Requirements for Licensure

In order to work as a professional nurse in Colorado, a graduate must secure a license from the State of Colorado as an RN. Certain information related to having a previous criminal record or having a chemical dependency problem (drugs or alcohol) is requested when applying for licensure. The following information is requested:

Has any nursing or other health care license held by you been denied, revoked, suspended, reprimanded, fined, surrendered, restricted, limited, or placed on probation in any state other than Colorado or in any territory of the United States?
Are you under investigation or is a disciplinary action pending against your nursing license or other health care license in any state or territory of the United States?
Have you received notification from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, that you have been excluded from participation in Medicare, Medicaid or any federal health care programs based on program related crimes and discipline?
Have you ever been convicted, entered a plea of guilty, nolo contendere, or no contest for any felony, misdemeanor or petty offense?
Have you ever been convicted, pled no contest/nolo contendere, or had a court accept a plea to a criminal motor vehicle offense of DUI/DWI/DWAI/OWI or any traffic offense involving drugs or alcohol?
Has any final judgment, settlement or arbitration award for malpractice been paid by you or on your behalf?
In the last five years, have you been diagnosed with or treated for a condition that significantly disturbs your cognition, behavior, or motor function, or that may impair your ability to practice as a professional nurse safely and competently, such as bipolar disorder, severe major depression, schizophrenia or other major psychotic disorder, a neurological illness, or sleep disorder?
Do you now abuse or excessively use, or have you in the last five years abused or excessively used, any habit forming drug, including alcohol, or any controlled substance that has a) resulted in any accusation or discipline for misconduct, unreliability, neglect of work, or failure to meet professional responsibilities; or b) affected your ability to practice as a professional nurse safely and competently?
Have you been terminated or permitted to resign in lieu of termination from a nursing or other health care position because of your use of alcohol or use of any controlled substance, habit-forming drug, prescription medication, or drugs having similar effects?
Have you been arrested for an alcohol or drug-related offense other than stated in question No. 5?

If any question is answered “yes”, the student needs to meet with the Director of the Nursing Program for counseling as the Colorado State Board of Nursing has specified requirements for licensure that must be met.

The State Board of Nursing will consider whether a person can be licensed if s/he has had a criminal record or chemical dependency problem on an individual basis. Having had the problem does not necessarily mean that licensure will be denied. However, the Board is very strict about individuals being truthful about past problems. If an individual is not truthful on the application form and the Board finds out, licensure is denied.

The Board has the following information on the application form:

Please be advised that in Colorado, supplying false information in application for licensure is punishable by law.

I state under penalty of perjury in the second degree, as defined in 18-8-503, Colorado Revised Statutes, that the information contained in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that under the Nurse Practice Act, providing false information is grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of a Nursing License and may be punishable by law. You may not practice as a Nurse as defined in CRS, 1985, 12-38-111(112), until you have completed the requirements for licensure.

The Colorado State Board of Nursing maintains a web site where more information about licensure is available. Go to www.dora.state.co.us/nursing