Construction / Plumber Continuing Education / Colorado
- Colorado
- Plumber CE
- Residential, Journeyworker & Master
- Updated Oct 2026
Colorado Plumber Continuing Education: Hours, Deadline and Approved Courses
Colorado residential, journeyworker and master plumbers need 8 hours of approved CE every 12 months to renew a license that expires on the last day of February in odd-numbered years.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from Colorado State Plumbing Board requirements
Hours per cycle
16 hrs
8 hours every 12 months of the 2-year license
Cycle
2 years
CE is tracked by license year, March 1 to February 28
Deadline
Last day of Feb, odd years
Next deadline February 28, 2027
Online allowed?
Yes, all hours
Online courses must be interactive and from an attesting provider
Who needs CE
Who needs continuing education for a Colorado plumber license?
All Colorado residential, journeyworker and master plumbers with an active license need CE to renew, except on the first renewal after getting licensed by exam. Renewal is handled by the state through the Colorado State Plumbing Board.
CE applies to
- Residential Plumbers
- Journeyworker Plumbers
- Master Plumbers
Exemptions
- First renewal after you were licensed by exam
- Inactive licenses (no CE while inactive)
- Military exemption, with board approval
Colorado plumber CE at a glance
Colorado plumber renewal, one box
| Renewed with | Colorado State Plumbing Board |
| CE required? | Yes, except the first renewal after licensing by exam |
| Hours per cycle | 8 hrs every 12 months (16 per license cycle) |
| Cycle | 2 years |
| Required topics | 4 code hrs every 24 months; max 2 safety hrs |
| Online allowed? | Yes, all hours |
| Deadline | Last day of February, odd years |
| Who reports | You: attest at renewal and keep records 6 years |
| Carryover | No. Hours only count toward their own 12-month period |
| Grace period | 60 days, with a delinquency fee |
| Renewal fee | Not stated |
| Last updated | October 28, 2026 |
Hours
How many CE hours does a Colorado plumber license need?
You need at least 8 hours of approved CE every 12 months during the license cycle, or 16 hours over a two-year license. Pick courses from the board’s Core Competencies in any combination, with at least 4 code hours in every 24-month period and no more than 2 safety hours.
| Class | Total | Required topics | Electives | Delivery limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Plumber | 8 hrs every 12 months | Min 4 code hrs every 24 months | Core Competencies, any combination | Max 2 hrs safety training |
| Journeyworker Plumber | 8 hrs every 12 months | Min 4 code hrs every 24 months | Core Competencies, any combination | Max 2 hrs safety training |
| Master Plumber | 8 hrs every 12 months | Min 4 code hrs every 24 months | Core Competencies, any combination | Max 2 hrs safety training |
Each license year runs March 1 to February 28, not the calendar year. Code hours are defined in the board’s rules. Online courses must be interactive, and every course must come from a provider on the board’s Attesting CE Providers List. If you hold more than one license, CE for the most advanced license covers the rest.
Deadline
When is the Colorado plumber license renewal deadline?
All Colorado plumbing and plumbing contractor licenses expire on the last day of February in odd-numbered years. You can’t save your CE for the end, though: 8 hours are due every 12 months.
| Deadline rule | Last day of February in odd-numbered years |
| Cycle | 2 years |
| Next deadlines | February 28, 2027; February 28, 2029 |
| Grace period | 60 days after expiration, with a delinquency fee |
| Late penalty | Delinquency fee during the grace period; after that the license expires and must be reinstated |
| CE completion deadline | 8 hours in each license year (March 1 to February 28) |
Steps
How to renew a Colorado plumber license, step by step
- Take approved CEEvery 12 months
Complete 8 hours of approved CE each year from the board’s Core Competencies, with at least 4 code hours every 24 months and no more than 2 safety hours. - Get your certificateSame day
Save the certificate of completion and keep it for at least six years in case you’re audited. - Confirm it’s reportedAt renewal
You don’t send certificates with your renewal. You attest that you finished your hours and read the current Colorado Plumbing Code, and send records only if the board audits you. - Pay the renewal feeFee not stated
Submit your renewal and fee to the state before the last day of February in the odd year. - Check your license statusAfter renewal
Look up your license with the Colorado State Plumbing Board to confirm the new expiration date.
