Colorado Locum Tenens Physician Assistant Licensing (PA-C)

Physician assistants seeking licensure in Colorado apply through the Colorado Medical Board. Applications are submitted through the state’s online licensing portal, and the board estimates an average processing time of 30 days from receipt of a complete application, though timelines can vary based on work history, number of prior licenses held, and whether any convictions or malpractice claims are reported.

This guide covers the Colorado PA-C licensing process for locum tenens applicants applying by endorsement, including application steps, fees, fingerprinting, collaborative plan requirements, and renewal.

Colorado Medical Board Contact Information

Colorado Medical Board
Address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-7800
Email: [email protected]
PA-C Licensing Contact: Brittany Roman — (303) 894-7763 | [email protected]
Website: Colorado PA Applications

Colorado PA-C Licensing: At a Glance

Credential NamePhysician Assistant (PA-C)
Issuing BoardColorado Medical Board
Application MethodOnline portal (apps2.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/default.aspx)
Application Fee$90 (nonrefundable)
Temporary LicenseNot available. Colorado does not issue temporary licenses for PAs.
Processing TimelineAverage 30-60 days from receipt of complete application.
Collaborative PlanRequired for PAs with fewer than 3,000 post-graduate hours, or entering a new specialty.
PA Licensure CompactEnacted August 7, 2024. Not yet operational — requires 7 participating states to take effect.
RenewalLicenses expire January 31 of even-numbered years.

PA-C License Application

All Colorado PA applications are submitted through the state online licensing portal at apps2.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/default.aspx. Paper applications are also accepted. The $110 application fee is nonrefundable.

Applications are processed in the order received. Incomplete applications will delay processing. The board recommends carefully reading all instructions and submitting all supporting documents promptly.

Licensing Fees

All fees are nonrefundable.

  • PA-C application and initial license fee: $90

Verify current fees on the Colorado PA Applications page before submitting.

Licensing Timeline

The Colorado Medical Board estimates an average processing time of 30-60 days from receipt of a complete application. Timelines vary depending on the extent of the applicant’s work history, number of licenses held in other states or territories, and whether any convictions or malpractice claims are disclosed.

Applicants can help speed the process by following all instructions carefully and submitting supporting documents promptly.

Temporary License

Colorado does not issue temporary licenses for physician assistants. Applicants must wait for the full license to be issued before practicing in the state.

Supporting Documents

Requirements for initial PA licensure in Colorado include:

  • Graduation from an NCCPA-approved physician assistant program
  • Verified practice history
  • Passage of the NCCPA National Board Exam
  • Verification of FSMB disciplinary history
  • Fingerprinting: Electronic fingerprints for CBI and FBI background check (see Fingerprinting section)
  • Collaborative agreement: Required for PAs with fewer than 3,000 post-graduate hours (see Collaborative Plan section)

Fingerprinting

Some applicants for Colorado PA licensure are required to submit fingerprints for a background check processed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fingerprints must be submitted electronically through one of two approved vendors under the Colorado Applicant Background Services (CABS) program:

Important: Do not submit fingerprints until you are ready to submit your application. The Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) must receive the results of both the CBI and FBI background checks before a license can be issued. Submitting fingerprints too early may result in results expiring before the application is complete.

Collaborative Plan

Whether a collaborative plan is required depends on the PA’s post-graduate clinical practice experience:

Collaborative plan required:

  • PAs who have completed fewer than 3,000 hours of post-graduate clinical practice experience must enter into a collaborative plan with a physician or podiatrist.
  • PAs beginning practice in a new specialty must enter into a collaborative plan with a physician or podiatrist until they have completed 2,000 hours in the new specialty and 3,000 total post-graduate hours.

Collaborative plan not required:

  • PAs who have completed 3,000 or more post-graduate practice hours, or who have completed 2,000 hours in a new specialty plus 3,000 total hours, are no longer required to maintain a collaborative plan. These PAs are instead required to consult with and refer to appropriate members of their health-care team based on patient condition, their own education and competencies, and the standard of care.

In circumstances where a collaborative agreement must take the form of a supervising agreement, refer to Board Rule 1.15.

Supervising Physician Registration

If a PA license is approved before a primary supervising physician has been registered, the license will be issued in an ACTIVE – Pending Supervisor Registration status. The PA has 180 days from the approval date to register a primary supervising physician.

