics 90%+ | Yes (scored 91%) |
| Q7 CPE Acknowledgment | Box checked |
| Q21 Agree to Appear | Yes |
| Q22 U.S. Military Member | Yes; Branch: Army; Duty Station: Fort Carson |
| Signature and Date | David R. Okafor / 04/18/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Colorado uses NASBA for individual licensure, so the main channel is online. File through the NASBA online individual license application after creating your user account. The initial application fee is $160, payable by card in the portal, and you upload your supporting documents in the same system. Expect up to six weeks of processing after your file is complete, plus the wait for the next monthly Board meeting, and keep your portal receipt and confirmation email as proof of filing.
Different applicants pay different fees, so confirm yours before you pay. Transfer of Grades costs $195, Reciprocal costs $195, and a Firm license costs $185. Pay by credit or debit card in the NASBA portal; the system will not mark your file complete until payment clears.
Some documents must come straight from the source, not from you. Official transcripts and any international credential evaluations must be sent directly to NASBA by the school or the evaluation service, because photocopies you forward yourself are not accepted. Your Certificate of Experience must be completed and signed by an active CPA who supervised your 1,800 qualifying hours. If you have a question about routing documents, NASBA Licensing Services lists a toll-free line at (866) 350-0017 and a mailing address in Nashville for materials that cannot be uploaded.
What Happens After You File
Once your fee, application, and all documents arrive, NASBA marks your file complete and begins review, which can take up to six weeks. NASBA confirms your exam scores, checks your transcripts against the 150-hour and subject rules, and verifies your experience and ethics exam. If anything is missing or unclear, you get a deficiency notice through your portal email, and the clock pauses until you fix it.
After NASBA finds you eligible, it forwards your file to the Colorado State Board of Accountancy. The Board sends licensure-eligible files for review three weeks before its monthly meeting, and final approval happens only at that meeting. So your real timeline is the six-week review plus the gap until the next Board meeting, which is why filing early in the meeting cycle saves you time.
When the Board approves you, your CPA certificate is granted and you become an active licensee. At that point your Colorado Rules and Regulations Course duty and your CPE tracking begin, as you acknowledged on the form. You can order a wall certificate through NASBA’s order form, and you renew your license on the state’s renewal cycle going forward.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each error below has a direct cost, so check your form against this list before you submit.
- Using a nickname or married name that differs from your records. NASBA cannot match your file and freezes it.
- Transposing a digit in your SSN. The required identity and child-support checks fail and your file stalls.
- Counting introductory accounting courses in the 27 core hours. The Board rejects the overstated total and sends a deficiency letter.
- Submitting an ethics exam score below 90%. The Board does not accept it, so you must retake the course.
- Filing with an ethics certificate older than two years. The score no longer qualifies and you must redo the exam.
- Forwarding photocopied transcripts yourself. NASBA only accepts transcripts sent directly by the school.
- Leaving the Business Address blank while employed. It can raise questions during the experience review.
- Skipping an explanation sheet for a “Yes” on Questions 11–19. The application is incomplete without it.
- Hiding a past conviction on Question 15. The sworn form makes this grounds for denial or later revocation.
- Forgetting to sign and date the form. An unsigned application is void no matter how complete the rest is.
- Filing right after a Board meeting. You wait nearly a full month for the next approval window.
- Using a verifier who is your subordinate. The verifier cannot report to you, so the experience does not count.
Do’s and Don’ts
A few habits separate smooth applications from stalled ones.
Do:
- Do match every name to your Social Security card, because mismatches break NASBA’s record matching.
- Do read the current Board Rules first, since the rules changed in December 2024.
- Do confirm your 33 accounting and 27 business hours by subject, because totals alone do not satisfy the Board.
- Do have an active, independent CPA sign your Certificate of Experience, since a subordinate cannot verify you.
- Do keep your portal receipt and emails, because they are your proof of filing.
- Do file early in the Board’s meeting cycle, to avoid an extra month of waiting.
Don’t:
- Don’t guess on the character questions, because the form is sworn under penalty of perjury.
- Don’t reuse a school email you may lose, since you will miss deficiency notices.
- Don’t count payroll or principles courses as core accounting, because the Board excludes them.
- Don’t forward your own transcripts, since only school-sent copies count.
- Don’t leave any yes-or-no question blank, because blanks read as incomplete.
- Don’t ignore the post-licensure rules course, because it keeps your new license in compliance.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most candidates file the initial application themselves, but some use a review-course advisor or an attorney for tricky histories.
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save money, since you pay only the $160 fee and no advisor cost.
- You control the timeline, because you file the moment your documents are ready.
