Colorado real estate exam
Format, passing score, fees and what to study — compiled from the official candidate handbook and state sources, with a link and a confidence level for every fact. Last verified 2026-10-31.
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Colorado exam format and requirements
| Fact | Value | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Colorado Division of Real Estate / Real Estate Commission (Dept. of Regulatory Agencies, DORA) Colorado has NO separate 'salesperson' license: the entry-level license is 'broker' (broker associate / employing broker). The PSI broker exam is the entry exam for new licensees. | Official source | Link |
| Exam provider | PSI Services LLC PSI bulletin 'Updated 10/1/2023' (Copyright 2023) - may have been superseded; newer PSI 2023 national outlines notice exists on dre.colorado.gov. | Official source | Link |
| National-portion questions | 80 80 national questions (broker); 60 correct required. Experimental (unscored) questions: 5-10 may be added and count against exam time. | Official source | Link |
| State-portion questions | 74 74 state questions (broker); 53 correct required. Same table covers CE and reciprocal state exams. | Official source | Link |
| Exam time (minutes) | 230 National 120 min + State 110 min = 230 min (separate portions). | Official source | Link |
| Passing score | National: 60 of 80 correct (75%); State: 53 of 74 correct (~71.6%) - each portion must be passed Percentages are arithmetic from the stated number-correct cutoffs. | Official source | Link |
| Exam fee (USD) | $49 First-time $49.00, retake $48.00 (per bulletin 10/2023; current fee not re-verified). Fee forfeited if no test within 1 year. | Official source | Link |
| Pre-licensing hours | 168 168 hours qualifying education (48 Real Estate Law & Practice, 48 Colorado Contracts & Regulations, 8 Trust Accounts & Recordkeeping, 8 Current Legal Issues, 24 Closings, 32 Practical Applications). dre.colorado.gov r… | Secondary source | Link |
| Languages | English No other exam language is listed in the official handbook/bulletin; English-only is inferred from silence. | Secondary source | Link |
| Active licensees | 50241 50,241 real estate BROKERS (all license levels; Colorado has no salesperson tier) at end of June 2025, per DRE licensee advisory. Source says 'real estate brokers' without specifying active-only. Page returned 403 to … | Secondary source | Link |
“Official source” = read in a state agency page or the exam provider’s candidate handbook on 2026-10-31. Anything marked “Vendor claim” or “Not verified” should be confirmed before you rely on it. Fees and formats change.
What this means for your study plan
- Time per question: about 1.5 minutes each (230 minutes ÷ 154 questions). Practice at that pace.
- Both portions count: you must reach the pass mark on each portion — a strong national score does not make up for a weak Colorado score.
- Where people lose points: math word problems, wording traps (NOT/EXCEPT), and state rules that differ from the national rule. Our formula sheet covers the math.
- Good to know: Important for product design: Colorado licenses only 'brokers'. Nearly one-third of the state exam (23/74) is on Colorado Real Estate Commission-approved forms and contracts. National and state portions need not be passed on the same day but each pass is valid only 1 year. Exam must be taken AFTER completing pre-license education (Commission Rule 2.2.D), or it will not count. Fingerprint/CBI background check requi…
State-portion topics published for Colorado
- Duties and powers of the Real Estate Commission (2 items)
- Licensing requirements (5)
- Requirements governing activities of licensees - advertising, brokerage admin, commissions/rebates/referrals, disclosure, documents, listings, sign crossing (11)
- Record keeping and trust accounts (5)
- Closing and settlement - prorations, closing statements (10)
- Brokerage relationships (11)
- Additional topics - property mgmt/landlord tenant, water rights, taxes, Fair Housing Act, foreclosure (7)
- Colorado forms and contracts - listing/buyer agreements, Contract to Buy and Sell, addenda, deeds of trust, disclosures (23)
Sample Colorado practice questions
Original questions written from the law, each with an explanation and a citation. Colorado-specific questions are coming soon; these samples come from the national portion.
A buyer withholds FIRPTA tax at closing, and no withholding certificate application is pending. The buyer generally must report and pay over the withheld tax to the IRS:
- within 10 days after the date of transfer
- by the 20th day after the date of transfer
- within 45 days after the date of the transfer
- by April 15 of the following year
Answer: B. Treasury regulations require the transferee to report and pay over any FIRPTA tax withheld by the 20th day after the date of the transfer, using Forms 8288 and 8288-A. If a withholding certificate application is pending at closing, the amount is still withheld but need not be paid over until the 20th day after the IRS's final determination on the application.
Topic: Transfer of Title & Closing · Source: 26 C.F.R. § 1.1445-1(c)(1), (c)(2)(i)
Churches, schools, hospitals, and theaters are usually classified as:
- Special-purpose properties
- Industrial manufacturing properties
- Residential properties
- Vacant land awaiting development
Answer: A. Special-purpose properties are designed for a particular use and are hard to convert to other uses, which can limit their marketability. Appraisers and investors treat them differently from standard residential or commercial buildings.
Topic: Property Management & Specialty Areas · Source: Appraisal Institute, The Appraisal of Real Estate (15th ed. 2020)
Under the general rule, once a person begins to perform the act requested in a unilateral offer, the offeror
- may revoke at any moment, even when the requested act is nearly finished
- is relieved of any obligation to pay once the offeree has begun working
- may not revoke the offer for a reasonable time to finish
- must pay the offeree twice as much if the offer is later revoked
Answer: C. If the offeree begins performance of the requested act, the offeror is generally bound not to revoke for a reasonable time to allow completion. Otherwise offerors could exploit a party who had already invested effort. The result is not a payment increase or a release.
Topic: Contracts & Leasing · Source: Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 45 (option contract created by part performance or tender)
Try the full 20-question Colorado quiz
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Colorado real estate exam?
The Colorado exam format we found is 80 national questions plus 74 Colorado questions (154 in total) in 230 minutes. Confirm in the official handbook before exam day.
What is the passing score for the Colorado real estate exam?
National: 60 of 80 correct (75%); State: 53 of 74 correct (~71.6%) - each portion must be passed (Official source).
How much does the Colorado real estate exam cost?
The exam fee we found is $49, paid to PSI Services LLC. Fees change, so check the current handbook.
How many pre-licensing hours does Colorado require?
168 hours for the entry-level license, according to the sources below. Pre-licensing education must come from a state-approved school; GablePrep is exam prep and is not an approved course.
Official sources for Colorado
- Regulator: Colorado Division of Real Estate / Real Estate Commission (Dept. of Regulatory Agencies, DORA)
- Exam provider: PSI Services LLC
- Official candidate handbook / content outline
Independent exam prep. Not affiliated with any state real estate commission or testing provider. Not an approved pre-licensing course. Not legal advice.