If a primary supervising physician is not registered within 180 days, the license will convert to INACTIVE status. No refund of fees is issued. The PA must then submit a reactivation application and pay a reactivation fee before practicing.

To register a primary supervising physician, submit the Primary Supervising Physician Registration Form, selecting the option for “New registration of a primary physician supervisor.” WMS initiates the collaborative or supervising agreement after the assignment is confirmed — no action is required from the PA during initial licensing.

DEA Registration

PAs who plan to prescribe controlled substances in Colorado must hold a DEA registration listing a Colorado address. DEA registration is not a prerequisite for the PA-C license, but must be in place before prescribing can begin on an assignment.

For locum tenens work, there are two options: obtain a separate DEA registration for Colorado, or transfer an existing DEA registration to a Colorado address before the assignment starts. Both options are managed through the DEA Diversion Control Division website. Transfers can take up to five business days, so plan accordingly when scheduling assignment start dates.

PA Licensure Compact

Colorado enacted the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact on August 7, 2024. The compact is designed to allow PAs licensed in a participating state to more easily obtain authorization to practice in other participating states. The compact becomes operational when at least 7 states have enacted the legislation.

As of early 2026, the compact is not yet operational. A Colorado-specific PA-C license is required for all PAs practicing in the state. Monitor the compact’s status for updates.

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Colorado PA-C licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years. Renewal is managed through the state licensing portal.

To demonstrate continued competency at renewal, a PA must meet one of the following:

  • Submit proof of active practice as a PA in another jurisdiction for the two-year period immediately preceding the renewal filing; or
  • Submit proof that the PA has been out of practice for less than four years, current NCCPA certification, 100 hours of CME within the past two years (including 25 hours of Category 1 CME in the past 12 months), and a written supervision transition plan.

Active NCCPA certification is the primary continued competency pathway for most practicing PAs.

Frequently Asked Questions:

No. Colorado does not issue temporary licenses for physician assistants. Applicants must wait for the full PA-C license before practicing in the state.

It depends on experience. PAs with fewer than 3,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours must enter into a collaborative plan with a physician or podiatrist. PAs entering a new specialty must also maintain a collaborative plan until they have completed 2,000 hours in the specialty and 3,000 total post-graduate hours. PAs above these thresholds are not required to maintain a formal collaborative plan, though they remain responsible for consulting and referring appropriately within their health-care team.

If a primary supervising physician is not registered within 180 days of license approval, the license converts to INACTIVE status. No fee refund is issued. The PA must submit a reactivation application and pay a reactivation fee before returning to practice. WMS initiates the supervising or collaborative agreement after the assignment is confirmed, so most WMS-placed PAs will have this handled before the 180-day window becomes a concern.

The Colorado Medical Board estimates an average processing time of 30 days from receipt of a complete application. Timelines vary based on work history complexity, number of prior licenses, and whether any convictions or malpractice claims are reported. Submitting all supporting documents promptly and following instructions carefully helps avoid delays.

Colorado enacted the PA Licensure Compact legislation on August 7, 2024, but the compact is not yet operational as of early 2026. The compact requires at least 7 participating states to take effect. A Colorado-specific PA-C license is currently required for all PAs practicing in the state.

Colorado requires electronic fingerprint submission for background checks processed by both the CBI and FBI through the CABS program. Fingerprints must be submitted through an approved vendor — either IdentoGO or American Bioidentity/Colorado Fingerprinting. Do not submit fingerprints until ready to apply, as DPO must receive both background check results before issuing a license.

Yes, if prescribing controlled substances. A DEA registration listing a Colorado address must be in place before prescribing begins on an assignment. The DEA registration is not required to obtain the PA-C license, but must be secured before the first assignment starts. PAs can either obtain a separate Colorado DEA registration or transfer an existing registration to Colorado prior to the assignment. Transfers can take up to five business days.

Colorado PA-C licenses expire on January 31 of even-numbered years. Active NCCPA certification is the primary continued competency requirement. PAs who have been out of practice must meet additional requirements including 100 hours of CME within the past two years, with 25 Category 1 hours in the past 12 months.

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IT‘S TIME TO START YOUR LIFE’S
NEXT CHAPTER

Rediscover your love for medicine, and redefine what service means. Reset your expectations for what life can offer, and reinvigorate yourself in this beautiful country of ours. Wilderness Medical Staffing wants to put you on the path to life’s next chapter today.

START YOUR ADVENTURE VIEW OPEN JOBS