- You learn the rules firsthand, which helps you stay compliant after licensure.
- The online portal is guided, so the questions are clear for a standard applicant.
- Most clean applications need no outside help, so paying for help adds little value.
Cons of filing on your own (and pros of getting help):
- You may misread the subject-hour rules, and an advisor catches gaps before they cost a month.
- Character-question disclosures are risky to draft alone, where an attorney protects you on Question 15.
- International credentials are complex, and a pro knows the MRA and evaluation routing.
- You bear the full cost of a mistake, which is weeks of delay, while help reduces that risk.
- Experience verification can be nuanced, and guidance ensures your verifier qualifies.
Initial vs. Reciprocal vs. Transfer of Grades Application
Choosing the right form the first time avoids a misrouted file and a refund-and-refile delay.
| Application Type | When You Use It |
|---|---|
| Initial Applicant ($160) | You passed the exam and have never held a CPA license; you meet Colorado’s education and experience rules. |
| Transfer of Grades ($195) | You passed exam sections under another state and want those passing grades moved to Colorado. |
| Reciprocal ($195) | You hold an active license from a substantially equivalent state and want a Colorado license. |
| Firm License ($185) | A partnership, professional corporation, or LLC of CPAs seeks to practice in Colorado. |
The Changing Education Rules You Should Know
Colorado’s licensure landscape is shifting, so know which path applies to you. The traditional path requires a bachelor’s degree plus 150 total semester hours, including 33 accounting hours and 27 business hours, along with one year (1,800 qualifying hours) of experience. This path remains the standard for most current applicants, and the Board updated these academic rules effective December 15, 2024.
A newer path is taking shape through legislation. Senate Bill 26-076 moves Colorado toward letting candidates become CPAs with a bachelor’s degree, two years of accounting-related experience, an ethics course, and a passing CPA Exam. The Colorado Society of CPAs explains this changing landscape, noting it adds an experience-heavy route alongside the 150-hour route. The plain-English takeaway is that the 150-hour path still works today, while the two-year-experience path is expanding your options. Ignoring which rule applies can cause you to over-collect or under-collect credits, so confirm the current rule before you build your application.
FAQs
Do I have to live in Colorado to get a Colorado CPA license?
No. Colorado does not require residency for a CPA certificate, so you can hold an out-of-state address and still answer the residency questions honestly with a No.
Do I write my legal name or my professional name in the name boxes?
No, do not use a professional or nickname. Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card so NASBA can match your exam and education records.
Is the AICPA ethics exam the same as the CPA Exam’s ethics content?
No. Colorado requires the separate 8-hour Professional Ethics: AICPA’s Comprehensive Course, passed with 90% or better within two years before your application is received.
Do I leave the Middle Name box blank if I have no middle name?
Yes. Leave it blank rather than typing “N/A,” since stray text can interfere with the identity matching NASBA performs on your file.
Can my work supervisor verify my experience even if they report to me?
No. The verifying CPA cannot be your subordinate or under your control, and must be an active CPA in good standing for the whole period verified.
Is my Social Security Number really required on the form?
Yes. Colorado law makes SSN disclosure mandatory for licensure, and a missing or wrong SSN makes the application incomplete and stops processing.
Do introductory accounting courses count toward the 27 core accounting hours?
No. Principles, payroll, and basic accounting courses are excluded from the 27-hour core, though they can still count toward the overall 150-hour total.
Can I send my own transcripts to NASBA?
No. Transcripts and credential evaluations must come directly from your school or the evaluation service, because photocopies you forward are not accepted.
Will a past felony automatically disqualify me?
No. A Yes answer on Question 15 does not auto-deny you; the Board reviews the facts, so disclose fully with documents on a separate sheet.
Does the online portal e-signature count as a legal signature?
Yes. The portal e-signature carries the same penalty-of-perjury weight as an ink signature, so treat every answer as a sworn statement.
Do I need to take the Colorado Rules course before I apply?
No. You may complete the two-hour Colorado Rules and Regulations Course within six months after licensure, though finishing it just before approval also satisfies the rule.
Is the $160 fee the same for an out-of-state CPA applying by reciprocity?
No. The initial fee is $160, but the Reciprocal and Transfer of Grades applications each cost $195, and a Firm license costs $185.
Does my experience have to be in public accounting only?
No. One year of qualifying experience can come from public accounting, industry, government, or academia, as long as it totals 1,800 verified qualifying hours.
How long does approval take after I file everything?
No single day is guaranteed; expect up to six weeks of NASBA review plus the wait for the next monthly Board meeting, since files go out three weeks before it.
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