Providers
Approved Colorado plumber license CE providers
We haven’t compared CE providers for this license yet. Use the board’s approved provider list to confirm a course counts before you pay. Courses only count when the provider is on the board’s Attesting CE Providers List for the current license period.
Approval
How to check a Colorado plumber CE course is approved
The Colorado State Plumbing Board only accepts CE from providers that have attested their courses and instructors meet board rules. Courses come from the board’s Core Competencies, each course counts toward one competency, and the board limits how many safety hours you can count.
- Check that the provider is on the board’s Attesting CE Providers List for 2025–2027.
- Check whether the course counts as code hours under the board’s rules.
- Make sure no more than 2 of your hours are safety training.
- For online courses, confirm the course is interactive with fast-forward disabled.
Reporting
How Colorado plumber CE is reported, and what happens in an audit
You report your own CE. When you renew through DPO Online Services, you attest that you completed your hours and read the current Colorado Plumbing Code. Don’t send certificates unless the board asks. The board runs compliance audits after each license period.
- Keep a certificate of completion, transcript or provider notice for every course.
- Track your hours by license year (March 1 to February 28) so each year reaches 8.
- Track your code hours so you have at least 4 in every 24 months.
- Keep your CE records for at least six years.
- If you’re audited, send the documents within 30 days of the request.
Cost
How much does Colorado plumber license renewal cost?
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| License renewal fee | Not stated | Colorado State Plumbing Board |
| Late renewal fee | Delinquency fee, amount not stated | Colorado State Plumbing Board |
| Reinstatement fee | Not stated | Colorado State Plumbing Board |
| CE courses (8 hours a year) | Varies by provider | CE provider |
The board doesn’t list fee amounts on its website; check the DPO renewal system for the current fee. Late-renewal rules from Board Rule 1.4(E), checked October 2026.
Late or lapsed
Late, expired or inactive Colorado plumber license
You get a 60-day grace period after the February deadline to renew with a delinquency fee. After that your license expires, and reinstating it takes CE or proof of competency.
Grace period
60 days after expiration. A delinquency fee applies, but you don’t need a reinstatement application.
Expired under 2 years
Submit a reinstatement application, pay the reinstatement fee and show 8 hours of CE for each year since your last license, renewal or reinstatement.
Expired over 2 years
Show competency: pass the state plumbing exam, show an active equivalent license from another state with a year of practice there, or hold a more advanced Colorado plumbing license.
Inactive status
You can move your license to inactive status and renew without CE, but you can’t work. Reactivating within three years needs 24 hours of CE from the past three years.
Who controls
Who controls Colorado plumber license renewal?
Renewal authority
Colorado State Plumbing Board
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-7800
Responsibilities
- Issues and renews Colorado plumbing licenses
- Sets the 8-hour annual CE requirement and Core Competencies
- Defines which hours count as code hours
- Audits CE records
Getting licensed
Getting a Colorado plumber license
Need the license first? Our Colorado guide covers who needs a license, the classes, exams, fees and the steps to apply.
FAQ
Colorado plumber license CE FAQs
How many CE hours does a Colorado plumber need?
8 hours every license year (March 1 to February 28), or 16 over a two-year license, with at least 4 code hours every 24 months and no more than 2 safety hours.
When is the deadline?
Licenses expire on the last day of February in odd-numbered years. The next deadline is February 28, 2027.
Is CE required for my first renewal?
No. If you got your license by exam during the current period, CE starts after your first renewal.
Can I take CE online?
Yes, as long as the course is interactive and the provider is on the board’s Attesting CE Providers List.
Who reports my hours?
You do. You attest at renewal that you finished your hours and keep your records for six years in case of an audit.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
You have 60 days to renew with a delinquency fee. After that, the license expires and you must apply for reinstatement, which requires CE.
Do hours carry over?
No. CE credits only count toward the 12-month period you earned them in.
Sources
Official sources for Colorado plumber CE rules
- Colorado State Plumbing Board, continuing education rules
- Colorado State Plumbing Board, Core Competencies
- Colorado State Plumbing Board: Continuing Education
- Colorado State Plumbing Board homepage
- Colorado State Plumbing Board: Applications and Forms
- 3 CCR 720-1, State Plumbing Board Rules
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Colorado State Plumbing Board.