Veterinarians · Colorado · Continuing education
Colorado Veterinary CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- DVM32 hours every 2 years, including 1 h opioid prescribing & pain management, 2 h state laws & rules (jurisprudence); renewal by October 31.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
02 Calculator
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03 Requirements
Colorado DVM CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 32hours
- Renewal cycle
- 2 years
- Deadline
- Oct 31
- Reporting
- Attestation
- Renewal deadline
- By October 31
- Accepted credit
- Any RACE-approved course is accepted automatically; other courses must meet Board criteria (biomedical or nonbiomedical subject, live or online, 45-60 min = 1 h)
- New licensees
- Licensed 12 months or less before first expiration: no CE for first renewal; more than 12 but less than 24 months: 16 hours.
- Audits & records
- Compliance audits after each license period; keep records 4 years.
- Renew online
- dpo.colorado.gov ↗
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid prescribing & pain managementAll veterinarians (Substance Use Prevention Training), unless exempt | 1 | every renewal |
| State laws & rules (jurisprudence) | 2 | every renewal |
Alternatives & exemptions. Military renewal exemption; Substance Use Prevention Training exemption for national board certification with equivalent training or attestation of not prescribing opioids.
Good to know. Up to 16 h nonbiomedical. From the 2026-2028 period (after Nov 1, 2026) 2 h on supervision and delegation are also required (no topic code). Current licenses expire 10/31/2026, renewable through 12/31/2026.
Source: dpo.colorado.gov · C.R.S. §12-315-110 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in Colorado
05 Questions
Which CE courses count for veterinarians in Colorado?
Any RACE-approved course is accepted automatically; other courses must meet Board criteria (biomedical or nonbiomedical subject, live or online, 45-60 min = 1 h).
How many CE hours do veterinarians need in Colorado?
32 hours every 2 years.
How do I verify a veterinarian license in Colorado?
Use the license lookup of the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine (Division of Professions and Occupations) (dpo.colorado.gov/Veterinary); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
When is the renewal deadline for veterinarians in Colorado?
Licenses renew by October 31 (2 years cycle).